The Voice Newspaper: June 2025

JUNE 2025 • ISSUE NO. 1967

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JUNE 22

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The Windrush Witness

Clovis Salmon, the bike mechanic who filmed Black Britain from the inside ›› p20

SHAPED BY

WINDRUSH A tribute to the hands, hearts and hopes that helped transform a nation •

From Tiger Bay to the world: Welsh Windrush generation trailblazers who feature in a BAFTA-nominated documentary (Photo: Courtesy of Windrush Cymru Elders Wales)

THE WINDRUSH story continues. It’s not history, it’s living legacy.

As Britain reckons with its past we honour the generation that helped change its future — and amplify the voices carrying their spirit forward.

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Inside THIS MONTH

The Voice says

ROUNDUP NEWSPAPER

News, views, stories & videos

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK

4&5

How Wales’ Caribbean elders keep the Windrush flame burning

6

Allyson Williams MBE: the Windrush midwife who fought prejudice with purpose

FIGHTER: Burkina Faso president Ibrahim Traoré

12 From Tilbury to today:

Remembering Bert Carless: Birmingham’s first Black councillor

the Windrush story continues to live on

O

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Letters from the Windrush Generation reveal the truth behind the headlines

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Faith, food and a future: the Windrush couple still fighting for the poor

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Cricket legend Roland Butcher reveals all in his new book

N JUNE 22, we mark Windrush Day – not just as a historical commemoration, but as a living tribute to the generation that helped build modern Britain.

The Windrush story is not over. It lives on in every descendant, every contribution, every cultural imprint that continues to shape our national identity.

When the HMT Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury in 1948, it carried not just passengers, but hope, resilience, and an unshakable belief in the promise of opportunity.

Those early Caribbean migrants answered Britain’s call to help rebuild after the devastation of war.

They took up roles in our hospitals, transport systems, and factories – often the jobs no one else wanted – and did so with dignity and pride.

Their hands helped heal the sick, drive the buses that kept the country moving, and power the industries that laid the foundation for post-war recovery. In every sense, they became the backbone of a nation in need.

But theirs was not an easy welcome. The Windrush generation faced overt racism, exclusion, and

This issue is 48 pages EDITOR Vic Motune E. vic.motune@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Joel Campbell E. joel.campbell@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk

systemic injustice. Their enormous contributions were too often met with silence, suspicion, or scorn.

And decades later, the Windrush scandal brought new wounds – a cruel betrayal that saw many wrongly detained, denied healthcare and housing, or even deported from the country they had long called home.

It was an outrage. It was a failure.

And it must never happen again.

That is why Windrush Day matters.

It is a reminder that the Windrush generation are not just part of our history – they are foundational to our present and future.

It is a day to honour their strength, to celebrate their legacy, and to amplify the voices still carrying their spirit forward.

Britain owes a debt – not just of gratitude, but of justice. Recognition must be more than symbolic; redress must be real, complete, and swift.

Let us use this day not only to look back, but to look forward – and ensure that what happened to the Windrush generation is never repeated.

Their story continues. And following the Windrush scandal so must the fight for truth and dignity.

1

“Hands off Ibrahim Traoré!”

Black Britons must speak. Because Traoré’s fight is our fight – against imperialism, lies and exploitation

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The forgotten Black heroes of VE Day: stories of courage, resilience and loss. Historian Stephen Bourne uncovers the experiences of Black Caribbean Second World War servicemen, women and civilians Alemseged Tesfai launches landmark book. Latest work explores the overlooked roots of Eritrea’s struggle for independence

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Boy, 13, dies after being pulled from canal in Exeter

Hackney community hero still missing after almost three months

Manchester United to wear charity sponsor RED this weekend Sheku wants us all to know ‘The Power of Music’

‘Follow your dreams’: meet the West End actresses raising awareness for World IBD day Baby loss organisation calls for action to improve bereavement support for Black families

Update: Body found in River Thames confirmed to be Kaliyah Coa

Got a story? email us at yourviews@thevoicemediagroup.co.uk SPORTS EDITOR Rodney Hinds E. rodney.hinds@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk ADVERTISING AND SALES E. advertising@thevoicemedia group.co.uk

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JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 3

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RUPERT KEEPS STRUMMING ALONG IN THE KEY OF LIFE Windrush veteran Rupert Anderson celebrates 90 years with faith, family, and a guitar. By Vic Motune

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HEN Rupert Anderson picked up a £10 guitar from a local charity shop, it led to him discovering a passion that had been within him for many years.

At 90 years old, Rupert strums his guitar with the same enthusiasm as the church deacon who inspired him as a young person in Jamaica.

His joy in playing the guitar encapsulates his philosophy on life: embrace every moment, no matter your age.

Earlier this year, the greatgrandfather and beloved Windrush generation pioneer celebrated his milestone 90th birthday surrounded by his six children, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. And while the celebrations continue, it’s likely that nothing will get in the way of Rupert picking up his guitar and singing praises to God – a testament to a life anchored in faith, love, and an unyielding determination to keep learning.

Now the proud owner of three guitars, he strums choruses from memory, filling his home with music. His warm personality and gift for storytelling make him a beloved figure in his community.

Ask him about the weather and he might just break into song – Bring Me Sunshine by Morecambe and Wise is a favourite.

It’s a hobby that keeps him young, much like his unwavering faith and the love of his wife, Carmel, whom he married 64 years ago after proposing to her in Jamaica before leaving for the UK. “My wife Carmel means the world to me – she is the only woman in my life,” he says.

“I knew she was the only one for me.”

From Jamaica to Britain: A Windrush story Rupert arrived in Southampton on September 4, 1959, aboard the Begona passenger liner with just £10 and a suitcase.

His older brother, Huxley, welcomed him in Leamington A journey of faith Spa, where Rupert’s new life and resilience began – a life far different Born in Clarendon, Jamaica, from the one he had in 1935, Rupert grew up in a imagined.

Pentecostal church, where “It was exciting arriving the sight of Deacon Dean in the UK. The smoke that passionately playing the same came out the chimney was the guitar note week after week left most startling thing I saw,” he a lasting impression. recalls of his first impressions Decades later, long after of Britain. settling in Britain, Rupert bought “The winters in the early the guitar he saw in a charity shop 1960s were terrible. To keep and began teaching himself. warm, I used to have several “I keep asking my daughter to layers of newspapers over my teach me a few chords, but she chest during the winters while hasn’t done so yet,” he laughs. “But travelling on my moped.” not knowing the notes doesn’t Like many Windrush arrivals, stop me from playing.” he faced racial prejudice, and

PASSION: Rupert hones his guitar playing skills; above, Rupert and Carmel surrounded by their greatest legacy – their six children book, Prayed Out! My Miraculous ICU Journey.

values and an unshakeable work ethic.

WEDDING DAY: Rupert and Carmel in 1961 and, right, today

gruelling work. His first job – sweeping ashes from trains – lasted only days. He later worked as a boilerman, forklift driver, and security officer, enduring racist taunts along the way.

“When I was a security officer

in the 1980s, someone shouted, ‘Have you seen Sooty?’” Rupert remembers. “I was so angry, but I was determined to live a godly life.”

Despite the hardships, he built a home in Coventry with Carmel, raising their children with strong

A near-death experience and a life renewed Nine years ago, Rupert collapsed in Coventry city centre, his heart failing. A passing couple performed CPR, saving his life.

The close call only deepened his faith in God and his commitment to living each day to the fullest.

His faith saw him through many challenges, including his daughter Iona’s miraculous recovery from a critical illness, which she documented in her

The secret to a long, happy life?

For Rupert, longevity is more than luck – it’s down to the love and support of family.

“Some people won’t believe, but God’s Word says, ‘Come unto me, all who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’” he reflects.

And then, of course, there’s the guitar. A simple joy – but one that carries the melody of a life well-lived. As one of his daughters Angela puts it: “He’s a living example of how to live with purpose, faith, and love. This is what 90 looks like!”

Reflecting on his life and milestone birthday, Rupert says: “Knowing what I know now, there is nothing I would have done differently.”

And with that, the man who once dreamed of opening a bakery in Jamaica but instead built a legacy in Britain keeps smiling, keeps inspiring those around him – and keeps playing his guitar with the same passion as Deacon Dean all those years ago.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF DERBY CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL DERBY Caribbean Carnival is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with two flagship events this summer: the EMCCAN Regional Carnival Costume Competition on June 28 and the main carnival procession on July 20.

The milestone year will kick off with the East Midland Caribbean Carnival Arts Network (EMCCAN) Regional Carnival Costume Competition at Derby Theatre,

where designers will be challenged to “re-imagine carnival culture” through bold new interpretations of traditional carnival wear.

Kings, queens, princes and princesses from across the East Midlands will compete for top honours, alongside performances featuring steelpan music and energetic dance routines.

“This competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible talent and creativity within our Caribbean communities,” said Donna Briscoe-Greene, CEO of EMCCAN. “We can’t wait to see the innovative designs that emerge from this year’s theme.”

The main event follows on Sunday, July 20, when troupes from across the UK will take part in a colourful city-centre procession, ending at Osmaston Park. The park will be transformed into a vibrant festival space featuring a costume exhibition, international headline acts, local and national performers, sound systems, food stalls, arts and crafts, and a funfair.

The Derby Caribbean Carnival is

organised by the Derby West Indian Community Association, a charity that has supported the local community for over 70 years.

“For 50 years, the Derby Caribbean Carnival has been a vibrant expression of our heritage,” said Chairman George Mighty.

“We invite businesses to join us in this celebration and help us create a lasting legacy for future generations.”

4 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

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HOW WALES’ CARIBBEAN ELDERS KEEP WINDRUSH FLAME BURNING Honouring the Windrush Cymru Elders who have helped shape the country. By Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE

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S JUNE 22 approaches each year, communities across the United Kingdom prepare to commemorate National Windrush Day, a moment where people from diverse ethnic backgrounds gather to celebrate and reflect on the enduring legacy of the Windrush Generation.

In Wales, that legacy takes on a deeply personal and resonant tone through the work of the Windrush Cymru Elders, a group of Caribbean and Commonwealth elders aged 50 and above, who have not only shaped Wales with their invaluable contributions, but who continue to serve as keepers of memory, culture, and community resilience.

This year’s celebration is as important as the years before, as the Windrush Cymru @ 75 documentary, produced by Race Council Cymru and directed

by C-Bloc, continues to gain national attention.

The film documents the lived experiences of Wales-based Windrush pioneers.

It was nominated for a BAFTA Cymru and recently

earned critical acclaim, winning the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival award for Best Documentary in 2024 and in 2025 at a distinguished event at Indigo@O2 in London.

The feature length documentary also won a Smiley Charity Film Award, a testament to its emotional depth and historical significance, solidifying its place as a landmark feature length documentary in the UK documentary landscape.

But beyond the accolades lie the heart of a community of people from the Caribbean and other Commonwealth nations that continue to advocate, educate, and inspire.

individuals belong to the Windrush generation, the name given to the thousands of Commonwealth citizens who arrived in Britain from 1948 onwards to help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Before the establishment of the group, myself and Mrs Vernesta Cyril OBE (also a Windrush Cymru Elder) campaigned for the recognition of the contributions of the Windrush generation to the Welsh Government and the promotion and embedding of Black history in the school curriculum.

This continued the work of elders such as Gaynor Legall CBE, Betty Campbell MBE RIP, Patti Flynn RIP, Mr Lenn

Who are the Windrush Cymru Elders?

Established in 2017, the Windrush Cymru Elders group was founded

by Ms Roma Taylor BEM, who partnered with Race Council Cymru (RCC) to address the pressing and often overlooked needs of Caribbean and other Commonwealth elders living in RESILIENCE: Wales.

Errol Alexis Many features in the film of these

Lawrence, Mr Isaacs RIP, Mrs Angela Barnes RIP, Mr Neville Howard RIP, Mr Alexander Brodie RIP, Mr and Mrs Radway RIP, Mr Roy Grant BEM and so many esteemed elders who serve and served this nation from Tiger Bay, now called Butetown and Newport.

Over the decades, these elders contributed selflessly to Wales’ hospitals, schools, factories, and transport systems. Despite enduring systemic racism, isolation, and more recently, the injustices of the Windrush scandal, they remained steadfast in their commitment to Wales.

The group serves as a community anchor, offering peer support, intergenerational storytelling, public education, and advocacy for social and mental health services. Through their collective work, they combat loneliness, preserve cultural identity, and ensure that the legacy of their generation is not forgotten but woven perman ently into Welsh tapestry

VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS: Roy Grant BEM served the nation from Tiger Bay; right, Pastor Hadassah Radway and history. While the Windrush narrative is often centred around London and England’s urban cities, Wales has its own unique and vibrant Caribbean story.

The arrival of the Caribbean Windrush families to Wales began in earnest after 1948, when the British government invited citizens from Jamaica to help rebuild postwar Britain.

Responding to this call, men and women from islands such

as Jamaica, St Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Antigua and many other islands and Commonwealth nations made the journey to the UK and then to Wales – many of them settling in cities like Cardiff, Newport, Port Talbot, Swansea and North Wales.

In particular, Tiger Bay as it was called, became a melting pot of cultures, where Welsh, Somali, Yemeni, Irish, and Caribbean communities lived and worked

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 5

Windrush77 PROUD: The Windrush Cymru Elders on their Freedom March at the Senedd Building in Cardiff on June 22, 2023 at the 75th Anniversary of the Windrush generation’s arrival in Wales

VOICES OF LEGACY: SHINING A LIGHT ON INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AS WE celebrate Windrush Month this June, it is only fitting that we celebrate some of the incredible individuals within the Windrush Cymru Elders group whose personal stories exemplify service, sacrifice, and strength.

Vernesta Cyril OBE: The midwife who delivered a generation Born in St Lucia and migrating to the UK in 1962, Vernesta Cyril devoted over 30 years of her life to midwifery.

Over her career, she delivered more than 300 babies and was honoured with the title of UK’s Midwife of the Year.

Her excellence was formally recognised in 1999, when she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her outstanding service to healthcare and the community. Vernesta’s story reflects not just personal achievement but a broader truth:

together. Caribbean migrants filled essential roles in industries such as steel production, mining, transport, Transport for Wales and most crucially, in the newly formed National Health Service (NHS).

Despite encountering crushing racism, housing discrimination, and institutional barriers to upward mobility, these pioneers established deep roots in Welsh society. Their commitment to hard work, community life, and mutual support created the bedrock for future generations of Black Welsh citizens. The Windrush Cymru Elders has been

central in capturing, preserving, and celebrating this connection, ensuring that Caribbean stories are not just part of Welsh history, but central to it.

Windrush Cymru @ 75: A film that speaks truth In 2023, to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks, Race Council Cymru produced and released a powerful legacy film titled Windrush Cymru @ 75.

The film was directed by C-Bloc director Will Langley, produced by myself and funded by the Welsh

Government. The documentary captures the first-hand testimonies of Caribbean and Commonwealth elders in Wales — their journeys, challenges, triumphs, and the complex emotions surrounding their identities as Black Welsh.

At the heart of the film are the voices of those who lived through the early days of migration, many of whom are now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. With raw honesty, they recount what it was like to leave their homelands, navigate the harsh realities of racism and exclusion, and still find the strength to build new lives and support the Welsh economy and public services.

“This is our story, and we must be the ones to tell it,” says one elder in the film – a sentiment echoed throughout the production.

The documentary premiered at Cineworld Cardiff and has since been shown at universities, schools, churches, further and higher educational institutions, museums, community halls, and cultural festivals across Wales.

Race Council Cymru had begun chronicling the lives of the Windrush Cymru Elders through an ambitious touring exhibition.

Displayed in schools, museums, libraries, and civic buildings throughout Wales, the exhibition showcased personal stories, photographs, and artifacts that brought to life the Windrush generation’s vibrant and sometimes painful journey.

We have archived 82 stories of the Windrush elders at the National Museum of Wales and Peoples Collection Wales.

These exhibitions weren’t just about remembrance; they were about education and connection; they are their legacy being documented in their own words.

Elders are invited into classrooms and lecture halls to speak with young people, offering insights into Britain’s colonial past, the realities of migration, and the perseverance it took to survive and thrive in a frequently hostile environment.

Their storytelling challenged stereotypes, dispelled myths, and created space for meaningful dialogue between generations.

