On a chilly January evening we had the pleasure of a visit from our near neighbours at Fairfield House, former home of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Heile Selassie. Today two charities operate there: Fairfield House (responsible for the substantial historic building on lease from B&NES), and the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (Bemsca).

H.I.M, who is the Messiah for Rastafari, lived in exile for six years at 2 Kelston Road when his native Ethiopia was under Italian invasion 1936-1941. After his return home he bequeathed Fairfield House to the Corporation of Bath for the care of the elderly. Bemsca provides day care services there today in a splendid 1850s building set in a well-tended garden.

It is highly likely that H.I.M walked across Kelston Roundhill on his way to North Stoke church.

We look forward to opportunities for collaboration with Fairfield House in areas such as education, interfaith and community work and culture.

H.I.M wrote of his house at 2 Keslton Road “The view through its front windows always reminded us of the hills in Harer”