Thejourneyfrom overtheretohere.

On the 22 June 1948, HMS Empire Windrush arrived in Tilbury from the Caribbean with over 1000 passengers, some 800 of whom were from the islands of the Caribbean. It was the start of a wave of immigration from the Caribbean who were responding to a call from the British government to the

British colonies to rebuild the economy after the ravages of World War II. So, from 1948 to the early 1970’s the people of the Caribbean and other colonies provided a steady supply of labour to rebuild the country and in doing so have made a tangible historic contribution to the economy and the culture of the United Kingdom.

We continue to celebrate and build upon the journey from there to here.

Windrush Day, celebrated on the 22nd June each year has become a key symbolic moment of celebrating Black British contribution to the UK.

Anchored by Dr Patrick Vernon OBE, Social Commentator, Campaigner and Cultural Historian, it aims to provide an opportunity “to deepen the public conversation about the past present and future of modern Britain.”

It was Patrick himself who led the campaign that saw the inception of Windrush Day in 2018, the 70th anniversary.

At the launch of The Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station, on the

22nd June 2018, the then Communities Minister Lord Bourne, outlined the purpose of Windrush Day as one to encourage “communities across the country to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.”

He went on to say that, “A Windrush Day will allow communities up and down the country to recognise and honour the enormous contribution of those who stepped ashore at Tilbury Docks 70 years ago. ”

Check out the plethora of events that are available across the country, by visiting the Windrush 75 Network website @ windrush75.org

Event Date

Wednesday, 22 March in London