This event took place at Reading Town Hall on Saturday 15th July 2023.
The afternoon consisted of members of the Windrush generation and their families, being treated to a celebratory time. There was a service of thanksgiving with a talk by Pastor Josh Wilson and an address from the acting High Commissioner of Jamaica Patricia Laird-Grant.
Bible reading, a saxophone performance and poetry recital completed the appearances on stage.
Attendees, seated in café style on dressed round tables, were also provided with a Caribbean lunch.
The thanksgiving event was attended by dignitaries, members of the Windrush generation and their friends and families. The event was well supported with 206 people in attendance.
Dignitaries present:
- Mayor of Reading -Councillor Tony Page
- Mayor’s escort – Michael Harper
- MP for Reading East – Matt Rodda
- Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire – Carrol Jackson-Deorge
- Alderman Joe, and Dulcie Williams
- Acting High Commissioner for Jamaica- Patricia Laird-Grant
- Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles
- Chair of ACRE – Dr. Ejaz Elahi
- Business Moves – Simon Darvell
- Pastor Josh Wilson
Footnote:
Windrush consortium members are Victor Koroma, Annette Levy, Fiona Price, Brendan Carr, Rodney Harewood, and Jeff Jones.
Event and Service planned by Caribbean Associations Group members Annette Levy, Yvonne Harewood, Joan Sinclair-Robinson, Nordia Nelson, Marcella John, Jeff Jones, and Pastor Josh Wilson.
The Caribbean Associations Group (CAG) comprise of several associations such as the Barbados and Friends Association (BAFA), St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica Society and friends.
Pastor Josh invited everyone gathered to remember and to give thanks. He said, “This is not church, but it is church like”.
Opening prayers referred to the bodies and souls and the resilience of the human spirit. Thanksgiving that we can rely on each other. Remembering many who could not be there in person and those who have sadly passed away and are held in our memories. Giving God thanks for what he has done, is doing and shall do.
There was a Bible reading from Isaiah Chapter 55, verses 10 – 13 read by Ms Marcella John.
As a Windrush child, his parents having come during the period. As chaplain for Royal Berks, he was dressed in his dad’s gown, NHS blue. He shared the belief that good things happen when good people get together to do good things.
There was a reading of ‘The British’ poem by the poet Benjamin Zephaniah, read by Mrs. Nordia Nelson.
It goes through the forming of Britain over time. The poem speaks to the range of cultures that make up the population. It is assertive and speaks to unity, understanding and respect with justice and harmony.
Attendees were invited to sing the Christian Hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ written by John Newton in 1772, published later. John was a slave trader who was then saved by God’s grace and changed his behaviour. Pastor Josh reminded us that none of us need to be perfect to benefit from God’s love.
In his talk he asked several rhetorical questions encouraging us to think more deeply.
What lessons could we learn from the initial pioneers?
What do we make of doctors and nurses having to strike and use food banks in a time of plenty?
How are we going to imagine a better future than what we’ve had before?
How are we going to work together as British people?
There was then a musical interlude with Mr. Kemmel Spence on the saxophone. He played the well-known song – One day at a time sweet Jesus.
Pastor Josh refers to the fact that the people who imagined the NHS did not have enough people to man it – hence the invitation to Caribbean people. But they believed in something for the greater good of mankind after having lived through some of the greater evils. He also recalled a conversation with the Archbishop of the West Indies, Bishop of Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands from earlier in the year which quoted Jeremiah Chapter 29. It includes the verse “I know what plans I have for you, plans to bless you …” He linked this to people trying to make things work when they don’t work. When the month is longer than the money available for the month.
He invited us, dressed in our finery and going back to our comfortable homes, to think of the many people in this town, who are sofa surfing and are sleeping on the streets. He encouraged people to do more as local representatives, politicians, law makers and voters.
He spoke of being prepared to face racism, knowing that he didn’t have to be what people said he would be, that he could succeed. He remembers the tough love that his parents used to make him strong to face the many adversities they anticipated he would encounter. Knowing that he would always stand out, he chose to be outstanding, twice as good.
Attendees were invited to embrace that challenge, take up opportunities that are present and connect to a legacy. A legacy that lives on through us, the descendants. Some final words from his talk:-
“Be blessed to be blessed.
Be blessed to have enough for yourself and somebody else as we travel along.
Be blessed to forgive and speak words of kindness and words of grace.
Be blessed to look beyond fails, in order to supply means. Be blessed with the spirit of true laughter which is of the soul.
Be blessed to be the best.”
In a very moving moment, he invited us to bless each other, as we shake the hand of the person next to us.
After Pastor Josh’s words we heard from the Acting Jamaican High Commissioner, representing the people of Jamaica, to give honour and pay tribute to the Windrush generation.
She noted that the Windrush generation thought that they would be coming to a wonderful and warm reception, greeted with joy at their arrival and living in peace.
The reality for many was not that.
Having spoken to a few Windrush pioneers on that specific 1948 voyage she was told of the parties they had on board. This surprised her. That well-known trip had several entertainers on it including Calypso singer Lord Kitchener.
She reminded us that they did not know what fate awaited them in the U.K. but came with hope and joy. Given what they found on arrival they then began to create better conditions for themselves. Things such as introducing the pardner system to save for large payments such a deposit on a house. They also started building their own churches when they felt unwelcomed in English churches.
She ended by encouraging attendees to hold on to their faith and their community. Despite the struggles, being there for each other is what helped them to keep going so that today we can celebrate them. Attendees were then invited to a three-course lunch, with much reminiscing and catching up.
Written by: Shirley Antis