Their voices brought history to life in ways no textbook could.

The Windrush scandal: A wound still healing No reflection on the Windrush legacy is complete without acknowledging the Windrush scandal – a dark chapter in British immigration history that came to Beyond the film: Stories light in 2018. Many Windrush elders, carried across Wales Long before the film was made, despite their legal right to reside in

the Windrush generation helped build the NHS from the ground up.

Roma Taylor: A military trailblazer and community leader Hailing from Antigua, Roma Taylor moved to Wales at just 15 years old and later joined the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, where she served for 25 years.

Beyond her military service, Roma is the founder of the Windrush Cymru Elders, a group she has led with unwavering dedication. Her leadership earned her recognition at the Welsh Veterans Awards, and under her guidance, the group received the First Minister’s Special Award. Roma’s story is one of fierce commitment – to country, community, and culture.

These are just two of many extraordinary elders whose lives reflect the heart of the Windrush legacy in Wales.

the UK, were wrongfully detained, denied healthcare, lost employment, or even faced deportation due to a failure by the Home Office to document their legal status.

The emotional, psychological, and financial toll on the community was devastating. In Wales, Race Council Cymru and the Windrush Cymru Elders became a support network, advocating for justice and providing emotional care and legal guidance to those affected.

The documentary and exhibitions were not just about celebration – they were also acts of healing, remembrance, and resistance. By telling their own stories, the elders reclaimed their dignity and demanded recognition.

schools, in policy discussions, and in the cultural canon of our nation.

Looking ahead: The legacy continues As Wales prepares to host the National Windrush Day event at the Senedd on June 26th, the Windrush Cymru Elders are once again stepping forward – not just as guests of honour but as storytellers, teachers, and cultural ambassadors. Their presence will remind us of a shared history and a shared future – one in which inclusion, recognition, and justice are not optional, but essential.

Through continued partnerships with schools, universities, and cultural institutions, the work of Race Council Cymru and the A time to celebrate, reflect, Windrush Cymru Elders will carry and move forward on – weaving new stories into the Windrush Month serves as both a fabric of Welsh identity, grounded celebration and a call to action. It in truth, dignity, and pride. urges us to remember, to honour, and to embed these stories into In closing the national consciousness. For The Windrush generation came too long, the contributions of to Britain with hope, resilience, Caribbean and Commonwealth and a belief in building a better citizens have been footnotes in future. In Wales, that future has British history. Groups like the been profoundly shaped by their Windrush Cymru Elders ensure hands and their hearts. As we they are instead front and centre. celebrate Windrush Month, let us The stories of the Windrush honour the elders among us, uplift generation are the stories of their stories, and ensure that the Wales. The contribution of the legacy of Windrush is never again Windrush generation to our NHS, overlooked — but permanently our railways, our steelworks, and in cherished. many other walks of life cannot be underestimated or forgotten. l Watch Windrush Cymru @ 75 My words are a clarion call – here: https://vimeo.com/873396141/ not only to remember but to act, ada08962ca. Download link: to ensure these voices are heard in https://we.tl/t-QvzotD95Us

6 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77 The Windrush community The isolation of being far from home was softened by the warmth of the Windrush community.

Williams, like many other Black nurses, were “taken in” by other Caribbean families, who had settled in Britain.

“The Windrush community was amazing, it was very lovely because some of the girls in my class already had family here and they knew they would be looked after,” she recalls.

The bonds forged with other nurses and students – including young African and Caribbean men training as doctors, architects and bankers – also helped her build a support network in a hostile country.

Allyson Williams made sure the racial abuse she suffered didn’t stop her becoming a respected midwife. By Sinai Fleary

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LLYSON WILLIAMS MBE, a retired midwife and proud member of the Windrush generation, has opened up about her pioneering journey in the NHS – and the racism she had to overcome to deliver hundreds of babies and become a respected leader in midwifery.

Williams came to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago in 1969, answering Britain’s call for help in rebuilding its health service. But the welcome was far from warm.

“Patients would slap my hands away and call me the N-word,” she recalls. “They would say, ‘Go back to where you come from, we don’t want you here.’”

Despite her professionalism and dedication, the racist abuse continued even as she climbed the ranks. “The staff was ineffective in trying to stop it. It was relentless.”

Williams, now 77, remembers how the strain nearly broke her.

“I wanted to go home. I rang my mother and told her I was coming back. But she told me, ‘Racism is other people’s problem. It’s not yours. You have a dream, and plans for your future. Stick with it and find a way to deal with it.’”

Her mother’s advice changed everything.

“I went to work and said out loud, ‘I know that I am Black. I’ve been Black for 21 years and I like being Black. So tell me something I don’t know.’ That was lifechanging. I felt a weight lift off me.”

The bold declaration left patients speechless – and began to change their behaviour. But Williams knew some people needed more than words. She brought in photo albums of her family and home to challenge racist stereotypes.

“They thought we lived in trees,” she said. “‘How high up are your trees?’ they’d ask. ‘Do you put your houses in them? Do you go to the toilet in the bush?’ They didn’t want our Black skin to touch theirs because they thought the dirt would rub off.”

Like many African and Caribbean nurses, Williams kept her head down and worked hard. But from that point on, she refused to internalise the abuse.

Despite the racism, there were highlights. “Doctors praised me for my work ethic. It made me feel valued.” So much so, consultants requested her by name – and told the head of midwifery to make sure she was employed.

“I always had the women’s backs and the midwives’ backs,” she said.

“I wanted to establish midwifery

RECOGNISED: Allyson Williams receiving a Lifetime Achievement award from MBCC; top, Williams has won many accolades for her skills as a midwife; above, Williams training as a nurse in 1969

‘I FOUGHT RACISM AND DELIVERED REAL CHANGE’

as a normal life event. Midwives are the experts in the norm, and they’re expert enough to know when to hand over if anything is abnormal. I think I achieved that.”

From 1988, she moved into managerial roles, having already delivered hundreds of babies and supported countless women and families.

Early life in Trinidad Born in Port of Spain in 1947, Williams grew up in a loving home with her nurse mother, carpenter father, and four siblings.

She vividly recalls her first day of nursery at age four – and getting “licks” for not being able to spell the word “between.”

“My biggest memory was getting smacked on the hands.

And, of course, the word has stuck with me all my life.”

After finishing school, Williams enjoyed going out with friends.

“My mum used to say, ‘All you do is party. You think life is one big party!’” But midwifery was always her dream.

That dream began to take shape when she accompanied her mother on home visits. “The first homebirth I went to was just mind-blowing. You’re bringing children into the world – it felt like such a nice and fun career.”

Encouraged by her mother’s friends, she applied to train in London, which was seen as the

gold standard for nurses. The Ministry of Health in Trinidad helped with her application and recommended Whittington Hospital in north London, where most nurses were Black.

Before leaving, she asked for a delay so she could celebrate her 21st birthday with a big party – a request that was granted. She arrived in London in May 1969.

First impressions of Britain Her excitement quickly turned to shock. “I thought we’d gone into another world. You imagine London as Buckingham Palace, but it wasn’t. It was cold, dark and full of smoke. There were derelict buildings still not rebuilt after the

war. It was very disappointing.”

Even getting to the hospital was a struggle. She had forgotten the arrangements for her pickup and was stranded at Heathrow. A stranger who knew the hospital offered to drive her.

Her nursing class of 30 included women from Iran, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Dominica – but only two were English. The cold was unbearable. “We were in such a state, we made such a fuss, and eventually the authorities kept the heating on for an extra six weeks.”

Training was tough. Within weeks, the English girls dropped out. “They couldn’t cope with the intensity of it,” Williams said.

Legacy and reflection Williams met her husband, musician Vernon “Fellows” Williams, in 1974. A Carnival pioneer, he co-founded the Genesis Mas Band in 1980. Today, their children lead the band. “We must take the legacy forward,” she says. “Celebrate our ancestors – it’s something we must do.”

Sadly, Vernon died suddenly just before their planned retirement.

Their dream of splitting time between Trinidad and the UK ended. Grieving but determined, she honoured their plans by travelling the world with friends.

In 2024, she received two lifetime achievement awards, one from the University of Westminster, her alma mater and the other from the Multicultural Business and Community Champions charity (MBCC). She also penned the autobiography Tell Me Something I Don’t Know to inspire others.

Williams worked in the NHS from May 1969 until her retirement in July 2002.

Over the course of her 35-year career, she made it her mission to uplift women, normalise birth, and support fellow midwives.

She remembers a time when being Black in the NHS meant enduring abuse, fighting for dignity, and constantly proving your worth. Yet, she stood her ground and rose through the ranks – not just surviving, but thriving.

Looking forward to her 78th birthday in July, she is keen to share words of wisdom for the next generation of Black British nurses and midwives.

“Be absolutely sure that training as a midwife and nurse is what you want, because it’s not going to be an easy ride,” she says. “You must work through the ups and downs and the difficulties, but don’t give up on your dream because it gets uncomfortable.

“Life is not perfect; life is not streamlined or simple. Always get advice and talk to someone older and wiser who can give you some guidance.” l Tell Me Something I Don’t Know:

A Life of Love, Passion, Purpose and Success by Allyson Williams MBE is available on Amazon

JUNE 2025

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ADVERTORIAL “The brotherhood consisted chiefly of the volunteers for the war who had been compulsorily dismissed and dispatched to Jamaica and had reconvened in that big reunion on the Empire Windrush.

Now without government constraints, we were taking the bull by the horn, climbing up the rough side of the mountain. As always happens to mortal men in the assent, some indeed have toppled off the slippery crags and cliffs and suffered broken body and soul, while others have soft-landed and have been able to reason themselves into sufficient courage to take stock and set off again to

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OR decades, The Voice has been publishing stories of the Caribbean passengers who arrived at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948 on the ship Empire Windrush. Windrush Foundation acknowledges this support especially as it celebrates 30 years of providing heritage education and other services to members of the community.

The Foundation was the first organisation to have celebrated Windrush Day: 22 June 1948.

Sam King (1926-2016) came up with the idea, but this has not been acknowledged by the British Government which gives the public impressions that Windrush Day is their idea. They hijacked it in June 2018. None of their publications and websites give any credit to the late Sam King for his seminal Windrush work.

Pieces of evidence for King’s founding of Windrush Day are shown in his biography, Climbing Up the Rough Side of the Mountain,1998 (2004 edition). For example concerning the Empire Windrush, he said, “The epic voyage created a permanent bonding of Windrush people which is still maintained and nurtured by regular contact.

We were the magnificent five hundred.

“The epic voyage created a permanent bonding of Windrush people which is still maintained and nurtured”

THE VOICE | 7

the promise land, encountering the hideous barren rocks and whirlwinds…” (page104).

Sam’s best-selling book is the first and only one by a Black writer who describes his personal experiences as a WWII RAF ex-serviceman, demobbed in Jamaica, returning on the Empire Windrush, and co-founding a Windrush charity. His book influenced Andrea Levy’s Small Island, first published in 2004. She told him so. Arthur was there and heard the conversation.

Windrush is Sam King’s legacy. … by Arthur Torrington

8 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

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‘A PLACE AND PEOPLE NOW GONE’

Windrush Generation photographer’s lost images of 1980s Bradford Black community unearthed.

By Vic Motune

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OR DECADES, Victor Wedderburn’s photographs sat in storage, their colours vivid but unseen, the stories they told long forgotten.

Now, more than 40 years later, the images he developed by hand in his Bradford home have come to light in his first-ever exhibition – shining a lens on a Black British community that has all but vanished.

The show, Frontline 1984/1985, is part of Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture and features over 100 never-before-seen colour photographs of Bradford’s African-Caribbean community during its heyday.

Capturing moments of everyday life – from sound system parties and anti-apartheid marches, to local shops and pubs that no longer exist – Wedderburn’s images are a rare record of a community built on resilience, joy, and cultural pride.

“It’s a time that’s often forgotten,” he says. “Looking back, the West Indian community in Bradford was at its peak in the 1980s. We didn’t realise it then, but over time the venues closed, people moved on, and the heart of the community faded. It’s like the whole scene had been forgotten.

“But those were our lives – our people, our places. They mattered.

I was right when I thought it was important to take these pictures.

It’s of a place and people that have now gone.”

The long journey from Jamaica to Bradford Born in 1954 in Battersea, near Mandeville in Jamaica, Wedderburn arrived in the UK in 1971 aged 16, joining his parents – members of the Windrush Generation who had travelled to Britain to help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Like many young Caribbean arrivals, he found himself in a cold and unfamiliar land, facing racism, dislocation, and economic uncertainty.

After years IN FOCUS: of factory work, Victor he was made Wedderburn redundant from (photo: David his job as a Lindsay driver at Crofts Engineers in the

HEYDAY: Michael White, Curly Roots, Pikey D and friends playing football on Green Lane

early 1980s. It was a turning point.

“I used my redundancy money to buy a second-hand camera and a kit to develop film,” he recalls. “I was desperate to make photography work, just to afford the chemicals to keep going.

People knew me before I had the camera, from when I drove a delivery van. They respected that I was doing something with myself – even the younger ones I knew from the youth club. I didn’t know what I was doing at first. I just wanted to capture what was around me.”

And what was around him was vibrant: an African-Caribbean community full of music, activism, creativity, and style.

In neighbourhoods like Manningham and on streets like Lumb Lane – the so-called “frontline” – Black-owned businesses thrived. There were barbershops, butchers, Caribbean cafes, pubs, and record shops.

One of his favourite hangouts, the Perseverance Hotel, was more than a pub – it was a community hub. “There were council flats near what we called the frontline,” Victor says. “A café, a pub, a field where we played football.

The sound systems would play there. Now, everything’s locked off or shut down.”

A community disappeared Wedderburn says the images in Frontline 1984/1985 are memories not only of his life, but the lives of the African-Caribbean community in Bradford.

Among the standout photographs are shots of the buzzing Roots Record Shop, the Young Lions Café, and intimate portraits of friends posed on stoops and pavements. Each frame tells a story – not of hardship, but of everyday pride, family, and connection.

Back then, Wedderburn would shoot, develop, and print the colour photos himself – an intricate process few understood.

“It’s like speaking another language,” he says.

But his artistry and dedication were largely private. He never imagined his work would be exhibited – let alone decades later as part of a national celebration of culture. “When they asked me about doing an exhibition as part of Bradford’s year as UK City of

HAPPY DAYS: Left to right, Levi, Joe, Stan, Norman Fontayne, Micheal White, Derek Brown and Lloyd outside The Perseverance Hotel

Culture, I said yes straight away,” he recalls. “It was actually a friend of mine, already working with the team who came to my house and spoke to me about it.

“When he said they wanted to do an exhibition, I just laughed. He asked for some photographs, so I shared a link to an online photo book I’d been putting together – about 200 images I’d collected over the years, mostly based on memory. I’d been documenting things for decades, often ringing people to help identify faces.

“The photos had been with me for over 40 years, so to me, they felt like furniture – part of my

everyday. I was used to them. But when people saw them and reacted to them with such amazement, it helped me realise the value of what I’d captured. It made me start to see the photos differently.

His photographs are accompanied by a soundtrack curated by one of Bradford’s leading music personalities, Jerry ‘Red Dred’ Crawford – a blend of reggae, roots, and dub that evokes the spirit of the era.

A city that changed Wedderburn went on to work as a mental health nurse, often doing long 12-hour shifts. With time, his

energy for photography waned. The community he had documented changed before his eyes.

“Back when everything started disappearing, I wasn’t out much,” he admits. “On my days off, I just wanted to sleep. People would talk about the frontline – what happened there, the energy – and now it’s gone.”

Bradford, he says, has transformed. “It looks cleaner in places, but the poverty is still everywhere. There’s no industry like before. You used to leave school and get a job. Now there’s nothing, even for graduates.”

Yet while the heart of the 1980s Caribbean community in Bradford may be gone, Wedderburn’s images offer a window into its soul.

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director of Bradford 2025, describes the exhibition as “a powerful reminder of photography’s ability to tell untold stories.” She adds: “This marks Victor’s first ever exhibition – offering an intimate glimpse into Bradford’s vibrant communities during the 1980s.”

The exhibition first opened at the Loading Bay, a temporary cultural hub, but a selection of Victor’s photographs will soon be shown at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford from June 12 to October 29, 2025.

