Lex’s take on Windrush 75

This year, on the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush coming to British shores, we reflect on the sacrifices and contributions made by this great generation.

I was born in Bradford, where my grandfather settled after coming to the UK from Nigeria in the 1950s as part of the Windrush Generation. Following the victory of the Allied forces in the Second World War, Britain was left in serious economic disrepair. By passing the Nationality Act of 1948, the British government gave citizens from British colonies the right to live and work in the UK, to get the nation back on its feet.

HMT Empire Windrush was the first ship to come to the UK from the Caribbean, however the name ‘Windrush Generation’ also refers to those from other British colonies, including parts of Africa and South Asia. These communities helped to rebuild post-war Britain, and all the while, endured so much adversity.

In early 2022, I volunteered to deliver the ‘Windrush Community Stories Project’ (led by local nonprofit organisation, Windrush Generations), and I had the honour of interviewing some Windrush Elders who shared their life experiences with me – detailing their lives as youngsters in the Caribbean, their often-daunting journeys to the UK and finally, their experiences of settling and raising families in Bradford.

It was through this project, and my role as a Heritage Instigator for African and African-Caribbean communities in Bradford, where I connected with The Linking Network. I met with Meg and Linda, who collaborated with think-tank British Future to deliver three interactive lessons in local schools and colleges, with Windrush Elders and 2nd generation descendants as guest speakers, with artefacts, resources, and Q&A sessions. It was not only moving, but really informative, listening to Lorna, Sadie, Pamela and Charles share their experiences.

It was wonderful to be a part of this project, seeing intergenerational discussion in action; the passing down of stories and experiences is not only important in helping young people contextualise the modern Britain we live in today, but also in promoting tolerance and creating a shared sense of belonging. The stories really resonated with students, and you could see they were curious – they engaged with the Elders compassionately, trying to envisage being in their shoes, while of course some students had family members with similar experiences, so we heard from them too.

It is essential that we document and preserve these stories for future generations. Historically, Bradford has been a home to many different migrant communities, in my opinion it’s what makes Bradford ‘Bradford’.

Lex, TLN Volunteer Blog on Windrush

You can find videos and resources on Windrush here (No password is needed).