The council marked Windrush Day with a flag-raising ceremony attended by more than 50 residents and a community celebration honouring the contributions of the Windrush Generation and their descendants
On Monday 22 June, the Windrush Flag was raised outside the Town Hall, providing an opportunity for reflection and recognition of the lasting impact that members of the Windrush Generation have had on Watford and across the UK.
Following the flag-raising ceremony, the celebrations continued at Watford Palace Theatre with an afternoon of food, music and storytelling. Entertainment was provided by an Steelasophical Steel Band, whose performances at both the ceremony and the afternoon event helped create a vibrant and celebratory atmosphere.
The event highlighted the importance of preserving and sharing the stories of the Windrush Generation, whose contributions have helped shape the town's diverse and welcoming community.
Earlier this year, it was announced that survivors of the Home Office Windrush Scandal will benefit from stronger, more consistent support through the launch of the Windrush Councils Network. The network brings together local authorities from across England under the leadership of Independent Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE to improve outcomes for affected communities.
Watford Borough Council is proud to be a founding member of the network, with Councillor Aga Dychton, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Community, representing the council.
Semeta Bloomfield, Community Commissioning Lead, said: “It was wonderful to see more than 50 local residents from the Windrush generation come together on Windrush Day to celebrate their rich history and culture with us. The event at Watford Palace Theatre served as a powerful reminder of the importance of capturing the experiences of this generation and ensuring that their stories are preserved. The Museum of Watford will be working closely with members of the local Windrush community to record and preserve their oral histories.”
“I will also be feeding back many of the conversations I had on the day to the Windrush Councils Network, of which I am a member, highlighting that there is still much work to be done to support this community in coming forward and sharing the impact that the Windrush scandal has had on their lives.”
Windrush Day, officially recognised on 22 June since 2018, commemorates the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948. The ship carried passengers from Caribbean countries who answered Britain's call to help rebuild the nation after the Second World War. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on communities across the country and continue to be celebrated today.
Watford Borough Council recognises that events such as these are only possible through the support and commitment of local community organisations and residents.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Angela Wells and WACA, Andrea Hayes, Community Game Changers, Goods for Goods, Phyliss Chase, Enid Saunders, Steelasophical Steel Band and Yallahs Bay Caribbean Fusion Cuisine for their valued contribution to the planning and delivery of this year's Windrush Day celebrations.