Wedderburn hopes the work can find a permanent home there.

“For the photographs, I’m hoping – or the plans are – they go to the photographic museum in Bradford,” he says. “And who knows? I hope they get exhibited elsewhere. That’s the plan.” l All photos by Victor Wedderburn

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS: Roy Lewinson outside Cunliffe Vilas in Manningham with his beloved Sunbeam Alpine Mk 5; Beverly Lenon and a friend outside The Young Lions Café

for Frontline 1984/1985, an exhibition for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

JUNE 2025

Special Feature

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‘Superhero’ Colin returns to March for Men for Prostate Cancer UK

Colin McFarlane

H

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For a third time, Colin will join a bumper crowd at

Battersea Park at the start of Father’s Day weekend to support the largest men’s health charity against a disease that affects one in four Black men in the UK – and you can sign up at:

prostatecanceruk.org/voice-m4m The versatile 63-year-old, who starred in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as well as being the voice of ITV hit show, The Cube, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022.

Colin’s journey has seen him inspire many people to check their risk, and this year he will walk with someone whose life he saved, theatre director Femi Elufowoju Jr OBE.

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Prostate Cancer UK ’s March

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He was inspired to see his GP after watching Colin on BBC television two years ago.

“I absolutely love Prostate Cancer UK’s March for Men,” said Colin.

“Meeting so many people who have been affected by prostate cancer over the past few years is incredibly humbling.

“You could say this is the most important role I’ve ever been cast in, and it’s something I’m immensely proud of. I know I was in Batman, but this makes me feel like a proper superhero!

“Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, and those stats increase to 1 in 4 if you are Black, like me. So my passion for spreading awareness and saving lives remains as strong as ever. I want all men to be diagnosed early, like I was, and to better understand their risk of this disease, the most common cancer in men. March for Men is a brilliant way to do this.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, affecting thousands of dads, grandads, brothers, partners, uncles, sons and mates; mates like Colin and Femi, who first met back in 1992 when they appeared in several plays together.

“I’d been back to Nigeria to see my Dad, 89, who was told about 20 years ago that he had an enlarged prostate and that surgery wasn’t an option,” said Femi, 62.

“When I got back to London, I slumped on my sofa and turned on the TV. For some reason I watched BBC Breakfast – and there was my old pal Colin on the box, saying ‘get a test’. That’s when it all came home to me.

“Colin said your GP might be reluctant to give you a test and that’s exactly what happened. It was only when I said my family has a history of prostate problems that I got sent for a test.”

Femi was diagnosed in Femi Elufowoju Jr OBE December 2023 – “It was a total shock to me, my wife and my family,” he said. “I’m so grateful I switched on the TV that day and am indebted to Colin for saving my life.”

Colin added: “It’s empowering to know that your words really can save lives. As a fellow actor/director, I’ve known Femi for many years but had no idea that it was my interview on BBC Breakfast that spurred him to take action. I’m so glad it did, and I can’t wait to walk alongside him and my Prostate Cancer UK family at Battersea Park.”

Since 2017 around 17,000 Prostate Cancer UK supporters have raised £3m to help fund lifesaving research, and support men and their families navigating this disease.

In 2025 walkers can stroll 2.5km, 5km or 10km as the Prostate Cancer UK community walks towards a better future for men and raise money to help fund research to find better tests that could save thousands of lives.

You can join Prostate Cancer UK’s March for Men here:

prostatecanceruk.org/voice-m4m

10 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77 Dr Norma Gregory on how she is trying to highlight the valuable work of the UK Black coal miners

A

S A former school teacher of English and mentoring for undergraduates seeking careers in the heritage and tourism sectors, like all African and Caribbean heritage miners, I have had to dig deep and lead from the frontline to create change.

I often tell people that I am a Jamaican heritage pit brow lass, a lady miner.

Through almost 30 years of research, education awareness campaigns, exhibitions, content creation, and talks, I have done my utmost to improve awareness, attitudes, tolerance and knowledge around the contributions of the former and current Black industrial workforce.

These Windrush generation coal miners of African and Caribbean descent worked in hazardous, dark, dirty and challenging conditions, both environmental and social, digging deep in UK coal mines, from nationalisation in 1947, to the industry’s entire disbandment on December 18, 2015.

They toiled alongside many other nationalities and cultures without complaint and with humility. Yet their pioneering spirit and contributions to the UK industrial workforce are yet to be formally honoured. A simple and formal ‘thank you’

by UK government would be a start for reconciliation and recognition.

Windrush generation Black miners Uncovering and sharing the history of the Windrush generation of Black coal miners who worked across the UK, particularly in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Wales, and the North, has been my duty.

Their stories of survival, commitment and camaraderie in the pits have been instrumental in shaping how we can and must try to work in collaboration to help make a difference.

Many of these industrial pioneers are ageing, now senior citizens and deserve better.

Many have passed away before their time. Many of their funerals I have attended, to speak to their families (and to the congregation in the eulogies) and to share images, oral history recordings, anecdotes and memories, which would not be accessible without perseverance and dedication to

HARD WORK: Black coal miners played a big part in the UK industry

RICH HISTORY: Exhibits from the Digging Deep touring exhibition

SHOW AND TELL: Dr Norma Gregory during a recent community education session

VALUABLES: Dr Norma Gregory with mining artifacts

‘THEY ALL DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER’

ask questions about the past.

Who was there and why?

Advocacy for Black miners’ recognition Despite the multitude of hurdles they faced, UK miners continue to struggle for their rights.

They still fight for their rightful pensions, access to healthcare and support to combat social isolation and loneliness. Their perseverance in the face of these challenges is truly inspiring, and their stories continue to motivate us all to do better and appreciate what we have.

Through my life’s work – ‘my calling’ – their histories are now better documented and accessible through the creative arts, such as commissioned artworks, radio podcasts, TV features, touring exhibitions, teaching resources, publications

and articles, and image collections. I founded the Black Miners Museum online at www. blackcoalminers.com, in 2017, to ensure their stories are secure for future generations.

The collection includes primary source data as well as teaching resources, archive images, films, artefact catalogue, oral history recordings, workwear costumes, funeral cards and video footage. These aspects must be preserved in an international collection with the valuable support of organisations like CARICOM and should be taught within global curricula embedded with industrial education institutions.

Preserving the heritage of Black coal miners is not just a matter of historical record, but a testament to the resilience, strength, and contributions to

global industrial, economic, cultural, social history.

Kenya’s miners dig deep in solidarity My research trip to Kenya with Professor Judi Muthuri in November 2022 to interview male and female gemstone miners about their experiences, was life-changing and gave me the resilience and strength to continue ‘digging deep’ for change.

My life’s work, documenting and sharing this critical chapter of UK and global industrial history, has been both challenging and rewarding, yet essential for highlighting the participation and impact of marginalised communities in society and contributions to the labour workforce and, thus, to the nation’s economic growth.

With that said, there are over 2,500-plus museums in the UK, with around 60 directly hosting industrial heritage exhibits.

In their collections, these sites must include representations of the bedrock of the Windrush generation’s industrial workers.

Full integration of Black industrial history Moreover, only by integrating authentic voices and lived experiences can we truly reflect authentic presence, identity, representation and legacy in our shared global industrial history.

As a heritage consultant and a brand ambassador for Museums Climate Controls, a Canadian heritage preservation, microclimate technology firm, I hope to work more across the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East, to continue applying

my expertise and experience in fostering international dialogue and collaboration.

This will be an important part of my efforts to broaden audiences, preserve collections, ease access, and stand up for inclusion in our shared global industrial history.

Things you can do to help the formal recognition of the Windrush Generation Industrial Workforce: l Share/Use Windrush industrial heritage, educational resources l Help generate new content l Speak to your MP/high c o m m i ssi o n e r s / C ARI C OM prime ministers l To learn more about Norma Gregory’s work visit www.nottinghamnewscentre.com

MAY 2025

THE VOICE |27

12 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

‘WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY’ PRINCIPLED: A proud son of Jamaica, Bert Carless arrived in the UK in 1956 and dedicated his life to public service and community empowerment

Desmond Jaddoo tells how one Windrush generation trailblazer’s belief in justice inspired him and lit the spark for a new generation of Black political leadership

A

S WE mark Windrush Day, we reflect not only on the arrival of the Windrush generation but also on the indelible legacy they left behind.

Their story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and unshakable determination to build a better life – not just for themselves, but for future generations.

Among these pioneers was a man who profoundly shaped my own path and the civic fabric of Birmingham: Egbert Sylvester Carless.

Fondly known as Bert Carless, he was a proud son of Jamaica who arrived in the UK in 1956 from Clarendon where he worked as a diesel engineer. Like many of the Windrush generation, he came with hope in his heart and a willingness to work hard for a future he believed in.

He also heard that everyone talks about the mother country so he wanted to go and “see what mother looks like.”

He went on to make history in 1979 as Birmingham’s first Black councillor, representing the Aston ward. At a time when Black voices were marginalized and often silenced, Carless broke through the barriers with dignity, purpose, and quiet strength.

His journey was not an overnight one. Having got involved in the Trade Union movement since the 1960s, he had been trying to win an election since 1972. He faced many barriers including a banana skin

MENTOR: Desmond Jaddoo reflects on the enduring legacy of Bert Carless

being sent to him through the post and also a note telling him “tell the Black b to go back to monkeyland”.

His response was with grace and humility, saying the person could not spell monkey correctly.

Carless’s impact wasn’t limited to politics. He was deeply committed to education and social progress, serving as Chair of Governors at Handsworth College and playing a leading role in its rebuilding after the 1985 riots.

His life’s work was about empowering others, especially young people, and ensuring that no one was left behind. In recognition of his service, he was awarded an OBE in 1998. But to those who knew him, his greatest legacy wasn’t a title or an award – it was the lives he touched and the doors he opened.

CONNECTION My connection to Carless began when I was just a young man. My mother worked on his election campaign, and through her, I came to know Carless as more than a councillor – he became a mentor.

He believed in me when I was still finding my voice. His guidance was never about self-promotion; it was about encouraging me to serve others, to stand up for what’s right, and to remain committed to community above all else.

Bert Carless exemplified the very spirit of the Windrush generation: principled, pioneering, and persistent.

His journey from immigrant to civic leader is a story that must be told, especially today, when the contributions of the Windrush generation are too often under acknowledged or forgotten.

In the years since his passing in 2003, I have worked to ensure Carless’s legacy lives on. This has included leading campaigns

to have a street named in his honour – Bert Carless Way – and installing a blue plaque at South & City College Birmingham.

In 2024, after 13 years of advocacy, we unveiled his portrait in Birmingham Council House – the first time a Black individual has been so honoured in that space. It was a moment of deep pride and a reminder that history remembers those we choose to uplift.

As we celebrate Windrush Day, let us not only remember the struggles the Windrush generation endured, but also celebrate the legacies they left us. Bert Carless didn’t just make history – he laid the foundation for others, like myself, to carry the torch forward.

We owe it to him and to every Windrush pioneer to ensure their stories continue to inspire action, progress, and justice.

The legacy of Windrush is not just a story of the past. It is a call to each of us to keep building, keep serving, and never forget those who paved the way. l Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE

is the founder and organiser of the Birmingham Empowerment Forum

JOE ABRAMS: THE WINDRUSH PIONEER WHO MADE POLITICAL HISTORY IN MERTON BERT CARLESS was among a number of pioneering Caribbean heritage councillors and MPs who fought racial discrimination in the post-Windrush years.

Though their political involvement began in the 1950s and 60s, it was the 70s that the first were elected to office. These included Randy Beresford, one of the first Black mayors, and Ben Bousquet, who broke ground in North Kensington.

The 1980s marked a turning point in how UK politics engaged with Black communities, spurred by inner-city riots and Black Power activism.

This era saw the rise of several influential Black councillors who helped shape party agendas and lead local councils.

Among them was Joe Abrams (pictured), a Guyanese immigrant who arrived in Britain in 1960, became a trailblazing councillor for Graveney ward in south London 1982 and later Merton’s first Black Mayor.

Despite early struggles in the UK, including raising a family in one room while studying and working as a bus conductor, he built a remarkable career. His legacy later inspired

his son Kingsley to enter politics. Few believed Abrams could win when he stood in 1982. But despite the doubts, he believed the ward’s Black voters would support him – and they did. He won the seat unexpectedly, and after Labour took Merton Council in 1990, Abrams was appointed the borough’s mayor in 1991.

“It was a proud moment for him, for our family and for the local community,” Kingsley recalls. “Here is a guy who was born in Guyana in this rackety old house, he came to England with three pounds in his pocket, roughed it out living in one room with his family then went on to become deputy head of a school, then a local councillor and then the first Black mayor of Merton.

“And my mother, who came to this country at the age of 18, was now Mayoress, which was a dream for her.

“There were many people in the borough who were part of the Windrush generation and settled in the borough in the 1960s. They had struggled. And now they had a Black mayor of Merton. It was an amazing achievement and you could see it on their faces.”

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 13

Windrush77

BRIXTON’S BLOOD DONORS HIT LIFESAVING MILESTONE

Increasing the number of Black heritage donors is one of the key aims of new centre. By Sinai Fleary

S

OUTH LONDON blood donors have saved more than 11,000 lives in the three months since Brixton’s new blood donor centre opened to the public, data from NHS Blood and Transplant reveals.

Between December 2024 and February 2025, 3,773 people donated at the Brixton centre, providing more than 3,000 units of blood. Each unit can save up to three lives.

More than 1,000 first-time donors chose to give blood in Brixton, providing vital additional units of blood to the country’s hospitals and emergency services, including air ambulances, firefighters and paramedics.

NHS Blood and Transplant Director of Donor Experience Mark Chambers said: “South Londoners should be immensely proud of the massive difference their generosity has made to the lives of tens-ofthousands of people in the short time the Brixton centre has been open.

“It’s still early days, but to see thousands signing up to give blood, many for the first time, is truly inspiring and suggests that the innovative centre is connecting with the local population.

“Although the centre has had a strong start, the need for more donors is growing. That’s why I’m urging Brixtonians to follow the lead of the thousands already giving blood by making an appointment at the Brixton blood donor centre today to save lives.”

RISING NUMBERS: More Black people are responding to the urgent need for donors

More blood donors Inspiring a new generation of young donors, and increasing the number of Black heritage donors from Lambeth’s diverse population are key aims of the centre, and the Brixton community that helped design it.

Initial data suggests the centre is already making a significant impact by boosting the numbers of young and Black heritage donors giving blood.

Estimates suggest that over the period analysed, one in every ten donations to the Brixton centre was from a donor of Black heritage – more than three times the national average of three per cent.

The positive trend continued when analysing the ethnic makeup of Brixton’s first-time donors.

Just under one-in-five (15 per cent) of the new wave of donors were of Black heritage, three times the national average of five per cent.

The need for more Black heritage donors has never been greater.

Donors from Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds are significantly more likely to have the specific ‘Ro’ blood type used to treat sickle cell – the UK’s fastest growing genetic disorder that disproportionately affects the Black community.

Nationally, more than half of Black heritage blood donors (56 per cent) have the ‘Ro’ blood type, compared with just 2.4 per cent of donors from other ethnicities, so recruiting more Black heritage donors is key to meeting the growing sickle cell need.

In its first three months, the Brixton centre outperformed the rest of the country by recruiting seven per cent of donors with the

IMPACT: Professor Dame Elisabeth Anionwu and members of the P Positive choir at the opening of Brixton’s blood donor centre ‘Ro’ blood type. Across England over the same period, the average percentage of ‘Ro’ donors recruited was three per cent.

More than half (52 per cent) of the donors attending the Brixton centre were under 35, compared with the national average of 23 per cent. With the average age of donors across the country rising above 45 last year, the highest it has been in five years, recruiting more donors between the ages of 17 and 35 is vital to ensure longterm stock resilience.

Making a difference Local Ro blood donor Sarah Eve Tucker said: “If I ever needed blood I would want it to be there, so I should be willing to donate too.

Knowing I have the Ro blood type makes me even more passionate about donating, as I know the difference it can make.

“I have now donated 13 times and find donating blood a pleasurable experience. It is super quick and convenient to be able to donate in Brixton. I also work at South Bank university and regularly encourage staff and students there to sign up to donate blood.”

