SCOTLAND’S first black professor said East Lothian’s associations with slavery were an important part of local history.

Leading human rights campaigner Sir Geoff Palmer, Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, highlighted James Wedderburn, a plantation and slave owner who lived in Inveresk Lodge, near Musselburgh, saying that James and his brother John went to Jamaica after their dad was hanged.

They both stayed there for a number of years, buying land and slaves before returning to Scotland in the 1770s. On James’s return he bought and moved into Inveresk Lodge, marrying into the Colville family. His daughter also later married Lord Selkirk. James and his wife are buried in Inveresk churchyard.

Sir Geoff said: “That’s very important. He went to Jamaica after his father was hanged, they had no money, they came back, he buys the Lodge and his daughter marries into British aristocracy. They came back from Jamaica, where they made a lot of money and made a name for themselves, his daughter married into the Scottish aristocracy. The fact is that it’s a good story and it’s important, and it’s why street names are important.”

There are streets in Inveresk named after the Wedderburn family, such as Wedderburn Court and Wedderburn Terrace.

When asked if these street names should be changed, Sir Geoff said: “You let people know information about the name and that these streets were, for example, named after this family who were slave owners and lived nearby.”

He added that plaques could be placed next to such street signs, alerting and educating people on the history behind the name, something that could be beneficial to future generations.

Sir Geoff noted the important role stories like these played in East Lothian history. He said: “It’s an important part of East Lothian and Inveresk history and if you remove that or rename it and call it something else, you could be removing part of the history of East Lothian.

“Some of the street names, I don’t want them removed.

“By removing them you are removing the deed, and if you remove the deed people are not going to be aware in the future and then history could be different. If you change a bit of the street name, a bit of history is then missing.

“We need to address the issues black people have and the issues that cause their lives to be difficult rather than changing statues. You need to address the social issues and the disparity.”

He added that history like this should be included in the curriculum and taught in schools.

When asked if there were any statues or works of art in East Lothian which they were reviewing following the BLM movement and demonstrations, a spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “The views of local communities about who should be celebrated in their towns and villages is extremely important and East Lothian Council will listen to any concerns expressed on these matters.”

Parts and people of East Lothian with links to the slave trade are highlighted on the website: www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/maps/britain