Barbara Gray, former Mayoress of Lewisham writes: ‘Windrush 75 is an important moment in time for Lewisham'
Posted: 07/06/2023
“We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the ship the Empire Windrush at Tilbury, on 22 June 1948. This symbolic event was filmed, recorded and reported in the newspaper at the time. It is a story with the Caribbean community at its heart and the wonderful symbolic beginning of a story changing Britain to the diverse country we live in today – a Britain shaped by the Windrush Generation.
Around one-third of men on board were returning to Britain having served in the Royal Air Force during its most desperate hour, returning in another desperate hour when the country needed to be rebuilt. London Transport, the National Health Service, and the Hotels Association actively recruited in the Caribbean encouraging people to come here. It is great that the Windrush story is being recognised as a shared history and celebrated in new coin collection from the Royal Mint.
Windrush is a Lewisham story; passengers Terrence Kikhumah, a 29-year-old Seaman from Trinidad arrived at 221 Brownhill Road Catford, and Lucy Barrow, a 19-year-old student also from Trinidad arrived at 45 Manor Lane. Lewisham’s Black African population has grown to 31,858 people– now the third largest in the UK. There are many local stories from at least 4 generations that could be collected and told. There are many buildings and memorials in Lewisham.”
Barbara Gray is currently Development Lead for Kinaraa CIC which supports the development of Black and minority ethnic third sector organisations in Lewisham.
For more information or local legacy stories, contact – barbara.gray@kinaraa.org
Barbara led the Legacies of Windrush discussion at the Migration Museum on Saturday 24th June.