Brixton donor centre manger Rexford Osei-Bonsu said: “Giving blood is quick and painless. The entire appointment takes no longer than an hour and in most case is much quicker.

“Donors can only give three to four times per year, so recruiting more donors is vital to securing London’s blood stocks.” l To register and book an appointment at blood.co.uk, go on the GiveBloodNHS app or call 0300 123 23 23

14 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

THE LETTERS THAT HELP RESHAPE BLACK BRITISH HISTORY

REVEALING: Dr RachelAnn Charles, Trinidadian researcher and lead of the ‘Decolonising Media Portrayals’ project, says that letters provide new insights into the story of the Windrush Generation

Trinidad researcher’s work reveals what the Windrush Generation were really thinking. By Vic Motune

I

N A quiet corner of a Caribbean home, tucked away in an old biscuit tin bearing the faded image of Queen Elizabeth II, lay a treasure trove of history.

The letters inside – yellowed with age, their ink slightly smudged – were not just personal keepsakes. They were fragments of a story long misunderstood, a counter-narrative to decades of British media portrayals that painted Caribbean Windrush generation migrants as “unemployed burdens on society”.

“I remembered how personal and important those items were, and it hit me – these letters wouldn’t be in archives; they’d be in people’s homes,” says Dr RachelAnn Charles, a Trinidadian researcher at Birmingham City University (BCU).

Dr Charles launched a project called Decolonising Media Portrayals of Early Caribbean Immigrants, which is aiming to find and collate letters from Caribbean Windrush Generation migrants that challenge British media portrayals of their experiences in the United Kingdom in which they were described as a burden on society.

The seed for the project was planted during the pandemic when Dr Charles hosted a podcast exploring Caribbean diaspora stories.

Hearing first-hand accounts of the hardships faced

by Windrush-era migrants – and realising how little their struggles were reflected in mainstream narratives – stirred something in her. “There was a kind of naivety around what people endured,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to follow the usual UK-focused perspectives.

These letters felt like the purest way to hear their voices – unfiltered, unedited, and on their own terms.”

Last year, during a research trip to Trinidad and Jamaica, she scoured national archives for such letters, only to find them conspicuously absent. Then, in a moment of clarity, she thought about her grandmother’s habit of storing letters in tins and boxes.

That hunch led her to a discovery that could reshape Black British history. The letters, spanning 1964 to 1975, reveal a truth starkly at odds with tabloid headlines: Caribbean migrants were not a drain on Britain, but hard-working contributors holding down multiple jobs, sustaining families back home, and enriching British culture.

One letter, dated June 27, 1967, reads: “I think things will be hard in this country... People think this country is a bed of roses, but it is not even for people who were born in this country.”

Another, from 1971, proudly mentions a migrant’s film being showcased by the British government across America and Europe. Another speaks of entering pigeons in the Olympia Royal dairy show – a quintessentially British pastime.

These are not the stories of outsiders.

They are the voices of a generation invited to rebuild post-war Britain, only to be maligned by the very society they helped sustain. Dr Charles’ project is seeking to amplify these voices.

By collecting and preserving letters, photographs, and diaries from Windrushera migrants, she aims to dismantle decades of damaging stereotypes and reclaim the narrative from a media

“These stories aren’t about isolation.

They’re about participation, contribution – the right to be here” landscape that often reduced Caribbean people to caricatures.

“When you search archived newspapers using the word ‘West Indian,’ what usually comes up are either stories about cricket – which the British found entertaining – or negative headlines: people accused of stealing, joblessness, being undocumented, or fighting,” she explains. “These letters give us a chance to hear directly from the people who lived it – what they

were saying about themselves, in their own words.”

The implications are profound.

The Windrush scandal – where thousands of legal migrants were wrongly detained, deported, or denied healthcare due to hostile immigration policies – was, in many ways, the culmination of decades of dehumanising rhetoric.

“Policy and public perception are often shaped by narratives that began decades ago,” Dr Charles notes. “This isn’t just about the past – there are still real-world consequences today.”

The human stories behind the letters The letters reveal a duality: the struggle to survive in an oftenunwelcoming Britain, and the quiet triumphs of integration.

They reveal economic resilience.

Despite media claims of laziness, migrants worked tirelessly.

“They were supporting themselves here, and still sending money back home,” says Dr Charles.

The letters also reveal how important it was for Windrush migrants to integrate into British society. One letter describes hosting dinner parties for British and Trinidadian dignitaries while also sharing Caribbean food and traditions.

Another mentions learning to cook traditional British dishes.

“There was this desire to ‘look British – to present themselves well,” Dr Charles observes. “It showed a strong sense of self, even as they adapted.”

Dr Charles reflects on a letter that stayed with her. It spoke of pigeon competitions, of blending Caribbean pride with British life. “These stories aren’t about isolation,” she says. “They’re about participation, contribution – the right to be here.”

Yet hardship lurked beneath the surface. Many letters omit the worst struggles – poor housing, racism – to shield families back home. “They didn’t want to worry their loved ones,” she says.

This selective honesty makes the letters even more poignant; they are acts of love as much as historical records.

A call to action Dr Charles is now appealing to Caribbean families worldwide to share their own letters.

“Many have similar collections stored away – each one holds precious memories and historical perspectives,” she says. Her team – a mix of historians, sociologists, and creatives – plans to digitize the archive, host exhibitions, and produce educational materials.

An Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding bid could expand the project across the Caribbean, with workshops and collaborations with the University of the West Indies.

But even without funding, Dr Charles is undeterred. For Windrush Day, she’s curating an exhibition at BCU, showcasing the letters alongside problematic media clippings. “This is about correcting the record,” she says.

The biscuit tin, now empty of letters but full of potential, sits as a metaphor.

For too long, Windrush stories were boxed away, ignored, or distorted. Now, they’re being opened – and the history inside is far richer than we’ve been told.

“Collecting letters is just the first step,” she says. “We’ll also be holding workshops and doing educational work in both the UK and the Caribbean to support that deeper connection.” l To contribute letters or learn

THOUGHT-PROVOKING: Housing discrimination signs like this contrast sharply with migrants’ letters home about perseverance and community; left, a family’s treasured handwritten letters in a wooden box that document the lives of Caribbean migrants

more, contact Dr. RachelAnn Charles at rachel-ann. charles@vcu.ac.uk or follow @ UKCaribbeanMigrantLetters on Instagram

JUNE 2025

THE VOICE |15

16 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Dr Julie Hammond Health Matters

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

MAKE THE APPOINTMENT THAT COULD HELP SAVE YOUR LIFE! If you are a man reading this, can you answer the following questions?

D

O YOU know your blood pressure reading? What about your cholesterol and blood sugar levels? Or how well your kidneys are functioning?

I ask this because far too often, when I speak with male relatives, friends, and even the men who sit across from me in my clinic, they genuinely do not know.

Not out of neglect, but because no one has ever clearly explained why those numbers matter, and the impact they can have on their future health.

Know your numbers, save your life Your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney function results are more than just numbers. They offer a window into what is going on with your heart and overall health.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. You may feel fine, but internally it can cause serious damage.

This also applies to high cholesterol and blood sugar levels. If left untreated, these conditions place extra strain on your blood vessels and organs, increasing your risk of a stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

This is a significant concern for Black men. NHS data shows Black men of African and Caribbean descent in the UK are three to four times more likely to develop high blood pressure than their White counterparts and, as a result, Black men have a greater risk of strokerelated death and higher rates of kidney failure, much of which is linked to undiagnosed or poorly controlled blood pressure.

Black men from African and Caribbean backgrounds are also three to five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (raised blood sugar) and have high cholesterol levels.

These statistics are not meant to alarm but to empower and inspire action. The risks are higher, but they are not inevitable. Early detection and lifestyle intervention can help to prevent or effectively manage many of these outcomes. This is why staying on top of your health is so important.

What is the NHS Health Check and why should you care?

If you are between 40 and 74, the NHS offers a free health check every five years. Think of it as an MOT of your

TAKE ACTION: Men over 40 can request a free NHS Health Check to monitor heart health, especially with family history or past borderline results but don’t wait to be invited (photo: Getty Images)

heart and overall well-being. During this appointment, your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and blood sugar will be measured. You will also be asked questions about your lifestyle and family history.

This information helps to calculate your risk of developing serious but preventable conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. But here is an insider tip: you do not need to wait to be invited. Any man over 40 can (and should) ask their GP for an NHS Health Check if they have not had one recently.

If you have a strong family history of heart disease or stroke, or if your last check revealed borderline-high results, you should consider yearly check-ups rather than waiting five years. Taking a proactive approach means health issues can be identified and managed before they become serious.

Feeling well is not the same as being healthy. I often say to my patients and relatives, 'You wouldn’t wait for your car engine to break down before servicing it.

So why wait on your heart?'

While we are checking the numbers

I often say to my patients and relatives, 'You wouldn’t wait for your car engine to break down before servicing it. So why wait on your heart?' that matter, this is a good time to also consider asking for a PSA blood test, which may help detect prostate issues early. The statistics on prostate cancer in Black men have been well publicised, with one in four Black men diagnosed in their lifetime, compared to one in eight White men. This is particularly worth considering if you are over 45 or have a family history of prostate or breast cancer. It is a simple blood test, and while it is not part of the standard NHS Health Check, it can be done at the same appointment if appropriate.

The power of women When I see men come into my clinic for a check-up, it is rarely of their own accord. More often than not, they share a similar story behind their visit.

Although it might sound like a joke I hear comments like “My wife or partner has been pestering me to come in and get checked over” or “my mum booked it and dragged me here” every week in my clinic. Women are often the first to spot when something is not quite right. They notice the changes, ask the difficult questions, and take action when it is needed. They are the reason many men finally get seen.

To the women reading this, do not underestimate your influence. Keep encouraging the men you care about to take their health seriously.

Keep questioning. Keep booking the appointments.

You are often the first line of defence in protecting Black men’s health and the bridge between recognition and action.

Your voice could be the difference between early treatment and late diagnosis.

Time to take control Men’s Health Week runs between June 9 to 15 and is a timely reminder that good health does not happen by chance.

It takes intention. Attending your NHS Health Check is a simple and effective way to start the journey to good health. This Men’s Health Week, I want every Black man over 40 to: • Book in for your NHS Health Check.

• Know your numbers. Find out your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function.

• Talk with family and friends about their health and the importance of early detection.

Prevention works. A 20 to 30-minute appointment could add years to your life.

Do not wait until you feel ‘ill’ before deciding to seek medical help, as the damage may already be done. Your health is valuable and worth protecting. l Dr Julie Hammond is a multi award-

winning GP, health advocate and innovator.

She is the founder of the mamAR app: www. mamarhealth.com and is also writing a book on The Fourth Trimester due to be released in 2026

MAY 2025

THE VOICE |17

18 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Dotun Adebayo

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Rate him or hate him - you can’t ignore him!

THE GREATEST LOVE STORY WE’VE NEVER BEEN TOLD...

The experience of the ‘Windrush parents’ has all the elements of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

W

INDRUSH JUST might be the greatest love story never told. And yet to read the many chronicles of that historical era’s generation you would think that they had no love, no romance, no intimacy.

Where are all our reallife Windrush love stories?

We need them alongside the narratives of nearly 80 winters of discontent, racism, scandal and resistance that has more or less extinguished the humanity which the Windrush generation brought to these shores.

Our parents and their parents are partly to blame. For they didn’t talk to us about them things. They weren’t like that.

Nowadays we talk about sex at the drop of a hat, but back then our parents gave us the impression that us children were delivered to them by a bird with a big long beak.

Their generation weren’t just private, reserved and modest.

They were, of course, resolute and determined.

Like Romeo and Juliet, all the elements are there for the greatest story ever told. Star-crossed lovers in a backdrop of a world war and the mess it left behind.

Not to talk of a precarious future with lots of jeopardy (and that’s even before we bring in the inglorious backstory of enslavement and colonialism).

With hope in their eyes, these young romantics from the Caribbean took their leave of their sweethearts in the docks of Port of Spain and Kingston.

HISTORIC: The Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in 1948. For many, it marked the start of a great migration — and the beginning of the greatest love story never told (photo: Getty Images)

Very few amongst them were able to afford to go as a couple.

They took their leave with a reassuring embrace and promised to send for their other halves the moment they had secured a job and a lovenest.

There begins OUR love story.

With the magic of Kingston Town.

Oh, Kingston Town The place I long to be If I had the whole world I would give it away Just to see….

Lord Creator’s musical classic wouldn’t be released for another 22 years, but in its lyrics and longing-for-home sentimental moan, you hear the 1948 echo of these pioneering men and women in their 20s as they looked their last of the life they had known, ahead of weeks at sea to answer the call to come and rebuild Britain after the war at the cut-price rate the Windrush offered.

KILLING Royal Mail made a killing out of them. Leaving your sweetheart over the ocean was an expensive business.

There were many love letters back and forth courtesy of what we used to call ‘air mail’. Love letters long since lost in the mist of time. Love letters too modest and too formal to mention the ‘L’ word.

Love letters filled with the chronological detail that my air mail letters to my father contained when it was my grandmother’s duty to ensure that

NEW WORLD: Caribbean children in the 1960s prepare to join parents in the UK they barely knew. Reunions like these were common in the Windrush story — longdistance love, separation and sacrifice shaping family life for generations (photo: Getty Images)

myself as a five-year-old and my brother who was two years older would maintain a long-distance relationship with our father who had migrated to London earlier in the year to prepare a home ahead of us joining him.

And then, of course, there were the barrels filled with British toys and clothes. As much a commitment to the love you left behind as they were a love to the commitment you left behind.

Like any good love story, the greatest love story ever told is not without its heartache and pain.

Eventually, the sweetheart and children left behind were sent for.

Sometimes one at a time to ease the financial burden.

We can only imagine what it must have been like to be reunited as sweethearts after that critical time apart.

Even as a six-year-old, at close quarters, when I finally joined my parents in Britain, I had no idea how difficult it was for them to maintain their romance in a bedsit with two young boys in the room. Because they never

We can only imagine what it must have been like to be reunited as sweethearts after that critical time apart gave us any indication that they were other than just good friends.

Our parents were pretty much strangers to us, their children, and for public view they kept the distance of decorum.

What a story. You see why I’m saying it’s the greatest love story ever told?

And it’s the same story over and over again. Singer Mica Paris’s parents were Windrush Jamaicans. Poet Linton Kwesi Johnson was a peasant boy who came to England to join

his parents at the age of 11. And Radio 2 DJ Don Letts’ parents were told the streets of Britain would be paved with gold when they came here to work – his mother as a nurse for the NHS. What a shock they got when they arrived at Gatwick Airport and it wasn’t quite what we expected.

SIBLINGS Dame Doreen Lawrence was one of those left behind in the Caribbean when her parents came to this country.

When they sent for her at nine years old, she says, it was like meeting her mother for the first time. What’s more, she had a new set of siblings much younger than her that she had never met before and who were born in Britain.

Okay, the love letters may well be lost and, of course, we have lost most of the original Windrushians (just as we have their generation who went to war). But their reallife stories have not been lost. We can hear its echoes in the songs of

love that they sang from My Boy Lollipop to Susan Cadogan’s Hurt So Good. And I, for one, cannot listen to Bob Marley asking his sweetheart to rub up on his belly like a guava jelly without being reminded of the love that I dare not consider too deeply that must have taken place somehow in that little bedsit.

And when I Google ‘Windrush+generation+love’ and look at the images that come up of our parents and grandparents with love in their eyes at the front room parties they used to hold, I am forever convinced that it was this greatest love story never told that helped them survive and sometimes tore them apart. l Dotun Adebayo, Britain’s most

celebrated Black broadcaster, is known as the King of the Nighttime Airwaves. All views here are his own. Listen to him overnight on BBC 5 Live from 1-5am Saturday mornings – Monday mornings & 1am – 4am on BBC Radio London (Wednesday to Friday mornings).

Follow him on X: @radiodotun

MAY 2025

THE VOICE | 9

20 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

THE WINDRUSH PIONEER WHO CAPTURED BLACK BRITAIN

Now 98, filmmaker Clovis Salmon OBE looks back on his important body of work with great pride.

By Vic Motune

T

HE VOICES crackle through the grainy footage, raw with frustration. It’s April 1981, and Brixton is ablaze.

