Equiano House

Olaudah Equiano, the prominent abolitionist, has strong ties to Cambridge, stemming from his marriage to an Englishwoman called Susannah Cullen. He lived in Cambridgeshire, specifically in Soham and Chesterton, and his daughter Anna Maria is buried in St. Andrew's Church, Chesterton. A bridge in Cambridge, formerly known as Riverside Bridge, has been renamed in his honor to recognize his contributions to the abolitionist movement. Equiano, as a formerly enslaved man, became a powerful voice in the abolitionist movement, sharing his firsthand experiences to expose the horrors of slavery. He worked alongside other Cambridge-based abolitionists such as Thomas Clarkson. Equiano's autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," was crucial in raising awareness and support for the abolitionist cause. Equiano was a member of the "Sons of Africa," a group of educated Africans in London who actively campaigned for abolition.

Gowar House

Dr. Mick Gowar born on 27 November 1951 in London, is a distinguished British author, educator, and storyteller whose career has spanned over four decades. Since 1980, he has written or edited more than 120 books for children and young readers—ranging from poetry collections, novels, and short stories to non-fiction titles produced for notable educational series like Oxford University Press’s Treetops and Project X. His works include engaging titles such as Making Music, an informative look into musical concepts co-created with trombonist Simon Gunton for young readers.

A passionate advocate of creative writing, Mick has been a dynamic presence in schools, libraries, colleges, and literary festivals across the UK and internationally, delivering readings, performances, and hands‑on writing workshops. He has contributed to educational projects with cultural institutions such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and Kettle’s Yard Gallery in Cambridge. He has also worked with respected organisations including the Arvon Foundation and Talliesin Trust, and has served as a judge for the W. H. Smith Young Writers’ Competition.

Academically, Mick was a Senior Lecturer and Teaching Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge School of Art, where he supported countless students in developing their writing and storytelling skills. He remains active in literary scholarship, serving as Secretary of the Ted Hughes Society and as Principal Editor for Book 2.0, a journal that explores the changing forms of reading and writing in the digital age. His academic interests include the origins and power of storytelling, exemplified by his lecture Homo narrans: a storytelling species, which reflects on the universal human instinct to narrate.

Mick Gowar lives in Cambridgeshire, where he continues to write, edit, and contribute to both local and national literary and educational initiatives.