A NEW plaque honours three men who are believed to have run the first multi-million pound company from the Black British community.

It is at the site of a wig and cosmetic shop in north London.

Len Dyke, Dudley Dryden and Tony Wade sold beauty and hair products to Black women across the UK.

Their products were also exported internationally.

The Nubian Jak Community Trust put the plaque up, as part of a project to recognise important figures from Black British history.

In 1965, Dyke and Dryden opened their shop on West Green Road in Tottenham. Wade joined them as a business partner in 1968.

Rudi Page, who was a sales and marketing manager in the business said: “They inspired the community at the time and they were really focused on the development of young people and giving them opportunities. And I was one of those.”

Speaking to the PA news agency, he called them “very detemined men” who were “really important” to the Black community.

Now aged 65, Page spoke of how the men had created employment opportunities to people across the United Kingdom. They even ran a factory in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Page explained: “The economic impact was much wider than just the Black community.”

He said that the plaque was important because it helped recognise Black excellence in our community, which is so often overlooked.

“The black plaque, I hope will stimulate people to look again at their contributions,” he said.

“Their story can inspire all young people… who feel, in their local communities, opportunities are limited.”

In the past, the Nubian Jak Community Trust put up a plaque at Bob Marley’s first known UK residence.