Windrush 75: ‘We were wanted here and we did a good job’

The country was basking in summer sunshine when Clifton McGibbon arrived in the UK from Jamaica in July 1966. And now, more than five decades later, he celebrates the 75th anniversary of the first crossing of the Caribbean in 1948, commonly referred to as Windrush, in similar sunny and warm weather.

Clifton, who is part of the Windrush Generation, was among the many attendees at the special event organised by the North Kent Caribbean Network in Gravesend to mark the anniversary. The 69-year-old wanted to use the opportunity to remind people of the importance of keeping the story of his ancestors alive.

“All my mother’s and father’s generation, the majority are now deceased,” he said. “If we, the younger ones, had not stepped up, and got justice for the injustice, it would have faded away. We’re hoping it will continue to be passed on through generations, so they know about the suffering.”

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He added: “Sharing our stories has helped me realise how much of an impact the Windrush Generation has made and how much we have helped to inspire younger members of our community. Some of us had a terrible time and faced lots of discrimination, others faced their own unique challenges, but the one thing that binds us is our resilience and determination to succeed.”

The Windrush Generation includes anyone who immigrated to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1971. Windrush Day was first observed in 2018 to mark the 70th anniversary of the arrival of 492 African Caribbean people in the UK, brought to Tilbury Docks in Essex on the Empire Windrush ship.

Now the community in and around Gravesend wants to highlight the contribution Black people have made in Britain since they arrived. Annette Erskine, 67, attended the event with her twin sister Angela.

The retired legal assistant moved to the UK from Jamaica when she was only 10.

She told KentLive: “My mother was here, she came five or six years before us, to set up home. The classic thing really, one parent comes, gets a job, sets up home, brings the rest of the children and the wife.

“The age that we came, we were in junior school for just a few months and then we went straight to secondary and we kind of just fitted in, we didn’t have a massive transition period. We lost our accent really quickly. The school we went to in north London was really mixed.”

Annette got married and lived in South London before moving to Strood for five years and then to Northfleet for 36 years. She said the negative experiences she faced over the years have made her stronger.

“We all have similar stories,” she said. “It always sounds as if our whole life is negative. It’s not that, but the little bit of negativity has a massive impact on your life. That’s what people have to understand.

“I always had really nice jobs, I never had problems with getting work but I’ve been to interviews where I know I’m not going to get the job because I’m Black. But you just have to brush it off and move on.

“I know the difference between when someone is just being a horrible person and being racist and those moments really have a massive impact on your life. It’s not that you have a negative life, you have negative experiences along the way and it does stay with you. In yourself you’re getting stronger, but it’s still hard to put that out there.”

‘It’s important to acknowledge the impact we had’

Annette said the Windrush generation and their descendants had a massive impact on Britain and continue to contribute to all aspects of British life. She said: “It’s very important to mark Windrush Day. It’s good to acknowledge the arrival and the impact we had. We didn’t just turn up uninvited, we were invited, we were wanted and we did a good job through the crap we had to put up with and we’re still here smiling.”

Nadya Cascoe was only one year and 10 months old when she travelled from Jamaica to the UK. Her dad arrived in England at the end of 1954 and her mum brought Nadya, her eldest brother and baby sister the following year.

“Those people who came, not necessarily in 1948 because a lot of people came from the Caribbean before that, but the importance of the Windrush is that previously people in power had travelled to the Caribbean to invite people to the motherland to help rebuild the motherland after the Second World War.

“Those people came, like my parents, and they struggled, they worked to make things better for us. I am a product of the Windrush Generation and I am commemorating them but also celebrating them. They were strong, dedicated people.”

Gathering at the Old Gravesendians Association in Bronte View, people spent the day sharing stories around a massive buffet prepared by volunteers.

The co-founder of North Kent Caribbean Network Michelle Bramble said: “As a descendant of the Windrush Generation, I’m incredibly proud to host our Windrush 75 events on behalf of North Kent Caribbean Network. Speaking to my parents, grandparents and our Caribbean elders, I’ve learned about their hardship and suffering and also the pride and joy they experience whilst trying to create a safe and secure place to call home for their families.

“Their resilience, strength and determination is truly inspiring. Whilst we have sadly had to say goodbye to many of the men and women who travelled here, I hope that our work will keep the memory of their strength and spirit alive and will serve to inspire future generations.”

A statue was unveiled during the lunch which represented “the ghost of a Windrush Family”. Director for communities for Gravesham council Jamie Izzard was in attendance and said the Windrush generation has had a “profound impact” on the borough.

“It’s just fantastic to celebrate them and remember some of the people here we don’t have in Borough anymore, remember some of the bad times but celebrate the good times.”

Chief Superintendent Shaun White told KentLive during the event: “I have been in here for about a year. My agency, the police, we have tried to become more integrated with the community and we have been embraced.

“Crime is reducing, people feel more comfortable to speak to the police, things are heading in the right direction.”