The community is rising up against oppression. Police clash with protestors, buildings smoulder, and overturned cars litter the streets.

Amid the chaos, one man moves quietly, his Super 8 camera hidden beneath his overcoat, with an unknowing vision of capturing history as it unfolds.

That man was Clovis Salmon– better known as Sam The Wheels – a local Brixton legend, a bicycle technician, a retired minister, and, though few knew it at the time, Britain’s first major Black documentary filmmaker.

For decades, his films lay in boxes, reels of unseen history.

Then, in his 70s, the world finally took notice.

Now, at 98, Clovis stands as one of the most revered figures of the Windrush generation – a man whose lens captured the soul of Black Britain, whose hands built bicycle wheels in record time, and whose heart never stopped serving his community.

Legacy finally recognised As Windrush Day approaches on June 22, there will be many in Brixton who will be paying tribute to a man whose work recording key moments of community life with his camera – once overlooked – has now been recognised by prestigious organisations such as the BBC, the British Film Institute, 198 Gallery CAL and the Black Cultural Archives.

His films, spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s, are more than just recordings; they are acts of resistance, love, and heritage preservation.

Recently honoured with an OBE in April 2024 followed by a National Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award and Power of a Man Lifetime Award, Clovis has lived long enough to see his labour acknowledged on a

PROTEST AND JOY: Two sides of Brixton: Clovis’ footage of the 1981 uprising (left) and a wedding (right) – capturing struggle and celebration

AFTERMATH: Overturned cars; Clovis’ films preserved the truth of Brixton’s reckoning in 1981; far right, a woman is baptised in a Brixton church

national stage. He says: “The National Diversity Lifetime Achievement Award brings me a sense of fulfilment – after so many years of capturing stories and moments that were often misinterpreted or unknown.

“To be acknowledged now feels like a blessing. It gives me renewed energy to continue sharing those stories and encourage others to pick up the baton and tell their tales.”

But for him, the greatest reward has always been his work’s impact on people.

“The real reward has always been seeing how my work has helped bring people closer, created conversations and sparked a deeper appreciation for the rich diversity of life in this country. My hope is that the legacy of these films will continue to inspire and educate for many years.”

Windrush pioneer Clovis arrived in Britain from Jamaica in 1954, part of the Windrush wave that answered the call to rebuild a post-war nation. He expected to lay bricks, but little did he know he would also lay the foundations of Black British cultural memory.

His nickname, Sam The Wheels, came from his unmatched skill as a bicycle technician – a craft so precise

DESERVED: Clovis Salmon holds aloft his National Diversity Award, honouring his archive of Black British life that his home became a local landmark, adorned with a sculpture of donated bikes from grateful clients. However, his true legacy was being forged elsewhere: behind a camera.

“It all began in 1959 when I decided to buy a projector,” Clovis recalls. “I knew very little about filmmaking, but something about it called to me.”

With no training, he taught himself through trial and error.

His early films, church services, gospel concerts, weddings, were meant to show his family back in Jamaica the life he was building.

But soon, his lens turned outward: Brixton Market, children playing in the streets, and more uniquely recording scenes of Black British family and daily life. Then came 1981.

The Brixton Uprising erupted after years of tension over police brutality, unemployment, and the infamous “sus” laws.

While others stayed indoors, Clovis bravely walked the streets, filming. “I wanted people to see the truth,” he says.

His footage, later used by the BBC, showed a community pushed to breaking point – but also its resilience.

A living archive Today, his films are treasured not just as history, but as healing.

“Many people from all races and backgrounds have expressed how happy they are to see our lives, our struggles, and our triumphs documented,” Clovis reflects. “It gives them a sense of pride and a deeper

YOUTH AND LEGACY: Clovis as a young Windrush arrival in the early 1960s (left) and holding his OBE (right)

understanding of who they are.”

His work has been screened at the Tate Modern, the Barbican, and Sheffield DocFest and more.

An accomplishment, yet, thousands of hours remain undigitised. He admits: “I would have converted all my film footage much earlier if I had the means. It’s a mammoth task… but I hold hope.”

The man behind the legend Despite the accolades, Clovis remains deeply rooted in Brixton.

His faith, family, and community keep him going. His wife, children, and granddaughter – who has written two books in his honour – are his pride.

And then there’s Carol WilsonFrith, the family friend and agent who, in 2002, resolved to bring his work to the world and Lucy Davies, a film agent who champions his work.

At 98, Clovis still has dreams: a major exhibition, collaborations with young filmmakers and the full digitisation of his archive.

“I hope to complete this task during my lifetime,” he says.

His advice to the next generation?

“Find something you truly enjoy and learn it well. Keep practising. Change will come.”

For Clovis, that change took decades. But now, as Britain

finally sits up and takes notice of him, his life’s work stands as a testament to a truth he always knew: our stories matter. And they will outlast us all.

“At my age, I look back with a deep sense of gratitude and reflection on the impact my work has had,” he says. “I feel a deep sense of pride knowing the films I’ve made over the years – capturing British life, Black British life, families, political events such as the Brixton uprising, and communities – have touched so many hearts.

“Since the 1950s, I’ve worked tirelessly to film and document moments that others might have overlooked or forgotten.

“Through my camera, I’ve told the stories of families, communities and individuals who have shaped the fabric of this country. These stories were often missing from mainstream narratives and I knew it was crucial to preserve them.”

He goes on: “People who have watched these films have said they see their own families, their own struggles and their own joys reflected. It gives them a sense of pride and a deeper understanding of who they are and where they come from.

“The real reward isn’t awards – it’s knowing I helped bring people closer, that our history won’t be forgotten.”

And thanks to him, it won’t be.

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 21

Windrush77

PAYING TRUE HOMAGE TO WINDRUSH ROYALTY Windrush Foundation co-founder Arthur Torrington reflects on the significant contribution made

by Sam King

W

ITHOUT SECOND World War RAF ex-serviceman Sam King, there would be no Windrush Day, and the Empire Windrush might have disappeared into the mists of time.

In 1995, he and I formed an organisation called Windrush Foundation, the first in Britain to have been set up to celebrate the lives of Caribbean men and women who arrived on the ship at Tilbury Docks on June 22, 1948.

Sam was the driving force and had been since 1967 when he collaborated with The Sunday Times, publishing a special supplement on June 30, 1968 commemorating the 20th anniversary of Windrush Day. He went further in 1972 and then in August 1974 working with BBC TV to broadcast a Windrush programme called Ship of Good Hope.

The 40th anniversary was marked on June 22, 1988, hosted by the Mayor of Lambeth. Sam organised the commemorative event. He is the founder of Windrush Day. The late Member of Parliament, Bernie Grant, hosted a reception for a group of Windrush passengers at the House of Commons in 1997.

Bernie was the first MP to have hosted a Windrush event.

But the organisation’s major public commemoration was held in 1998, the 50th anniversary of Windrush Day, on June 22. One of them included a reception hosted by the then Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at St James’ Palace.

Our heritage publication in 2005 called We Served celebrated the 10th anniversary of the organisation.

In 2008, an oral history project created a video and booklet called Windrush Pioneers.

The 60th anniversary of Windrush Day was commemorated in June 2008.

That year, the Windrush Foundation collaborated with the Imperial War Museum, displaying

HONOURED: Sam King is captured at various stages of his life in a montage produced by the Windrush Foundation; right, the face of the Windrush Line; below, Foundation members meeting the then Prince Charles in 1998

an exhibition called ‘From War To Windrush’, which included photographs of WWII ex-service personnel, and Windrush passengers.

MOVING In 2012, British people viewed one of the most moving moments of the London Olympic Games.

Dozens of Caribbean people and a giant model of the Empire Windrush entered the stadium during the ceremony’s historical pageant, representing the Windrush Generation and the thousands of Caribbean people who had settled in the UK. The 70th anniversary in 2018 saw what the media labelled a ‘Windrush scandal’ which

All three photos courtesy of the Windrush Foundation

exposed the mistreatment of thousands of Caribbean settlers, who were wrongly denied rights, detained, and many deported despite having the right to live and work in the UK. Also, in 2018, the Tory government followed Windrush Foundation’s flagship, publicly acknowledging the importance of our work and making June 22, Windrush Day, an annual national statutory commemoration.

During the 75th anniversary of Windrush Day, the organisation created seven education resources, all available to download for free on www. windrushfoundation.com.

Last year saw the Windrush Foundation collaborating

with Transport for London as they renamed six Overground networks. One of them which operates from North London to South London was named Windrush Line. Sam King became the face of the Windrush Line.

This year marks our 30th anniversary as we look back at the seminal work done, and how, were it not for our lead, other organisations would not have become interested in Windrush.

This has been so mainly after April 2018 when the so-called Windrush scandal was exposed

by the British media which inaccurately connected the scandal with Windrush.

None of the victims had been passengers on the Empire Windrush but were children of Caribbean people who arrived in the UK between 1950 to 1972.

VICTIMS As the Tory government launched its Windrush Compensation Scheme for victims, it got down to defining what it meant by the Windrush Generation: “migrants deriving from the Caribbean and having

entered the UK, or their ascendant relatives having entered the UK, in the window between 1948 and 1971” – in other words: a fictitious group of Caribbean people created by the Tories.

As the first Windrush organisation in 1995, the Windrush Foundation continues to share Sam King’s notion of the Windrush Generation, who are those who arrived on the Empire Windrush on June 22, 1948. l Arthur Torrington is the

co-founder and director of the Windrush Foundation

22 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

WINDRUSH COUPLE FIGHTING FOR THE POOR

THE FIRE STILL BURNS: At 85 and 81, Windrush pioneers Roy and Carmen Wiltshire are global humanitarians, proving age is no barrier to impact

Roy and Carmen Wiltshire, and their Karoy Foundation, have been saviours for many people in need, not just in the UK, but also in Jamaica and Ghana. By Vic Motune

I

N REFLECTIVE moments while living in her Jamaican hometown – and later, after arriving in London in the 1960s – a young Carmen Wiltshire would often be found singing hymns to lift the spirits of others.

She sang for local villagers and family in her beloved district of Temple Hall, or for fellow Windrush Commonwealth settlers and church members in London – many of them hopeful, apprehensive, and some disoriented and uncertain of their place in a country that did not always welcome them.

Meanwhile, Carmen and her husband Roy married in 1965 and worked tirelessly to help family and friends navigate a foreign system. Together, they occasionally opened their home as a temporary refuge.

“We saw the need,” Carmen recalls. “Some people arrived with nothing but hope – if we could give them even a little comfort, we did.”

That same spirit would define the next six decades of their lives – a relentless drive to serve, uplift, and transform lives across continents.

Now 85 and 81, ex-ministers Roy and Carmen Wiltshire are not just Windrush pioneers, but global humanitarians, their legacy etched in schools, wells, and the hearts of thousands they’ve touched.

This National Windrush Day, as Britain celebrates the contributions of a generation that rebuilt the nation, many will pay tribute to two of its quiet giants.

The Karoy Foundation, the multi-award-winning charity they founded in their retirement, stands as a testament to their

unyielding belief in dignity, opportunity, and the power of community.

From adult education classes in south London to breakfast programmes in Jamaican schools, and the construction of an elementary school in rural Ghana, the Wiltshires have spent their lives “tilting the world in favour of the poor” – a mission inspired by their faith and icons like Bob Geldof.

“Our work isn’t charity; it’s justice,” Roy says firmly.

“Everyone deserves clean water, a full stomach, and a chance to learn. That’s not a privilege – it’s a right.”

The Windrush chapter: Building community from scratch Long before the Karoy Foundation, the Wiltshires were stitching together the fabric of Black British community.

Arriving in the UK as young adults, they faced the racism and isolation familiar to so many

“Everyone deserves clean water, a full stomach, and a chance to learn.

That’s not a privilege – it’s a right” Windrush settlers. But instead of retreating, they became pillars.

Carmen, a gifted operatic soprano hailed as the “First Lady of Black British Gospel Music,” used her voice to heal – singing in concert halls, hospitals, churches, and even for the Queen.

Roy, ever the pragmatist, drove minibuses for church members, the elderly and disabled, ensuring no one was left unaided.

Their home in London became a sanctuary during the 1980s and 90s.

“We housed people who had nowhere to go,” Carmen shares.

“Some stayed weeks, others

months. But they all left with a plan.”

The Karoy Foundation: global impact, grassroots heart In 2009, with retirement behind them, the couple formalised a lifetime of activism into the Karoy Foundation. Their projects read like a blueprint for sustainable change: l In London, their community college in Tooting has taught adults essential skills, from literacy to IT, breaking cycles of disadvantage. l In Jamaica, breakfast programmes and school supplies keep children nourished and learning. l In Ghana, clean-water boreholes spare women and children dangerous treks, while a soon-to-be-completed elementary school will educate 200 children.

“In Ghana, I saw children walking miles for water that wasn’t even clean,” Carmen

HUMILITY IN ACTION: Roy and Carmen Wiltshire have connected communities through their mission to serve others; right, the couple’s clean-water projects in Ghana have freed women and children from dangerous journeys, giving them time, health, and hope

LIFELINE: A simple barrel – Karoy Foundation’s donations ensure communities have the tools they need to thrive

recalls. “...and girls missing school because the journey was unsafe.

We knew we had to act.”

Overcoming adversity: love as a lifeforce Their work is all the more remarkable given the personal tragedies they’ve endured – including the violent loss of their adult son. Yet grief never hardened them.

“We’ve faced racism, loss, and setbacks,” Roy admits. “But hate doesn’t build anything.

Love does.”

Carmen nods. “Our faith in God teaches us to turn pain into purpose.”

Today, their focus is on feeding children in a Jamaican school and completing the building of an elementary school for 200 children in Yaw Boadi, Ghana – a project they’re determined to finish this year. But they’re racing

against time. “We need partners,” Roy urges. “These children deserve shelter, education, food and clean water. They deserve futures.”

A legacy that sings As the Windrush generation’s stories are rightfully honoured, the Wiltshires’ lives remind us that the truest legacies aren’t just in what we achieve, but in who we lift up.

Carmen, ever the songbird stalwart, puts it best: “Now retired, when I sang, I wanted people to feel hope. When we serve, it’s the same. Hope and action is why we’re here.”

And hope, thanks to them, blooms in classrooms, borehole wells, deprived communities and hearts across the world. l For further information visit www.karoyfoundation.org

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24 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77 Forgotten Heroes - Bristol

Forgotten Heroes a poignant performance from acta Community Theatre, shines a light on the overlooked stories of Caribbean men and women

who served during WW2. Despite facing racism and discrimination over 16,000 people demonstrated extraordinary courage, resilience, and loyalty.

This production honours the legacies of figures such as Billy Strachan, Victor Brown, Winston Murphy, Johnny Smythe, and many others whose contributions have too often been left out of the mainstream historical narrative.

Dates and locations: Tuesday June 17 acta Theatre at 7 pm / Tuesday June 24 Trinity Centre at 7 pm and Wednesday June 25 Trinity Centre 3:30 pm. For more information visit: https://acta-bristol.com/whats-on/ forgotten-heroes-by-actas-malcolm-xelders/

Football Exhibition Sunderland

Join Age UK Sunderland and ACCANE at the iconic Sunderland Fans Museum for a vibrant United in Heritage Windrush Day celebration showcasing Windrush heritage through football, storytelling, music, dance, and authentic cuisine.

Explore a powerful football exhibition highlighting the legacy of Windrush descendants in British sport. Joined by former professional footballers with Windrush roots, sharing their personal stories and celebrating their contributions to the beautiful game.

A joyous, multigenerational event welcoming all communities to learn, connect, and celebrate.

Date: Friday 20th June 2025 from 10:00am- 7:00pm Location: Fans Museum, North Bridge Street, Sunderland, SR5 1AP Telephone: 0191 514 1131 Email: enquiries@ageuksunderland.org.uk

My Songs of Windrush Birmingham

African Caribbean Artists supporting older participants to find the songs which will bring their memories of Windrush back to life to compile MY SONGS OF WINDRUSH. Combining live music and compelling drama, this one-woman show will explore how the character, has found the courage to move on from her past, making a successful career for

herself as a Calypso and a Jazz singer.

Performed to schools & at The Midlands Arts Centre for Windrush Day, MY SONGS OF WINDRUSH will celebrate the contribution that the Windrush generation has made to music in Britain.

