TALES FROM THE WINDRUSH …

Two Suffolk residents talk to Livingin ... about the promises of a better life …

This month marks the 75th anniversary since HMS Empire Windrush arrived from the Caribbean islands to help rebuild Britain after World War Two.

The Windrush generation were promised a wonderful new life full of opportunity - well-paid jobs in the newly forming NHS, a choice of professional occupations and a great standard of living to boot. Some achieved this but for others, the reality was far from it.

This month (June) sees a number of events locally including the fabulous Suffolk Windrush 75th Anniversary held at the Cornhill and Town Hall in Ipswich featuring an exhibition, stalls, speakers, food and live music, including Phaze II Steelband. The event will celebrate all the achievements of the Caribbean community in Suffolk.

On the Suffolk Windrush Select Committee is Woodbridge resident Doreen Pegg and Ipswich’s Charles Challenger who told LivingIn … of their own family experiences …

It’s not lost on Charles how fitting his surname has turned out to be. He got it from his father’s side of the family but his spirit and quest for knowledge and adventure he owes to his mother’s side, in particular his incredible grandmother, Gretta Otto (pictured, above right). A self-taught, trade unionist and fierce campaigner back in their homeland Antigua, Gretta was not afraid to challenge the system. She instilled in Charles and his nine other siblings the value of education. It stood him in good stead when he came to Ipswich in 1968 aged 12, in the footsteps of his parents, Glen and Hughlester.

Life in Suffolk was a culture shock at first.

“Especially the cold winters,” smiles Charles, who after college, went on to great success ultimately running his own shipping agency in Ipswich, Challenger Shipping. “But it was all a great adventure.”

Being in the tiny minority of black youngsters growing up in rural Suffolk at that time, he says he spent a lot of time socialising with school friends and their families in predominantly white towns, such as Leiston. “One thing I loved was their family roast dinnersparticularly apple pie and custard!” he smiles. Did he encounter racism?

“There was one gentleman early on when I worked in shipping, who once didn’t speak to me for four years,” he recalls. “My grandmother always taught me people were ignorant according to how well they were educated. It didn’t affect me, it strengthened me because I learnt from those things and progressed. It made me who I am today; I’m very confident!”

Charles believes that prejudice is far more insidious than racism. “If someone is racist they give off a sign but if they’re prejudiced, you can never identify it.”

Unfortunately Woodbridge resident Doreen Pegg (pictured on left page), was on the receiving end of bigotry as a child growing up in her birthplace in west London.

At school she was subject to racist taunts and name-calling.

However, she excelled in sports gaining medals in high jump and almost taking part in running at the White City Stadium in the relay.

Life was especially hard for Doreen’s mother, Anora, who struggled to fit in as she battled the cold climate and the culture.

“She never really settled,” says Doreen, whose parents came over from Jamaica in the 1950s. “She remained homesick until the end.”

For her father, Nathaniel Baugh, he flourished in London; working his way up from a fire cropper on the trains to becoming station manager at Paddington. He spent a lot of his time helping other Windrush folk to get on the London property ladder. He made a good life for his family.

Despite Nathaniel’s optimism, it could not have been easy arriving here alone with nothing and having to work in hard manual jobs at first. It wasn’t quite the life that had been promised. Back home in Jamaica he came from a distinguished family (see him pictured in the 1930s), he’d worked in politics in the Labour Party and had once owned a banana plantation. He had famous relatives - his cousin, Kenneth Baugh, became Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica and another cousin was internationally renowned potter, Cecil Baugh.

“It was very rough when my father first came here,” recalls Doreen, who herself went on to train in the NHS in occupational therapy and social work. “The Salvation Army helped him out at first. But he did well - he was very ahead of his time. He was outgoing and got on well with people.”

Does she think things have improved for the black community since those days?

“I think things are harder in some areas,” says Doreen, “especially for my friends in nursing - the struggles that some of them have been through. Seeing them being overlooked when they should have been promoted has not been easy. There’s room for improvement,” she adds.

Now everyone can see and hear more accounts from the Windrush generations at the forthcoming event held in Ipswich which Charles and Doreen have been busy working on.

“It should be a good day out for all,” adds Charles, “and chance to reflect on the relationship between England and the Caribbean.” l Suffolk Windrush Anniversary at The Cornhill and Town Hall, Ipswich on National Windrush Day - Thursday 22 June, 12noon - 4.30pm.

Woodbridge Festivalwindrush 75

This wonderful community festival has announced an incredible programme of Windrush 75 events throughout summer. The highlight of the programme is ground-breaking British reggae band, Aswad, who will be performing in the town.

YOUR AT-A-GLANCE GUIDE … l For tickets see, woodbridgefestival.com

• Sunday 18 June 11am10pm - Carnival Events and Light Projections on the Tide Mill at Woodbridge Regatta, Whisstocks Square. Featuring Steel Pan Band by Trevor Jones and Samba drum workshops by Adrian Wiggins. DJs include DJ Boppa Ranking (Freedom Sound System) - Caribbean street food and more. Artworks - inspired by the Windrush generations - to be projected onto the historic Tide Mill. Plus, a photo exhibition across the town.

• Thursday 22 June -National Windrush Day - flags will be raised across towns.

• Friday 23 June - London eventWoodbridge Festival of Art and Music & Deeper Into Movies presents Windrush 75 - a celebration of Soundsystem Culture in N16. Featuring Aswad debut 3D playback, DJs Ashley Beadle, Jo Wallace and Turner prize nominated Black Obsidian Sound System (BOSS). TICKETS: earthackney.co.uk 6pm-1am.

• Sunday 25 June - Caribbean Street Feast By The River at Whisstocks Square, Woodbridge, with Caribbean and Mexican street food. DJs include Ashley Beedle, from Shock Sound System in London and Nicky Rasta from Yard Sound System in Ipswich, plus drum workshops, stalls and more.

• Wednesday 30 August - Aswad will perform LIVE in Woodbridge Community Hall, Station Road in the town.