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On 28th May Bath Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, in one of her final engagements as Bath’s MP in the current Parliament, visited historic Fairfield House in Newbridge. During her visit she met with Pauline Swaby, Director of Fairfield House, and community members, including those of the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens’ Association (Bemsca), which has been resident there since 1993. She also enjoyed a tour of the Grade II-listed, 19th-century Italianate house.

Fairfield became home to the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and his family for five years after being forced into exile when Mussolini’s forces invaded Ethiopia in 1936. The Emperor eventually returned to Ethiopia in 1941 after British and Ethiopian troops defeated the Italians and he ruled for another 30 years before being deposed in the 1974 Soviet-backed revolution.

Today, Emperor Selassie is worshipped as a God incarnate by some members of the Rastafari movement, which has its origins in 1930s Jamaica, and Fairfield House is used as a day care centre by Bemsca in direct harmony with His Imperial Majesty’s wish. Fairfield is also a community hub for all the local people of Bath, for the Rastafari Community, for the Ethiopian Community in the UK, and for the worldwide African diaspora.

Pauline said: “It was such a pleasure to welcome Wera to Fairfield House today. This building is a cultural beacon and place of pilgrimage for those of the African diaspora and beyond and has played an important role in fostering a shared sense of cultural community for ethnic minorities in Bath. It has been an amazing privilege to be the custodian of Fairfield House and to see Emperor Selassie’s vision come to life.”

Wera added her own thanks, saying: “It is wonderful to see firsthand the important work being done at Fairfield House. This historic site is not only a testament to the rich legacy of Emperor Selassie but it is also a vibrant community hub that brings together diverse groups from Bath. The dedication of Pauline and Bemsca in preserving this space in accordance with Emperor Selassie’s vision is fantastic. I look forward to seeing the positive impact Fairfield House will continue to have on our city in the future.”