Windrush Day commemorates the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush in Britain, with more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean on board - the ‘Windrush generation’.
This year’s Windrush Day marks 77 years since the arrival of the Windrush, and there are many events honouring the occasion. Windrush Day occurs on June 22 every year and celebrates the cultural and societal contributions made by the migrants from the Caribbean community who made Britain their home.
It is estimated that around 500,000 people living in the UK are part of the Windrush Generation, who arrived between 1948 and 1971.
They arrived not only seeking work, but also the promise of a better life in Britain. However, whilst jobs were plentiful, for many the experience of assimilating was fraught with hostility, intolerance, and racism.
In 2018, the Windrush scandal came to light, which saw at least 83 British-Caribbeans wrongly deported from the UK by the Home Office, which adds further hurt to their story.
To mark the 77th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush, we’ve taken a look at some notable figures and descendants from that generation, many of whom have campaigned for better rights for migrants (both first and second generation) from the Caribbean community in the UK.
5. British writer and dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah’s is a child of the Windrush generation. His mum travelled over from Jamaica after seeing a poster advertising the UK as an attractive place to live. In his book ‘Windrush Child’, the author draws on experiences of children that came to the UK during that period. | Getty Images
6. Sir Lenny Henry actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and writer.
Lenny Henry was born in Dudley to parents who emigrated to the UK from Jamaica. He is a successful actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and writer. He has written his first one man play in which he stars in called ‘August in England’ which focuses on the injustices of the Windrush scandal. | Getty Images
7. Levi Roots, is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, television personality, celebrity chef, author and businessman
Roots was born in Clarendon, Jamaica and was raised by his grandmother after his parents moved to the United Kingdom, until he joined them at age 11. He is a MOBO award winning musician and was a friend of Bob Marley’s when he lived in the UK. He is also the founder of Reggae Reggae Hit Sauce and has had acting role in Rye Lane and Death in Paradise. | Getty Images
8. Siggy Cragwell, 83, Thameslink’s oldest employee
Siggy travelled from Barbados to London in 1962 to work on the railways at the age of 23. 61 years later he is currently Thameslink’s oldest employee, working in customer services at Elstree & Borehamwood Station. Siggy, who now lives in Hampstead, has received two Lifetime Achievement Awards for his exceptional commitment to the railway. | Credit: Thameslink