Date: Sunday 22nd June at 4pm and 7:30pm Children (under 12) and Older Adults (70+) go free.

Location: Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH Booking information In person at the Midlands Arts Centre

By Phone 0121 446 3232 Online: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/ events/my-songs-of-windrush Call Carole or Nowell on 07778 335 214

Windrush Family Day - Bradford On Windrush Day June 22nd from 12 noon to 5 pm, Bradford Root will be celebrating the Windrush Generation through food and drink, live music and workshop activities including: Drumming, singing, Windrush talks, games and arts and crafts.

Location: Mapa Bradford: 1 Coates St, Bradford BD5 7DL

Windrush Stories - Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) will mark Windrush Day 2025 on Saturday 21 June with a vibrant celebration of the legacy and contributions of the Windrush Generation, highlighting the experiences of people of Caribbean heritage and from Commonwealth who made the Black Country their home from the 1940s onwards. They were invited by the UK Government to support industries and the new NHS, their stories are woven into the region’s history and culture. The event offers a lively programme of music, food, and living history. Open for joining gospel performances in the Chapel, play Jamaican-style dominoes in the pub, and explore the taste of the Caribbean with a special food offer.

Visitors can explore these stories across the Museum, including in the J.H. Lavender Aluminium Foundry and the Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre.

All ages are welcome to join in a day of celebration, remembrance, and shared heritage.

For more information, visit bclm.com/ windrush-day or contact: Aitana Ramos aitana.ramos@bclm.com

Windrush Celebration Gloucestershire

Join us for a special celebration of the Windrush generation in Gloucestershire! Our Libraries are partnering with community groups to honour this important part of history through workshops and activities across the county. Experience Afro-

WINDRUSH CELEBRATIONS Events are being held up and down the country to mark the 77th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush

Immersive Windrush Experience - Chatham

A powerful, multi-sensory journey exploring the past, present, and future of the Windrush generation. Inspired by immersive theatre pioneers, visitors walk through a series of atmospheric rooms-each brought to life through sound, scent, touch, and interactive technology. The experience begins in a Caribbean chattel house with a Zion-style Garden, filled with coconut trees and ancestral tools. Inside, participants use augmented reality tablets to reveal Caribbean landscapes and sacred objects. Across the rooms, projection mapping, AR, AIgenerated testimonies, and VR storytelling immerse guests in migration, memory, and resistance.

Smell the curry, hear the calypso, sit in a rocking chair, and feel history. Activities include Caribbean dance workshops, food tastings, domino games, and learning the meaning of cornrows. A final Caribbean market explores fruits, herbal remedies, and ancestral practices like vodou.

Date: Sunday 22 - Saturday 28 June 2025. Times vary by day Full schedule on www.templeofkulture.co.uk Hypha studio 2 Walter Burke way, Chatham, ME44RQ info@templeofkulture.co.uk Contact: Lexi Maize - 07850224813

Caribbean drumming, block printing, and storytelling, while connecting with the past. The highlight will be a short film showcasing personal stories from the Windrush generation and their families, with footage from the workshops. The screening at Bishops Cleeve Library on June 22, 11:00am3:00pm, featuring cultural activities and the vibrant Miss Windrush puppet.

To book visit Bishops Cleeve Library - Windrush Celebration Day Gloucestershire Libraries

Windrush Gospel & Legacy West Midlands

Celebrating Windrush: Gospel & Legacy through a Live Podcast Event.

Join Roger Moore and Kevin Tomlin (The Black Music Historian) for a special live-streamed episode of The Edge Podcast by Gospel Link 360 CIC powered by Affinity Xtra.

This event hosted on Windrush Day Sunday 22nd June 3 – 8pm and celebrates the powerful musical and social impact of the Windrush Generation on Gospel and popular music in the West Midlands and beyond; featuring exclusive interviews, live performances from Highgate Gospel Choir and Gospel Revived

Projects, plus the launch of new recordings.

Watch live via Affinity Xtra https://www.youtube.com/live/ EEbpHKv23M4

Reggae Stories - London

Reggae Stories will celebrate the 77th anniversary of Windrush at Grand Junction (in London, Paddington) with a night of roots, rhythm, and remembrance as we honour the voices and musical legacy that shaped a generation.

Enjoy reggae music and live performances from the legendary Omar, Reggae Choir, Lorna Gee aka Sutara Gayle, Laville, DJ Ash Walker and Gin. Friday 20 June from 7pm - late, For more details and book tickets: grandjunction.org.uk/reggae-stories Venue: Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene’s, Rowington Close, London W2 5TF

Windrush Wise Words Huddersfield

Wise Words is a powerful project celebrating the Huddersfield Windrush generation through 16 onehour filmed stories and educational resources. These compelling accounts highlight the experiences of Caribbean communities who migrated to the UK between the 1940s and 1970s, showcasing their resilience, cultural richness, and lasting contributions to British society.

Launching on June 20th, 2025, the programmes aim to educating audiences, inspiring young people, and fostering pride in Black British history. Wise Words not only preserves legacy but also promotes dialogue around systemic racism, while uplifting the voices of those who helped shape modern Britain.

Wise Words commemorates the past while inspiring future generations to celebrate, reflect, and build a more inclusive society.

A special film night launch will be held on 20th June 2025, from 5-8pm at Brian Jackson House, Huddersfield, 2 New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 25

Windrush77 Annual Windrush Day Lecture 2025 - Leicester

Windrush Black Country Living Museum

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is delighted to welcome the distinguished Professor Verene A. Shepherd for a thought-provoking lecture, “They Called Me N****r”: The Historical Roots of Literary Protest by Caribbean Immigrants in Britain Professor Verene A Shepherd is a distinguished historian, professor of social history at the University of the West Indies and one of the Caribbean’s leading advocates for non-discrimination, gender justice and racial equality Taking inspiration from poet, activist and trailblazer, Una Marson, Professor Shepherd will explore how Caribbean immigrants turned to the written

Windrush Cymru Elders

There will also be performances and pop-ups in the Reflection Room (Micro Museum) Free entry | 11am-4pm For further information contact: Ipswich Windrush Society Website: https://www. ipswichwindrushsociety.org/ Instagram: @IPSWICHWINDRUSH

SPID Theatre (see page 27)

Windrush 77 Weekender Ipswich

Ipswich Windrush Society presents Windrush 77 Weekender - a powerful weekend honouring the legacy of the Windrush Generation with a vibrant two-day celebration marking the 77th anniversary of the Windrush generation. This includes a spectacular parade, live music, Caribbean food, cultural workshops, a fashion show, gospel choir and a buzzing shopping village. A joyful tribute to heritage, resilience, and community.

Saturday June 21st at Landseer Park will feature a spectacular community day: Parade led by a steel band and stilt walkers, Main stage performances from national artists, Caribbean food court and licensed bar, cultural shopping village, family area with games, soft play, face painting & storytelling and a Wellbeing area and community hub.

Free entry | 12pm-6pm Sunday June 22nd at Sailmakers Shopping Centre brings it into the heart of town: Activities include, spoken word, poetry and storytelling, panel discussions, films and workshops and a community market showcasing Black-owned businesses.

The Blessing: Power of Community - London

This is a spectacular celebration marking Windrush Day that will bring together musicians, artists and our local community.

The event will start with a Caribbean blessing for Hackney, featuring drumming, spoken word, steel pan and singing and will finish with our massed choirs, taking the stage alongside an exciting line up of musical headliners to fill the theatre

with rhythm and joy.

This inspiring collaboration between Hackney Empire, Counterpoints Arts, and Rising Tide celebrates community and the rich cultural contributions of Windrush generations with performances rooted in Caribbean traditions.

Date: Sunday June 22 at 6:30 pm at The Hackney Empire. Tickets available here: https://www. hackneyempire.co.uk/events/ the-blessing or by calling: 020 8985 2424.

and spoken word to challenge racism, assert their identity and shape a powerful tradition of literary resistance in Britain. Through poetry, prose and performance, this lecture will shed light on the enduring strength of Caribbean voices that have spoken truth to power for generations. Join us for an evening that promises insight, inspiration, and a renewed appreciation of the cultural and political impact of Black literary protest in the UK. Sunday 22 June 6.00pm - 8.00pm Studio Box, Serendipity. £15 | £12 For details: www.serendipity-uk.com

Echoes of Windrush Northampton

Join us for a special Windrush Day celebration and the launch of Echoes of Windrush - a new creative project exploring the legacy of the Windrush generation through music.

The event includes a film screening of “The Visible Influence of Windrush on Today’s Society” (11.00am12.00pm) followed by a hands-on creative music workshop (12.30pm to 2.30pm) for young people aged 10 to 17 led by professional musicians and will be the first step in creating Northamptonshire’s first-ever Windrush Community Band.

Free- booking required Sunday 22nd June 2025, 11.00am to 2.30pm NMPAT, 125 Kettering Road, Northampton, NN1 4AZ

Windrush weekend celebration -Nottingham

Under the theme Pioneers of Progress: Champions of Tomorrow, Nottingham will honour the Windrush Generation with a spectacular

two-day celebration from June 2022, 2025.

Festivities begin with an elegant Windrush Princess River Cruise on June 20 followed by a vibrant Windrush Day Festival at Binks Yard featuring a civic ceremony, poetry, Caribbean cuisine, gospel music, live performances, DJs, and carnival displays.

This free family-friendly event celebrates Black excellence and intergenerational legacy.

Organised by local volunteers, it promises unity, pride and remembrance for the AfricanCaribbean community and all of Nottingham.

Join us for an evening that promises insight, inspiration, Sunday 22 June 6.00pm - 8.00pm Binki’s Yard, Nottingham NG2 3JL

Mouth mek fi Nyam – London

Calling all Caribbean adults 50+ to join in a vibrant series of free workshops celebrating Caribbean heritage through storytelling, poetry, and gardening.

Come and share your memories of cooking, planting and Caribbean stories. Award-winning writers Leone Ross and Joan Anim-Addo will listen to your stories and transform them into short stories that honour our cultural legacy.

Celebrate Windrush @ 77 Cardiff Bay

Join communities from across Wales for the National Windrush Day @77 taking place on Thursday 26 June 2025 at the Senedd Building in Cardiff Bay from 10:00am to 2:30pm.

Organised by Race Council Cymru in partnership with the Windrush Cymru Elders, and sponsored by Julie Morgan MS, this annual event honours the enduring legacy of the Windrush Generation and their vital contributions to British society.

The day will feature powerful presentations on the contributions of the Windrush generation to British society, cultural performances, poetry, music, and reflections from community voices, offering a space to remember, celebrate, and inspire.

Now in its 8th year of celebration in Wales, Windrush Day is a vital moment to recognise the history and resilience of Caribbean and Commonwealth communities in Wales.

The event is free and open to all.

For more information, visit www.racecouncilcymru.org.uk or email Windrush@racecouncilcymru. org.uk.

Alongside this, participate in our poetry workshops led by awardwinning Caribbean poets Courtney Conrad and Keith Jarrett. No writing experience is needed, just your voice, memories, and curiosity. Selected poems will be published in a special anthology.

You’ll also get your hands in the soil with Coco Collective with their gardening workshops, learning how to grow traditional Caribbean plants and herbs, and sharing gardening knowledge passed down through generations.

Free Caribbean food will be provided at each session.

South London. For more details and to sign up, email: courtney@spreadtheword.org.uk CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 ››

26 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

News

WINDRUSH COMMISSIONER PLAN IS A ‘VANITY PROJECT’

L

EADING human rights lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie has criticised the government’s proposed creation of a Windrush Commissioner, calling it a potential “vanity project” and renewing her call for a full statutory public inquiry into the scandal.

Speaking exclusively to The Voice, McKenzie said the government’s latest plan falls short of what is needed to deliver justice for the thousands of people affected, many of whom are still waiting for compensation and redress nearly seven years after the scandal was exposed.

“The Windrush Commissioner role is a curious one because its origin is said to come from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review,” McKenzie said. “But what the review actually recommended was that there be a migrants commissioner who would independently safeguard the rights of all migrants – something the govern-

Hillsborough. To those affected by the Windrush scandal, their plight is akin to those who lost livelihoods, liberty and lives as in those other scandals.”

Leigh Day has submitted a formal request to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for a full inquiry. In her ment would be petrified to do as it reform, she says little has changed. letter, McKenzie warned: “Time is of “Much will be expected but the sets out to court voters.” the essence,” noting that many vicrole does not appear to be aimed at She added: “Unless this person tims are elderly or have already died. will be looking at a wider cross sec- delivering much,” she said. “We’ve She believes the Windrush scandal had two independent advisors to tion of issues that have impacted reflects wider systemic failings. the lives of Black people in Britain the Home Office on Windrush.

“It sits within a paradigm of antiOne tried but wasn’t listened to such as racism and inequality in migrant discourse from both the and the other went awol almost health, housing, employment, acmedia and politicians,” she said. as soon as he started. ” cess to capital, education etc... then “Victims know this and have learnt While the government insists it’s really just a vanity project.” that their woes are akin to many that lessons have been learned, McKenzie said only a statutory in- other migrants in the system.”

DADAD While not ruling out the value quiry can fully uncover what went McKenzie, a partner at the law of a commissioner, McKenzie said wrong and why. firm Leigh Day, has represented “There has not been a thorough it must be someone with deep hundreds of victims of the scandal, analysis of the lives and conseexperience. “If they haven’t been which saw Caribbean-born Britworking with those affected in a quences of the Windrush scandal ish citizens wrongly detained, meaningful way over a considerupon those it impacted,” she said. deported or denied access to basic able period, it’s not immediately “Almost every major scandal services due to Home Office failclear to me what they’d be able to CRITICAL: Human rights lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie has is accompanied by a statutory ings. Despite repeated promises of inquiry: Grenfell, Covid, Horizon, contribute of any value,” she said. represented hundreds of victims of the Windrush scandal

Human rights lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie slams government move. By Richard Sudan

Equal Justice Initiative

LifeLines is a UK registered charity (1168273) providing friendship and support to people on death row in the United States through letter writing and email. Albert (pictured right) and LifeLines member Ingrid have been writing to each other for 18 years.

Penfriends are an essential source of comfort to people on death row and just a small amount of your time can have a huge impact. We provide LifeLines members with a supportive community and a chance to learn from inspiring people working for change.

Like past conference speakers Anthony Ray Hinton (pictured far right), who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row before being exonerated, and Equal Justice Initiative director Bryan Stevenson (left of picture), who fought for Anthony’s freedom.

“

Thank you for your support to everyone who has been given a special friend.

Ingrid is one of them people that has helped me keep my sanity.

- Albert

Join us and offer a lifeline If you want to make a difference through developing powerful connections with others, then LifeLines is for you. Become a member and bring light to someone in the darkest of places.

“I am so glad I joined, because it was through LifeLines that I met Albert and so began a long, two-way friendship that has changed both our lives.

I am his window on the world and I try to be a giver of hope, while he gives me his understanding and empathy, whatever I tell him.”

Ingrid, member since 2006.

Visit our website or drop us an email: E. secretary@lifelines-uk.org.uk W. https://lifelines-uk.org.uk/ Patron: Clive Stafford-Smith Established 1988

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 27

Windrush77 ›› CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Fun Kids Windrush

Fun Kids Windrush’ is a children’s radio station that will broadcast for 3 weeks from 9th June 2025, celebrating the sound of the Caribbean and helping children learn about the contribution of the Windrush generation and its descendants.

The playlist theme was suggested by writer, poet and historian Edson Burton. It is a set of calls and responses - a form of interaction between musician and audience - breaking down the barriers between music leaders from the Caribbean and artists who take inspiration from them.

Children will also have the opportunity to discover how Caribbean music and culture influence British life today. ‘Fun Kids Windrush’ will feature content created by local children on Caribbean history, culture, food and fashion, as well as a special Empire Windrush audio drama, and will be available on DAB across London and the South East, and online at www.funkidslive.com.

