The rise of Baroness Floella Benjamin

The former children TV presenter and new Liberal Democrat Peer has given a revealing insight into her growing up and the challenges she faced.

Speaking to the Independent newspaper she details the racism she suffered growing up in Beckenham, South East of England, she said:

"For the first four years of being in England," she says, sitting on a leather sofa in the genteel surroundings of the club's library, "I fought almost every day. You never know who would spit at you, or try to pee on you, or lift your skirt and say 'Where's your tail, monkey?'".

The racist taunts got to such a high level that she had what she describes as a ‘spiritual moment’ after a local boy hurled abuse at her she turned on him, grabbed his lollipop and attempted to stuff it down his throat, experiencing a moment of clarity she realised violence wasn’t the answer, pulled the sweet out of the youngsters mouth and went along her way with a new realisation on how to deal with such experiences.

The fascinating story of her life growing up in Britain as a young black woman and rising TV personality is captured in her autobiography titled The Arms of Britannia which is out now.

Read Baroness Benjamin's House of Lords maiden speech.