Windrush Day 2022

Today, 22 June is Windrush Day, the 74th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, one ship of many that brought Caribbean people to Britain to live and work. It is a mixed day however, as whilst it is a celebration of the arrival of the Caribbean community in Lambeth and Britain, it also reminds us that there is much left unresolved regarding the treatment of the community by the Home Office. 

In that spirit, the unveiling of sculptor Basil Watson’s monument statue inside Waterloo Station today by Lib Dem Peer, Baroness Floella Benjamin and their Royal Highnesses should be both celebrated and serve as a wake up call to all who have power or authority that the job is not complete yet. 

Two of our Lambeth councillors, Matthew Bryant and Ben Curtis attended the unveiling this morning along with representation from the national party.

Council Group Leader, Donna Harris said “We were pleased that the Boundary Commission supported the Lambeth Lib Dem proposal to name the new central Brixton Ward ‘Brixton Windrush’ in time for this year’s elections. Brixton became the heart of Lambeth’s Caribbean community in the years following the Windrush’s arrival and this goes some way to recognising that ongoing contribution”.

To see the video of the unveiling, click here to open in Youtube. The event lasts an hour or so.

Lambeth Council has a program of events running across the borough. See here for more details.