Hackney’s Caribbean elders come together for town hall Windrush Day event

Hackney’s Caribbean elders came together to celebrate the 70th anniversary of MV Empire Windrush docking in Britain.

The town hall event on Thursday – Windrush Day – celebrated the contributions of those who came over as part of the rebuilding of the country following the Second World War.

Lola Bello said: “I like Hackney a lot, you see different people from different nations and we can all relate to each other.

“Days like Windrush Day are important to learn about the past and what people have suffered and how much we have improved from the olden days, as now everybody is united and we have a good community.”

As part of the celebrations, Hackney Museum has this year taught more than 3,000 school children about the borough’s migration stories, such as Windrush.

Deputy Mayor Anntionette Bramble said: “It’s really important that as a borough with a large Caribbean community, that we celebrate Windrush Day and those who came from the Caribbean to help rebuild Britain and shape British society.

“Alongside celebrations it’s also important for us to honour and respect people affected by this history in the present, and realise the hardships that communities like the Windrush generation still face today, and how as a society we can reflect on history to overcome this.”