Mehru Fitter’s Tribute to Colin Scott
I had the undiluted pleasure of working with Colin Scott for 38 years.
In 1985, Colin moved to Coventry as the Manager of the Central Library. A few years later, he became my line manager. An exceptional manager, he brought out the best in all members of my team.
1994 proved to be a special year as Colin and I founded Positive Images Festival, with the aim of celebrating diversity, showcasing local talent and promoting community cohesion. The festival made a modest beginning with a one day Multicultural Book & Craft Fair. Little did we know at that time that over the years it would blossom into a three week summer celebration, with events held in different parts of the city. The festival reached its peak in 2019, when we marked the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the festival, with 49,000+ visitors to our 150+ events.
Colin’s vision was to make the festival a vehicle of celebration of the best in Coventry, with free events dotted all over the city.
An avid reader, he set up Hillfields Readers Group, which is now 20 years old. Members of the group enjoyed their visits to a number of literature festivals.
Colin was the driving force behind the appointment of the festival’s first artist in residence – Mary Courtney. During her 3 month residency at the Central Library, Mary held 24 afternoon sessions, enjoyed tremendously by a total of 380 people from diverse backgrounds.
Colin also ensured the participation of Positive Images Festival in the annual Coventry Peace Festival through a poetry competition. Entrants were simply delighted to see their poetic contribution included in an extremely well-produced publication.
To ensure that the festival retained a fresh look, Colin and I attracted new members. Colin ensured that fledgling organisations received assistance with governance and policy documents.
Working with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors, Colin turned the festival into a community-led festival. A good listener, he took on board the views of members.
The festival was the proud recipient of two awards: Coventry City Council’s Community Cohesion Award in 2013 and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2016.
For me, it was a privilege to work with Colin. As Chair of Positive Images Festival, Colin was quietly efficient, well-organised and a friend to all. His sense of humour and caring nature endeared him to all he worked with.
I often wonder how we managed to keep the festival going for more than 28 years, without our own money and without a paid festival coordinator. The festival turns 30 this year.
Colin will be sadly missed by the Positive Images Festival family, which he was intensely proud of.
Mehru Fitter MBE, Former Secretary, Positive Images Festival