The University of Bolton will host an event celebrating the achievements of the generation who came to Britain from the Caribbean 75 years ago.

The Windrush 75 event will go ahead next month at the University’s Chancellor’s Building.

It will feature talks from prominent guest speakers, dance, poetry and music performances, as well as a wide variety of stalls and employers with training and career opportunities.

The Windrush group were caught up in a scandal when it emerged a large number of them had been deported unfairly.

Sharon Germaine-Cox, Assistant Vice Chancellor/MD Group Wide Academic Support and Professional Support Services, at the University of Bolton, is organising the event in conjunction with Faye Bruce from Caribbean and African Health Network. 

She said it was aimed at exploring the “past, present and future” of Windrush and everyone from the community was welcome to attend.

Sharon, whose parents started a new life in the UK as part of the Windrush generation, said: “The university has been working with the Caribbean and African Health Network on a number of initiatives with the joint purpose of eliminating the inequalities in the outcomes which arise from our healthcare and education system.

“Next month, we as a nation, turn our attention to the Windrush generation and their descendants with a number of events being held across Greater Manchester.

“The Windrush generation arrived in the UK from the Caribbean to contribute to the rebuilding of the UK after the Second World War, including the establishment of the NHS which also celebrates its 75th birthday.”

Sharon added: “Many of the men and women who came here had served in services such as the RAF during the war and were also the pioneers answering the call to rebuild this country.

“They left family, friends and beautiful sunny islands to accept the invitation to relocate and travel by boat and planes to a cold and unexpectedly hostile environment to use their skills, knowledge and hard work to make the future better for all members of the commonwealth.

“They rapidly took positions in the NHS, railways, local government, factories and construction, at the same time that they and their children faced exclusion and discrimination in housing, employment and education."

HMT Empire Windrush was the ship that brought some of the first post-war British and Commonwealth citizens from the Caribbean to Britain.
The vessel carried 1,027 passengers and two stowaways on a voyage from Jamaica to London in 1948. Of these, more than 800 passengers gave their last country of residence as somewhere in the Caribbean.
The Windrush's arrival has become symbolic of the generation of Commonwealth citizens who came to live and work in Britain between 1948 and 1971.

TV journalist and presenter Clive Myrie, who was born and raised in Bolton by parents who migrated from the Caribbean, will deliver a message by video.

The event will take a place at the University of Bolton on June 22 from 10am to 4pm, with people urged to book a spot online.