From Brent Council
This
year marks the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush arriving in
Britain with more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean, ready to
embark on their new lives.
Brent Council is proud to celebrate Windrush 75 with a host of events around the borough this summer.
Kicking off the celebrations, on Thursday 22 June, Brent Civic Centre
will come alive with a free flagship Market Place to celebrate the
legacy and contribution of the African-Caribbean community with music,
live performances, and food stalls.
There will also be a Windrush exhibition, charting what it was like to
settle in a new country from those who experienced this firsthand and
what it meant to be British. The event is set to attract hundreds of
visitors throughout the day so mark it in your diaries – there is no
need to book in advance.
This
will be followed by a Tea Party in Gladstone Park on 24 June to
celebrate the elderly survivors of the Windrush generation. There will
be live performance with a reggae choir, and the opportunity to learn
from the wisdom of elders in the community as they share more about
their lives. Get your tickets from Eventbrite.
Councillor Mili Patel, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform, said:
Celebrating seventy-five years of Windrush is a hugely significant and special way to honour our African-Caribbean community.
Time goes by very quickly, but a lifetime of memories, service and
contribution is never forgotten. It is a privilege to celebrate and
acknowledge the work, sacrifice, and achievements of the Windrush
seniors.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council said: “The Windrush
Generation holds a significant place in Britain and Brent’s history and
must becelebrated and respected for their vast contribution to society.
The legacy of the Windrush community will continue for many more years to come through the many talented Brent residents who are direct descendants of Windrush pioneers.
This is what sets us apart from so many other London boroughs and I am incredibly grateful to all those who came to Brent and continue to call this borough their home.
Windrush Workshops
Englan' Voice: Celebrating Windrush Generation Artists
Thursday 22 June
Kilburn Library
10:30am to 12noon
Harlesden Library
1pm to 2:30pm
Discover the work of three Windrush-era artists painter Tam Joseph,
writer Beryl Gilroy and musician Aldwyn Roberts and their influence on
British culture.
Harlesden Library Coffee Morning
‘You called, we responded’: Celebrating 75 years of Windrush and the NHS
Thursday 6 July
11am to 12noon
2023 marks both the 75th anniversaries of the arrival of the Empire
Windrush and the start of the NHS. Join local Dr Joan St John to explore
some of the impacts of that shared history.
Windrush 75 – Family Craft
2.30 to 4.30pm
Wembley Library – Wednesday 16 August
Kilburn Library – Friday 18 August
Age 3+. Drop in.
For more information: brent.gov.uk/libraries
