An exhibition celebrating the achievements and life of Walter Tull, the second black professional football player in England and the first black officer in the British Army, is coming to Folkestone where he was born. Since September 2008, the Walter Tull exhibition has been touring prestigious venues around the UK but from 8th July it will be at The Grand Hotel, Folkestone.

The exhibition has previously been on display at The National Army Museum, The National Football Museum, Methodist Central Hall, and The Scottish Football Museum and most recently Dover Library.

Walter Tull was born in Folkestone in April 1888. He signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 1909, after a tour of Argentina and Uruguay - making him the first black/mixed race professional footballer to play in Latin America, and made his debut for Tottenham in September 1909. He was the second black/mixed race player to play in top division football after goalkeeper Arthur Wharton of Darlington.

In 1914, Tull enlisted and fought in World War One; in 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant but returned home in December 1916 suffering from trench fever. Once recovered, he was sent to the officer training school at Gailes, Scotland, and became the first black Army officer. Lieutenant Walter Tull was mentioned in dispatches for his “gallantry and coolness under fire” during the Battle of Piave. He was killed in 1918 in the last Battle of the Somme.

The Ministry of Defense has previously been criticised for refusing to confer a posthumous Victoria Cross upon Lieutenant Walter Tull.