Windrush Exhibition London

On Saturday June 21st from 2pm - 5pm, SPID Theatre will host an exhibition commemorating Windrush. The youth led event will feature audio, visuals and performance. It takes place in SPID’s newly refurbished theatre in the historic Kensal house, Ladbroke Grove, W10 5BQ. Booking information: - To book in for free email office@spidtheatre.com

OTHER WINDRUSH ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE UK ORGANISATION NAME PROJECT THEME LOCATION

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

• Collage Arts

Intergenerational arts workshops

Haringey, London

www.collage-arts.org

Creative workshops in prisons Prisons

Across the UK

https://prison.radio/

Youth led storytelling and art workshops

Manchester

www.youthelements.org.uk

Windrush festival and gardening activities

Hoxton, London

www.museumofthehome.org.uk

Storytelling, performance and cultural engagement

Manchester

jetblackdanceacademy.co.uk

and sports academy

• Preston Caribbean Carnival Ltd

Display and performances

Preston’s Flag Market

prestoncarnival.co.uk

•

Prison Radio Association

•

Youth Elements

•

Museum of the Home

• Jetblack creative arts

•

Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust Windrush Community Day Royal Pavilion Garden, Brighton

Pegasus Opera Company Workshops, stories, performances Bristol Beacon

brightonmuseums.org.uk/visit/ royal-pavilion-garden/ pegasusoperacompany.org

• Cornwall Devon

Caribbean kitchen, art and music

Plymouth

www.codecc.co.uk

• Beloved Theatre Company CIC

Youth election day speeches

South London

www.belovedtheatre.co.uk

• New Generation Community

Blockorama festival

Tottenham, London

www.facebook.com/newgenerationsteelorchestra/

• Cricket Arena CIC

Festival and inter-school tournaments

Sheffield

www.facebook.com cricketarena.x/

•

Creative Collective CIC

Steel Orchestra

28 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

TOGETHER: Paddy Rodgers, CEO, Royal Museums Greenwich; Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI); and Dr Les Johnson, Founder and Chairman, National Windrush Museum

THE WINDRUSH SCANDAL: TIME TO RENAME IT AND TELL THE TRUTH AT LAST

“

T

HE SCANDAL was never about Windrush. It was about what was done to the Windrush generations. It’s time we name that clearly.”

For years, we’ve referred to the “Windrush Scandal” to describe the injustice suffered

by Caribbean people who were wrongly detained, denied healthcare, threatened with deportation – or deported – by the very government they helped build. But let’s be honest: this wasn’t a scandal caused by the Windrush generation. It was caused by government policy.

That’s why it’s time to rename it. From this point forward,

Dr Les Johnson, founder and chairman of the National Windrush Museum, says the Windrush generation didn’t fail Britain. Britain failed them we must call it what it truly is: the Home Office Windrush Scandal.

Words matter – especially when justice is at stake Language isn’t just about communication – it’s about power.

When we say “Windrush Scan-

dal,” we unintentionally place the focus on the victims. But if we say “Home Office Windrush Scandal,” we shift the focus where it belongs: on the system that failed.

This isn’t just about pointing fingers – it’s about being accurate. If we want truth, accountability, and healing, we must

start with honest naming. The Windrush generation didn’t fail Britain. Britain failed them.

The government is listening – now it must lead Last year, Minister Seema Malhotra spoke at the Windrush National Organisation Conference.

She was honest about what went wrong. She pledged to appoint a Windrush Commissioner and promised more support for advocacy and community work.

That’s a good start.

But if the government is serious about justice, it must do more than make promises. It must lead in changing the pub-

lic story. That means formally adopting the term “Home Office Windrush Scandal” in policy and practice, including reports, statements, educational materials, and programmes.

Let’s tell the truth — not just privately, but publicly From one generation to many The term Windrush generation has long been used to honour those who came to Britain from the Caribbean in the post-war years, starting with the Empire Windrush in 1948.

But the truth is, Caribbean people have been shaping this country for generations. My own

parents came in the 1950s. Many others came in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond. Their children and grandchildren are here today – nurses, doctors, politicians, businesspeople, teachers, artists, engineers, soldiers, and activists.

It’s time we reflect that truth in the language we use. Let’s start saying Windrush generations — plural — to recognise the lasting and evolving contributions of Caribbean-British communities.

Compensation is not enough — we need accountability Yes, financial compensacontinued on page 34

JUNE 2025

THE VOICE |29

30 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

News

ACCELERATING DREAMS

T

ALENT IS everywhere, but opportunity is not, yet. At Everything D&I, we exist to change that.

Through our community interest arm, The I Accelerator CIC, we’ve been working relentlessly to build bridges between students from diverse backgrounds and the industries that need their brilliance.

Our latest programme, The Windrush I Accelerator, sponsored

by Microsoft UK Embrace ERG in collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill, is a bold step in this mission.

Zephaniah Chukwudum, cochair of Microsoft UK Embrace ERG, states: “Our partnership with Everything D&I is one we are deeply proud of. Its impact grows every year, helping us not only support the development of young people but also welcome them into meaningful careers at Microsoft – a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest intentionally in building a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.”

Now in its third year, the I Accelerator has already proven its value as a virtual programme connecting

culture and community. It’s a rare and meaningful experience. One that goes beyond the CV. “This programme,” said Kris Dawkins from LinkedIn, “empowers diverse professionals to own their voice, build visibility, and claim space in rooms we’ve too often been left out of.”

We are proud the I Accelerator is UK university students with peers exchange. It’s about belonging. It’s part of a growing effort to showcase from UWI in Barbados. about enabling Windrush Gen Z the talent of Barbadians both at In collaboration with Microsoft in the UK to reconnect with their home and abroad, contribute to the UK and supported by LinkedIn and heritage, collaborate with Cariblocal economy through innovation PwC, students work on real-world bean peers, and gain the skills, and consultancy, and help shape business briefs, attend high-impact confidence, and networks needed the future workforce, one where workshops, and gain priceless to thrive in the modern workplace. everyone is seen, heard, and valued. international exposure.

Over the past two years, we’ve In addition to student placeseen first hand the transformative ments, Authentically You, our impact of this initiative. As Damian professional offering, supports PROUD Corneal of PwC shared: “In an era In 2025, we are proud to anthose already in the workplace driven by technology, it’s crucial nounce that this initiative will to navigate their careers with students develop essential skills and purpose and power. Together, take place in person in Barbados, confidence. This programme does aligning with the national We our programmes create a talent Gatherin’ movement to reconnect just that, helping them engage with pipeline where opportunity flows in professionals globally and explore the diaspora with their roots. both directions, from the UK to the countless career opportunities.”

At the heart of the Windrush, Caribbean and back.

Students benefit in powerful I Accelerator is a commitment to This programme is a moveways, from professional developexcellence, inclusiveness, service, ment! One that invites young ment and networking with global and community spirit – values people to connect, collaborate, and brands like Microsoft, to personal deeply woven into the Barbados celebrate, to know where they are INSPIRATIONAL ROLE: Frances Trought is proud to be the brand coaching, interview practice, from and dream of where they national identity. founder of Everything D&I Employee Resource Group This isn’t just about a cultural and the chance to connect with are going.

Everything D&I’s I Accelerator CIC proving vital in helping students from diverse backgrounds reach their goals. By Frances Trought

Sixth Form places in Southwark • Choice of 20 A-Levels and Diplomas • New professional options in Digital Media, Music, Computing & Business • Dedicated Sixth Form study areas and social spaces Apply now for September start, or get in touch to arrange a tour!

For course options & to apply, scan the code, see www.southbankua.org.uk/sixth-form or call 020 7277 3000 SBU Academy Sixth Form, Trafalgar Street, SE17 2TP

Inspiring Future Careers

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 31

Lyndon Mukasa

Join the debate online voice-online.co.uk/opinion

Eye on the Diaspora

IS A REVOLUTION POSSIBLE ACROSS THE BLACK WORLD? The events in Burkina Faso are being watched closely across the globe as the West African nation breaks free from the shackles of the West

I

S BURKINA FASO in the midst of a significant social, cultural and economic revolution?

Many of the country’s supporters in and across the African diaspora believe that under the leadership of Ibrahim Traoré, the West African country is finally unshackling itself from the corrosive chains of neocolonialism.

While the revolution in Burkina Faso gives us hope, there are a number of factors to consider that make the reality of the situation a lot more complex than many media outlets are willing to consider.

Since 2022, the current government under Traoré has had to navigate hostile neighbours, climate instability, economic transformation, shifting global alliances and security concerns, all while attempting a significant realignment of strategic partners.

The expectations for Traoré are also astronomically high. In online spaces, his ascendancy to power is treated almost like a mythical prophecy with hundreds of AI-generated images and false speeches being circulated, creating an image of a man and his vision that sometimes exceeds what he is likely capable of achieving for his country in the immediate future.

Nonetheless, his image of a young, strong revolutionary antiimperialist has struck a chord with millions of young people across Africa and the diaspora, speaking to the intense hunger and desire for a new world order for people of African descent everywhere.

So is Burkina Faso at a turning point and is revolution possible across the Black world? The answer is not as straightforward as some media outlets would have you believe.

This is not to put down the revolution or cast judgement on Traoré. Rather, the purpose of this analysis is to better understand how revolutions can be won, and also how they can be lost and contribute meaningfully to the discourse on African liberation

that goes beyond memes, speeches and superficial gestures.

The challenge to neocolonialism One of Traoré’s main objectives is to free Burkina Faso from its neocolonial relationship with the West.

His economic policies appear to be a form of staterun capitalism with populist redistributive elements.

This means that while the Burkinabé government doesn’t reject capitalist market forces, they do believe that greater state control and direction is most effective in delivering on economic promises.

This carries its own long-term risks as market forces could eventually grow to supersede state interests, as has now happened in much of the capitalist world. However, for the time being, it challenges the model of neocolonialism that took the form of indirect control and influence being exerted by powerful countries like France.

In Burkina Faso’s case, the country is tied to the CFA franc, a currency that is controlled by the French Treasury and has been used to finance French and EU pensions while depriving former French colonies in West Africa like Burkina Faso of reserves (up to 70 per cent) to finance development independently.

While there have been claims that the revolution in Burkina Faso might be the most important revolution in the world, I believe that it is far too early to tell

CHANGING TIMES: Thousands marched globally for Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré, whose revolutionary, anti-imperialist stance resonates with young Africans and the diaspora seeking a new world order; above , Traoré parades the streets of Ouagadougou in 2022 (main photo: Thierry Lagrin)

The end of neocolonialism?

It is from this that the context of what is happening in Burkina Faso could be assessed.

So far, Traoré has thrown out French troops and is attempting to realign the country geopolitically and assert Burkina Faso’s sovereignty.

This is being done with the assistance of new allies like Russia and even North Korea.

Through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) along with Mali and Niger, there are plans in place to disband from the CFA franc in the future.

Additionally, there have been significant steps at redirecting spending towards infrastructure development as well as training and education in science and technology.

These moves are undoubtedly

positive steps. However, in other areas, the West African country’s sovereignty still remains compromised.

Despite popular rhetoric against the IMF and other Western-backed international financial institutions, the Burkinabé government has continued to engage with the IMF, taking out loans in both 2023 and 2024.

Additionally, the World Bank approved a $100.4 million Human Capital Protection project on September 19, 2024 to assist the government’s efforts to deliver basic social services in the country.

This goes against any rhetoric of achieving complete independence from the West. It also suggests that these financial institutions are not yet threatened enough by the revolution in

Burkina Faso, otherwise they would have suspended all engagement as they have done with countries such as Zimbabwe in the early 2000s.

This is not to say that the Burkinabé government has not made any significant strides towards securing some autonomy and independence, but it does speak to the challenges and limitations that leaders in the Global South face.

What does this mean for Africa and the Diaspora?

While there have been claims that the revolution in Burkina Faso might be the most important revolution in the world, I believe it is far too early to tell.

There are several directions the revolution could take.

But for it to spread across Africa and the diaspora, all

of the governments within the AES would need to have a proactive, practical strategy and clear vision.

This vision must be one that inspires young people to build a radical political movement and strategy that not only asserts African and Caribbean sovereignty, but also one that overthrows the elites in those countries who help to maintain the neoliberal order.

At the moment, there isn’t really anything tangible that people across the diaspora can take from the Burkina Faso revolution and use to transform their own countries in meaningful ways.

Additionally, the Burkinabé government has not taken a radical enough stance against its own elites and is in fact in the process of building a new elite structure.

There is still an opportunity for Traoré to further radicalise his supporters to endorse further restructuring such as increased land redistribution and the nationalisation of more industries like his predecessor Thomas Sankara.

However, this is not likely to happen.

It is possible that as time goes on, Burkina Faso will settle into a middle path like Vietnam or Venezuela if they are unable to break away from the IMF or World Bank.

As such, while there is a revolution, it is largely incomplete and would likely require someone in the future to take what Ibrahim Traoré has built so far and bring it further along to full African and Caribbean liberation. l Lyndon Mukasa is a writer

and researcher. He studied International Development at the London School of Economics

32 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Get your copy!

40 Years of Black British Lives published by The Voice shares the narrative of the Windrush Generation and their descendants in Britain.

The book chronicles stories of education, politics, entertainment and sport amongst others as told through the pages of The Voice.

It is an essential read.

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JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 33

Cynthia V Davis

Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion

DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN POWER OF TRUE ALLIES

Showing up, speaking up, and, most importantly, listening are the qualities that matter so much

I

’LL NEVER forget a moment early in my career that fundamentally shifted how I understood allyship. I was a junior team member, invited to a meeting to discuss a new project.

The room was filled with senior White male colleagues. I was the only woman present, I was young, eager, and admittedly nervous, but determined to contribute.

When the floor was opened for ideas, I raised my hand several times, only to be overlooked each time by the meeting’s facilitator.

My enthusiasm slowly turned into quiet frustration. Eventually, I stopped trying.

Then something unexpected happened. A colleague raised his hand and was immediately acknowledged. But instead of offering his own thoughts, he calmly said, “Actually, I’d like to defer to Cynthia, who has been trying to contribute and has been repeatedly overlooked.”

That moment stayed with me. It wasn’t just the gesture itself, but it was the awareness, the choice to speak up, and the understanding that silence can be complicity.

That simple act changed not only how I was perceived in the room but how I saw the role of an ally.

True allies don’t just empathise, they act. They use their voices, their privilege, and their presence to make space for others. And often, it’s those small, intentional acts that make the biggest difference.

We talk a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, but let’s be real – meaningful change doesn’t happen just because there’s a policy in place or a statement on a website.

It happens when people, particularly those with influence and privilege, use their voices, their positions, and their power to stand with us. Not just when it’s

STRONGER TOGETHER: True allies use their privilege to act, not just empathise — driving real change by standing with others consistently, not just when it’s easy or convenient says Cynthia V Davis (photo: Getty Images)

convenient, but when it’s necessary.

So, what does being an ally mean in practice? It’s not about wearing a badge or declaring “I’m definitely not racist.”

It’s about showing up, speaking up, and, most importantly, listening.

Listen and learn Too often, Black professionals are expected to educate others about our experiences.

While many of us do so willingly, real allies take the initiative to learn. Read books, watch documentaries, follow Black voices on social media, and stay informed about the challenges we face.

And when a Black colleague shares an experience, believe them – don’t dismiss it as a misunderstanding or an overreaction.

Speak up in the moment It’s easy to say you’re against racism in theory, but what about when you see microaggressions happen in a meeting?

When a Black colleague’s idea is ignored but then praised when repeated by someone else.

When jokes cross the line. Real allies don’t stay silent. They use their voices to challenge bias and amplify Black voices.

I remember another moment, this time, I was the one witnessing an unfair situation in a meeting, and a colleague hesitated to speak up.

It took me back to that earlier experience when someone stepped in for me, and I knew I couldn’t let this moment pass in silence.

No matter how uncomfortable it felt, I had a responsibility to speak up. I now had the voice and the confidence to advocate for others who might not yet feel empowered to do so.

That’s what meaningful allyship looks like. It’s not about ‘saving’ anyone or positioning yourself as the hero.

True allyship is not performative, and it certainly isn’t about centring yourself.

In fact, well-intentioned actions can easily veer into “White saviourism” when people

To my Black colleagues: keep demanding better.

Keep taking up space. Your presence, voice, and contributions are valuable act without listening to what’s needed.

The most effective allies understand that their role is to amplify voices, support structural change, and stand alongside not in front of the people they aim to support.

Advocate behind closed doors Allyship isn’t just about public gestures. Some of the most meaningful support happens behind the scenes, such as mentoring Black professionals,

recommending them for promotions, and making sure they’re included in key conversations. Who gets invited into rooms of influence?

