Windrush 75th anniversary

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2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the HMT Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks on 22 June, 1948. The arrival of the ship and its passengers, who were mainly from the Caribbean, symbolised the start of what would come to be known as the ‘Windrush Generation’ from 1948 – 1971. A tea party at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum Colindale reveals there is also a strong connection to Windrush locally.

The RAF Museum held a tea party where members of the Windrush generation with a connection to Barnet gathered to tell their personal Windrush stories. Many of the people at the event had a connection with former Barnet Councillor Agnes Slocombe, who was also in attendance and has lived in Barnet all her life.

Sylvia Vaughan-Smith arrived in England in 1955, lives in Brent but has a strong connection to the borough. Sylvia has been a foster parent and a carer for Barnet for many years.

“I’ve had a very good experience coming to England back in 55. I got a job as a community nurse for quite a long time, I worked as a ‘twilight’ late shift nurse. I also worked as a carer for Barnet Care Attendant Scheme it was back then. I then worked for Barnet as a foster carer. I had no difficulties with work. I had a successful working life here, it’s something I cherish.

Synthia and Desney

“My only difficulties were with securing housing. I didn’t know anything about council housing or how to get accommodation.

“I preside over a fellowship called the Sisterhood Fellowship at West Hendon Baptist Church, and Agnes (Slocombe) is part of this fellowship and suggested we join the tea party today.”

Desney Stuart also arrived in 1955 and is part of the Sisterhood Fellowship with Sylvia.

“It’s good to hear that there are events like this where the achievements of the Windrush Generation are being celebrated now as people didn’t really talk about their experiences much until now."

Andrea Mullings, who works at the council, was also at the RAF Museum tea party, talks about her connection to Windrush

“My connection to my history is long before Windrush landed at Tilbury Dock. I was born in London to parents were part of what is commonly known as the Windrush generation. Although neither of my parents were actually aboard the Empire Windrush one of my grand uncles - uncle John was on board!

"My parents arrived in the UK by plane! “My uncle is often contacted by historians or various media networks to recount his story. As one of only two of the last surviving passengers on board Windrush, uncle John recently helped unveil the statue at Waterloo Station with Prince William and Princess Catherine that pays tribute and honour to the men and women of Windrush.

“As a child growing up this gave me a great sense of pride to know my uncle was the first of many. On reflection it probably wasn’t so much that Uncle John was the trailblazer in the family. More so that he was famous and been on the television.

“Once I entered the teenage years it became less interesting, and I had a ‘here we go again’ attitude when the elders got together and talked about the ‘when I came in England’ stories; often including how they were treated by the ‘mother country’ with the pain and rejection of ‘No dogs, no Irish; no Blacks! woven into the conversation.

“My dad would often say ‘you have to know your history to understand what’s happening now’ which I didn’t truly understand until much later. My father was a man I really admired having gone though many adversities to get to where he is now.

“I reflect in that it is now 2023 and I have a mixture of both joy and pain as I consider at how far as a people, have come from the time of Windrush; but also how far we still have to go!”

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the HMT Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks on 22 June, 1948. The arrival of the ship and its passengers, who were mainly from the Caribbean, symbolised the start of what would come to be known as the ‘Windrush Generation’ from 1948 – 1971. A tea party at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum Colindale reveals there is also a strong connection to Windrush locally.

The RAF Museum held a tea party where members of the Windrush generation with a connection to Barnet gathered to tell their personal Windrush stories. Many of the people at the event had a connection with former Barnet Councillor Agnes Slocombe, who was also in attendance and has lived in Barnet all her life.

Sylvia Vaughan-Smith arrived in England in 1955, lives in Brent but has a strong connection to the borough. Sylvia has been a foster parent and a carer for Barnet for many years.

“I’ve had a very good experience coming to England back in 55. I got a job as a community nurse for quite a long time, I worked as a ‘twilight’ late shift nurse. I also worked as a carer for Barnet Care Attendant Scheme it was back then. I then worked for Barnet as a foster carer. I had no difficulties with work. I had a successful working life here, it’s something I cherish.

Synthia and Desney

“My only difficulties were with securing housing. I didn’t know anything about council housing or how to get accommodation.

“I preside over a fellowship called the Sisterhood Fellowship at West Hendon Baptist Church, and Agnes (Slocombe) is part of this fellowship and suggested we join the tea party today.”

Desney Stuart also arrived in 1955 and is part of the Sisterhood Fellowship with Sylvia.

“It’s good to hear that there are events like this where the achievements of the Windrush Generation are being celebrated now as people didn’t really talk about their experiences much until now."

Andrea Mullings, who works at the council, was also at the RAF Museum tea party, talks about her connection to Windrush

“My connection to my history is long before Windrush landed at Tilbury Dock. I was born in London to parents were part of what is commonly known as the Windrush generation. Although neither of my parents were actually aboard the Empire Windrush one of my grand uncles - uncle John was on board!

"My parents arrived in the UK by plane! “My uncle is often contacted by historians or various media networks to recount his story. As one of only two of the last surviving passengers on board Windrush, uncle John recently helped unveil the statue at Waterloo Station with Prince William and Princess Catherine that pays tribute and honour to the men and women of Windrush.

“As a child growing up this gave me a great sense of pride to know my uncle was the first of many. On reflection it probably wasn’t so much that Uncle John was the trailblazer in the family. More so that he was famous and been on the television.

“Once I entered the teenage years it became less interesting, and I had a ‘here we go again’ attitude when the elders got together and talked about the ‘when I came in England’ stories; often including how they were treated by the ‘mother country’ with the pain and rejection of ‘No dogs, no Irish; no Blacks! woven into the conversation.

“My dad would often say ‘you have to know your history to understand what’s happening now’ which I didn’t truly understand until much later. My father was a man I really admired having gone though many adversities to get to where he is now.

“I reflect in that it is now 2023 and I have a mixture of both joy and pain as I consider at how far as a people, have come from the time of Windrush; but also how far we still have to go!”

Page published: 20 Jun 2023, 04:55 PM