Ashton “Tiger” Moore, founder of the Association of British Calypsonians (ABC), the group that promotes the art, culture and ethos of calypso across the UK and Europe, has died in London.
Moore migrated to London in 1971 where he formed the Calypso Youth Exchange Programme, organising workshops with children all over the UK and facilitating visits to London by winners of the T&T Junior Monarch title.
He also founded the Black History Junior Calypso Monarch competition to encourage children of Caribbean parentage to sing about their black heroes.
“The Mighty Tiger became the calypsonian’s representative on the board of the then Notting Hill Carnival Limited and held the distinction of being the longest serving member on that carnival body, always remaining fervent about his duty to promote carnival and calypso in London and throughout Europe,” the ABC said in a statement announcing his death.
Moore won many awards for his work in the artform, including the Notting Hill Carnival award in 1986, the British Association of Steelbands award in 2005 and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Mayors award for culture, calypso and carnival in 2007.
