WINDRUSH PROCESSION

Ebony Kingston reports on commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush docking at Tilbury

June 22 2023 was a day for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush ship that docked at the port of Tilbury, Essex in 1948. It carried 492 men, women and children from the Caribbean, many of them veterans of the Second World War.

The procession in South London started from outside 198 Gallery, 198 Railton Road, Herne Hill, making its way through Railton Road, touching onto Atlantic Road, then turning left onto Saltoun Road, before arriving at Windrush Square. The event, which was organised by The Brixton Project, included participants from RMT, Jewish Voices For Labour and many others including an array of people in carnival inspired costumes, people wearing apparel that would have been worn while greeting these shores, namely smart suits and dresses.

These clothes would have been considered Sunday Best.

Of course, RMT members joined the ranks in carrying their banners in full flow. At the front of the procession were drummers to get the spirit going, as well as a float that was made into the shape of the very ship that transported many of the grandparents, parents, aunties, uncles and children that would make their lives and therefore make their contributions to British society.

Upon arrival at Windrush Square, we were met with a plethora of performances such as opera singing from Brixton based Pegasus Opera, Kinetika Bloco Steel Pans, speeches from Reverend Bishop Brown, Lambeth Councillor Jacqui Dyer, Olivia Augustin, followed by performances from the Black British Ballet Project and Akomasa performing Arts before drawing to a close.