FOR Bill Drayton from Christchurch, slavery isn't a black and white issue.

As we mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, Bill invites descendants of slaves to Dorset to help raise awareness.

For Bill, it's not about being politically correct.

He's a descendant of two slave-owning families in South Carolina: he sees it as a responsibility.

He believes in acknowledging his family's involvement, to learn about the facts, build bridges and move forward.

He's adamant that it's not about apologising for the actions of previous generations, as he says that that could lead to a demand for financial reparations.

Today, Bill tours the world, giving talks on the slave trade. Since retiring from his job as a teacher, he tells me he's never felt so fulfilled.

Bill explains: "I'd always known our roots. Like many families in Dorset, we are descendants of slave-owning families. Mine were based at Drayton Hall and Magnolia Gardens in South Carolina.

"At the height of the Drayton empire', Drayton Hall was the hub of up to 30 plantations scattered throughout the Deep South of the United States."

Bill felt a desire to delve a little deeper: "The more I looked into it, the more I saw a need to repair relationships. People were still badly affected by what had happened."

So an event was organised at both Magnolia Gardens and Drayton Hall called Share The History: Tell the Story, and was documented by BBC South Today.

"It was a chance for descendants to meet up, and share their respective stories. It was amazing to think that previous generations were on the same land, but under very different circumstances."

Bill describes the trip as enlightening, yet emotional.

"Some people have been really affected by what happened to their ancestors. You realise there's a real need, not to apologise, but to understand what happened.

"I believe I am reconciled to my past. It's important we can seek resolution, otherwise we are on a constant treadmill of blame and counter-blame."

To an outsider, Bill's family history is rather complex.

On the one hand there's Montague Grimke, a cruel man who believed in the harsh treatment of slaves, and would do anything to defend the honour of his family. Then there is the heart-warming account of the famous abolitionists, Sarah Moore Grimke and Angela Grimke, who wrote anti-slavery pamphlets.

And there's the issue of mixed marriages that threatened the equilibrium of the family.

Bill believes that although we appear detached in Dorset, we need to be made aware of these past atrocities, so these mistakes will never be made again.

"I've realised that we should make connections and develop relationships with each other - black and white. It's about discovering our commonalities rather than our differences."

Bill will be holding a reconciliation meeting at Christchurch Baptist Church on Sunday, March 25 at 5pm with the Charleston and Dream Africa Groups.

For more information visit grimke.co.uk