We were delighted to welcome Professor Victoria Avery (Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge), Dawnanna Kreeger (independent researcher) & Dr Carol Brown-Leonardi (Open University) as speakers for our annual Black History Month lecture in October 2025. They discussed their archival research into the biographies of Olaudah Equiano’s Ely-born, Soham-resident wife, Susannah Cullen (1762–1796) & their Soham-born daughters, Anna Maria Vassa (1793–1797) & Joanna Vassa (1795–1857). Olaudah Equiano and Susannah Cullen were married in St Andrew's Church Soham on 7th April 1792, and their daughters were later baptised here. Susannah lies buried in the churchyard.

More information is available here: Full article

Later in October, a group from Soham joined friends from St Andrew's Church Chesterton, the African Caribbean Research Group and others to celebrate the re-discovery of Equiano and Susannah's elder daughter Anna Maria Vassa in St Andrew's Church Chesterton's Churchyard.

More information is available here: Rediscovering Anna Maria Vassa’s Grave