When Bernice McNaughton MBE JP moved from Trinidad to London in 1961, she and friends just wanted to bring Caribbean culture to the west of the capital.

What the 84-year-old, who died of a stroke in July last year after leading an extraordinary life, didn't realise was that she would help start one of London's favourite parties - Notting Hill Carnival .

Born in Port of Spain in 1931, Mrs McNaughton arrived in Shepherd's Bush and worked for nine years with the Foreign Languages Division of the Central Office of Information.

Following a spell living in Fulham , she then moved to Greenford in 1968 and would stay there up until her death.

Trinidad Folk Singers

Bernice McNaughton (left) in 1964 and (right) shortly before her death in 2015

According to husband Danny McNaughton, Bernice founded the Trinidad Folk Singers who would get together with other friends from the Caribbean in the early 1960's and pursue hobbies including singing, art, folk music and painting.

Though there are various accounts of just how, and when, it began, Mr McNaughton said the Trinidad Folk Singers teamed up with other Caribbean communities in west London to start the first official Notting Hill Carnival in 1964.

Steel drums, colourful costumes, guitars and wild celebrations would roam the streets at the event that year, which drew in around 40 people, before expanding to over 100 just one year later.

Even in their 80's Mr and Mrs McNaughton would still make sure they attended Notting Hill Carnival, and before her death the festival filled Bernice with pride as one of her proudest achievements.

'It is who I am'

Some of the dresses worn at Notting Hill Carnival in 1964

An emotional Mr McNaughton, who met his wife when the pair landed roles in the BBC's St. Matthews Passion - the first production with a black Christ - said: "When she went back she knew it brought people together, she left something that people could come to the community for, and that was very satisfying.

"She was showing the culture of her country and people were enjoying themselves, people didn't give a damn, they said 'it is who I am and I want to dance.'

"Everyone was coming, and people even started coming from abroad for the carnival.

"She would still go in her 80's."

'She was very proud of how Ealing was multicultural'

Caribbean communities at Notting Hill Carnival in 1964

Bernice also took on the role of secretary at Unity of Afro-Caribbean People, Southall , and would volunteer within the Ealing community by helping with fostering, adoption and school exclusions.

She also worked as a counsellor for TASHA Foundation, a support service based in Brentford and Ealing , and became a trained mediator on the Management Committee of Ealing Mediation Service.

And in 1988, Bernice became a Magistrate and would sit in the Criminal and Family Courts.

Her voluntary work across the borough earned her an MBE JP in 2007, where she was awarded for services to the community in Greenford.

'She was very proud of how multicultural Ealing was'

Bernice McNaughton (Top row, second in from right)

Since her death, Mr McNaughton says he has been inundated with kind messages from people paying tribute to a woman who, according to one friend "opened her heart to everyone."

Mr McNaughton added: "I miss her sincerely and her kindness, everyone has been what a wonderful person she was.

"She was very proud of how multicultural Ealing was, she loved everyone and there was not a bad bone in her body".

As well as husband Danny, Bernice also left behind son Thomas, 42, who lives in Milton Keynes.