Who is given the benefit of the doubt? Who is trusted with leadership? Allies help open doors that systemic biases try to keep closed.

Take accountability and keep going Being an ally isn’t about being perfect. Mistakes will happen!

You might say the wrong thing or miss something you should have spoken up about. What matters is how you respond. Do you get defensive, or do you reflect, apologise, and commit to doing better? The best allies are those who understand that allyship is a continuous process – not a onetime performance.

At Diversifying Group, we see first hand the power of strong allies and advocates in action.

We work with companies who are committed to creating equitable workplaces, and we know that change doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens when

people actively choose to be part of the solution.

Moving forward To my Black colleagues: keep demanding better. Keep taking up space. Your presence, your voice, and your contributions are valuable. And to the allies reading this: if you’re wondering whether you’re doing enough, ask yourself this – are you making a difference, or are you just comfortable?

Because real allyship is about stepping into discomfort, pushing for real change, and standing with us – not just in moments of celebration, but in moments of challenge, too.

Change is possible, but it requires action. So, who will be the allies that stand up, speak out, and drive real change when it matters most? l Cynthia V Davis CBE is a Black

British entrepreneur, employment expert and diversity advocate.

She is CEO and Founder of Diversifying Group, a DEI services organisation, and Co-Founder of Diversifying.io, a diversity-focussed careers platform

34 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Windrush77

DISCUSSION: Left to right, Dr Les Johnson, Paulette Simpson, Director of The Voice, and Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard: London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, at the NWM Windrush 75 conference; above, Dr Johnson with NWM Lead Ambassador Levi Roots and Lord Simon Woolley continued from page 28 tion is important. But for those who lost jobs, homes, health, or loved ones, no amount of money can undo the harm.

Even the Home Office now admits that compensation has been far too slow. That’s why I’m calling for independent public audits of the Windrush Compensation Scheme. We need clear data on applications, outcomes, payouts, appeals, and delays – and we need it published regularly. Without transparency, there can be no real justice.

“Apologies are not enough.

Trust comes through action – and accountability.”

tion has been discussed in negative terms – as a burden or a crisis. Those stories still shape how Britain sees us.

We must flip the script.

The name Windrush should stand for contribution, not controversy. It should represent pride, perseverance, and progress. The Windrush gen-

Windrush is not a crisis – it’s a contribution For too long, Caribbean migra-

erations helped rebuild Britain after the war — and we’re still building it today.

Let’s make sure our schools, museums, and public messaging reflect that truth.

Let’s be clear about what we want This isn’t just about words –it’s

about justice. If we want real change, we need three things: l Rename the Windrush Scandal as the Home Office Windrush Scandal l Recognise the ongoing legacy of the Windrush Generations l Ensure public accountability for the compensation process

we repair. This is not about blame – it’s about balance. Not about rewriting history – but writing it more truthfully.

l Dr Les Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of the National Windrush Museum and a leading authority on Caribbean-British history.

A philanthropist, artist, entrepreneur, academic, and lifelong advocate for cultural preservation, he has spent over four decades championing the contributions and experiences of Black culture and the Windrush Generations.

Dr Johnson is widely respected for his work in public history and community justice

These are not radical demands. They are reasonable, responsible, and long overdue.

JUSTICE: Left to right, Lenny Henry, Dr Les Johnson and Patrick Vernon

The scandal was never about Windrush.

It was about what the state did to those who answered Britain’s call.

Let’s start telling that story – with clarity, dignity, and justice.

Conclusion: This is about respect, responsibility, and repair To the critics who say renaming the scandal is “just symbolic,” I say this: symbols shape systems. What we name, we remember. What we remember,

MUSEUM ANNOUNCES HISTORIC WINDRUSH SUMMIT FEATURING HOME OFFICE PARTICIPATION FOR FIRST TIME THE National Windrush Museum is proud to announce the upcoming Windrush Summit 2025, a groundbreaking event where for the first time in history, the Home Office has agreed to participate in open public discussions around the Windrush scandal.

This marks an unprecedented moment in British history and a major step forward in transparency, accountability, and dialogue.

The summit, which will take place over several days in central London and Greenwich throughout this month, will feature open panels with Q&A sessions, allowing members of the public, academics, and policy specialists to directly question government representatives. Breakout sessions will also provide opportunities for individuals to contribute to discussions

on reframing and redefining the narrative around Windrush and its ongoing legacy.

Dr Les Johnson, founder and chair of the National Windrush Museum, said: “This is more than just a conference — it’s a historic turning point. For too long, conversations around Windrush have been conducted behind closed doors. Now, for the first time, the public can challenge, question, and contribute directly to the dialogue.”

In addition to the main summit events, a historic Windrush Distinguished Lecture will be held at Parliament on the evening of June 12, led by the Mother of the House, Diane Abbott, celebrating the contributions and struggles of the Windrush generation.

Attendees are encouraged to book early, as tickets are expected

HISTORIC: Diane Abbott, Mother of the House, will take part in a Windrush Distinguished Lecture at Parliament on June 12

to go quickly. Following the lecture, the dialogue will continue at the University of Greenwich, which will host the second part of this NWM event – bringing together aca-

demics, politicians, activists, and members of the public to reframe and retell the Windrush story, aiming to shift the conversation from a ‘Windrush scandal’ to a frank

acknowledgment of a government scandal.

Denize Ledeatte, NWM director, added: “Windrush is not just history; it’s a living story. By reclaiming the narrative, we ensure justice for the past, accountability for the present, and hope for the future.”

The summit will conclude with Windrush Next Gen events at the Art’otel on June 15, featuring youthled discussions, cultural activities, and a vibrant Father’s Day reggae lunch hosted by Levi Roots.

These events promise to foster a sense of unity, cultural pride, and forward-looking activism. l For more information and to book your place, please contact the National Windrush Museum directly at admin@museumswindrush.com

JUNE 2024

THE VOICE | 29

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 35

News

‘NO CHILD SHOULD BE PRICED OUT OF UK CITIZENSHIP’

MPs warn of ‘next Windrush scandal’ over sky-high child citizenship fees. By Vic Motune

A

CROSS-PARTY group of MPs is backing a new parliamentary amendment aimed at scrapping child citizenship fees for children born in the UK, warning that the current system risks creating a new generation of undocumented young people, a situation that led to the Windrush scandal.

The move is being led by Streatham MP Bell RibeiroAddy, who tabled the amendment to the government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

Her proposal – New Clause 37 – seeks to waive the £1,214 registration fee currently required for children born in the UK to non-British or non-settled parents.

“Many children have the right to British citizenship but still end up missing out because their families don’t have the funds to pay the sky-high fee,” said Ribeiro-Addy. “We are talking about kids who have lived here for their entire lives, including many with British birth certificates or children of EU nationals. These children are excluded from equal participation in the country they call home – the only country many have known.”

Backed by 35 MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, the SDLP and several independents, the amendment targets what campaigners describe as one of the highest child citizenship fees in Europe. According to 2022 figures from Citizens UK, between 85,000 and 215,000 children entitled to British citizenship were undocumented – many of them born in the UK – because of cost barriers.

Critics argue the fee far exceeds the administrative cost to the Home Office, effectively turning child citizenship into a revenuegenerating exercise. Freedom of Information data obtained by Citizens UK shows the Home Office made more than £102 million in profit from these fees between 2017 and 2020.

“Like the Windrush generation, many of these children end up facing barriers in later life,” Ribeiro-Addy added.

“They are subject to immigration rules that were never intended for them. They may experience difficulties accessing student finance, renting a home, or travelling. These children are as British as me. It’s time to end this anomaly, waive the fee and ensure no child is priced out of citizenship in the country they call home.”

The issue has been challenged in the courts. In 2019, the High Court ruled the fee was unlawful, citing a failure by the Home Office to consider its impact on children’s rights. That decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal in February 2021, which stated it was “difficult to see how the fee could be afforded at all” by some families.

REVIEW Despite the ruling, the Home Office appealed and said it would review the fee “in due course,” but has so far given no timeline for reform.

In a partial concession, the government introduced a limited fee waiver for children in state care and families facing financial hardship.

However, recent parliamentary questions reveal the scheme is failing to meet demand.

Between July and September 2024, the Home Office received 25,630 fee waiver applications.

Just 6,083 were accepted, while 5,928 were rejected, with nearly half still awaiting a decision. The department has not collated reasons for rejections.

Campaigners argue this patchy and opaque process is not enough. “These are children who are legally entitled to citizenship, but they are being priced out of their rights,” said a spokesperson for Citizens UK. “This fee is a barrier to belonging.”

Ribeiro-Addy’s amendment will be debated as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill’s next stage in Parliament.

‘BARRIERS’: Labour MP Bell RibeiroAddy is leading calls to scrap the £1,214 child citizenship fee

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36 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Darell J. Philip

Join the debate online: voice-online. co.uk/opinion

THIS IS THE TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY

STEP INTO THE PAST: A lovingly recreated West Indian front room, part of Tony Fairweather’s Windrush Collection; below, Tony’s bestselling novel, TwentyEight Pounds Ten Shillings, is inspired by the real-life journeys of his parents and other Windrush pioneers

Award-winning social historian and author Tony Fairweather on the importance of celebrating Windrush Day

D

ETERMINED TO share the Windrush story with all generations is award-winning social historian and author Tony Fairweather.

Born in Clapham and currently residing in South Croydon, Fairweather, 65, is the son of Jamaican parents.

He opened one of the first Black bookshops in the UK, with an art gallery and artefacts, before going on to work for The Voice, heading up its book club.

In 1989, he founded ‘The Write Thing’. In addition to staging a number of productions which include The Front Room stage play and The Windrush Concert, Fairweather is also the founder and curator of The Windrush Collection – an exhibition of artefacts associated with the Windrush generation.

As a first-generation Windrush child, it is no surprise that this moment in British Caribbean

history is so important to him.

“My mother and late father were part of the Windrush movement and I am a first-generation Windrush child,” Fairweather tells The Voice, adding: “My father came to England in the Second World War to serve in the RAF. “He stayed on in London b e f o r e sending for my mother from Portland, Jamaica. My bestselling novel, TwentyEight Pounds Ten Shillings, is based on their life, as well as that of my aunties and uncles.”

Published PLAYING A VITAL ROLE: Tony Fairweather is in 2022, on a mission to keep the Windrush story alive Twenty-Eight (photo: Sharron Wallace) Pounds Ten

Shillings: A Windrush Story, tells the story of the young men and women from different Caribbean islands who were quick to respond to the call which went out to the British Empire for volunteers to help rebuild the ‘Mother Country’ after World War Two, paying the considerable sum of £28.10s to board HMT Empire Windrush – the ‘ship of dreams’ that would take them to their new lives.

MOTIVES The motivations and personal histories of these West Indian people constitute a vital aspect of the Windrush narrative – one that remains largely untold.

The narrative reveals what happened on board the ship, packed with young, excited people who had never before left their parents, their parishes – let alone their islands.

In the course of the memorable two-week voyage, there were parties, friendships, fights, gambling, racism, intimacy as well as discussions on God and love.

Fairweather dedicated the book to his mother who is in her 90s

and continues to be an inspiration to him as he shares the stories of their past with the younger generation.

His Windrush Collection, which was displayed in the Black Cultural Archives in Windrush Square, Brixton last year, will also be on display in June across various venues in the UK before being displayed at Woolwich Works in July.

Fairweather gave a sneak peak of what visitors can expect to see at this fascinating exhibition.

“I take you back to the wellremembered homes of the Windrush generation with a recreation of the iconic Caribbean front room, kitchen and bedroom,” he reveals. “This exhibition showcases many family favourites, from the glass fish, Bluespot Gram, and the last supper painting to the loud wallpaper, paraffin heater and the various eclectic ornaments displayed in glass cabinets.

“It was an honour to have these artefacts on display last year at the Black Cultural Archives, which is a very important venue to the community as it holds the history of Black people in the country.”

As well as the exhibition, a Windrush Concert will be held at the Broadway Theatre in Catford on Windrush Day, Sunday, June 2.

Hosted by comedienne Felicity Ethnic alongside Vibes FM radio presenter Daddy Ernie, the concert will capture the sound of the Bluespot Gram and breadth of musical influence that the Windrush Generation has had on British culture.

LEGEND Performances will include Windrush legend Johnny Orlando’s rendition of classic Windrush tracks and Melody Compton singing Black Opera from the Pegasus Opera. Also, Floetic Lara from ITV’s The Voice will perform songs and poetry, before the night is rounded off with the internationally renowned Freedom Band UK taking the audience down memory lane with their live set of classic songs from Jim Reeves, Bob Marley and Nat King Cole among others.

When asked what important aspect of Windrush missing from the national curriculum

should be taught in schools, Fairweather says: “Schools should be teaching the true story of how the Windrush generation helped in not only rebuilding this country but also the Caribbean too, by sending back funds to their families back home after the war.”

For the younger generations that came after the Windrush, Fairweather wants them to appreciate the hard-working legacy from which they have come.

“Understand what your parents and grandparents went through to give you the freedom you enjoy today,” he says. “Understand that old person you see walking down the road who has had to put up with signs that said ‘NO BLACKS, NO IRISH, NO DOGS.’ “Take time to understand your history in the UK and your homeland. Both young and old should celebrate Windrush day because it’s our collective history and the day of the year dedicated to the Caribbean community.” l Darell J. Philip is a teaching

assistant, academic mentor and award-winning journalist

Lifestyle

38

JAH DIGGA

40

‘A likkle problem’

Why did ‘Grow To Know founder’ Tayshan HaydenSmith step away from the RHS?

41

Alessandro Babalola is the new co-chair at Soho Theatre Walthamstow

45 Christelle Oyiri’s new work will be open to the public at Tate Modern this month

38 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Music

Lifestyle

JUST DIGGING JAH DIGGA Jah Digga’s latest track, Addictions, is making waves online. But there’s more to his viral moment than you realise. By Joel Campbell

T

HERE’S A British drama unfolding and he goes by the name of Jah Digga.

Real name Jourdin Blair, the Nottingham artist has been taking the internet by storm lately with his latest track, Addictions.

As one admirer wrote under a recent post, ‘the skills and artistry are always top tier but it’s the vulnerability and honesty that makes this hit different’.

And I couldn’t have put it any better.

An immediately catchy tune, bearing all the hallmarks of a street anthem in the making, Addictions is contemporary Britain personified in lyrics.

A quick look in his comment section on Instagram however, and you can tell this is an artist that has been slept on.

But not any more. He’s having a breakthrough moment the likes of which could see him very much UP NEXT! He’s also got the type of back catalogue and talent that could see him stay there.

So, who is Jah Digga?

“I’ve been doing it for years, many, many years. Music’s a lifestyle. Without music it’s a crazy world,” he explains.

“I started off doing grime with my bredrens. But as we get older your life kinda changes.”

He continues: “Obviously I can’t be spitting like I’m 18 again, we grow and the sound grows, and the message grows at the same time. Core responsibilities change, life and whatnot.

“So I started off in grime and then Hiphop. I’ve always listened to Hip-hop, I’ve got five big brothers, they’ve always been Hip-hop fans. Them playing Mob Deep and Nas and Dmx, that’s always been a part of it.

“I do a little spoken word as well, I do a little poetry. It’s very versatile. The artistic world is very versatile and I just like to be experimental and whatever I’m going through, whatever expression it comes out in, that’s what it is.”

Keen not to put himself in any one artistic ‘box’, Jah Digga says there are ‘no rules’.

He says: “It’s just expression. There’s no age barrier on art as well. Miles Davis is a famous trumpet player, and he was playing trumpet at 88. It’s art, bro.

“There’s no limits, there’s no rules.”

The 37-year-old has lived a colourful life. The youngest of his siblings, he’s no stranger to the ‘road’ or ‘prison’.

Things could have gone either way for him but hailing from a family of Rasta and having suffered the loss of his oldest brother two decades ago, he said music has always been the avenue he believed would take him to better things.

“Growing up in St Ann’s, Nottingham, we know how it can get, we can get tricked and influenced by negativity. So I went through that route. My brothers went through that route.

“My brothers went to prison for a long,

SITTING PRETTY: Jah Digga made a conscious decision to turn his life around — and hasn’t looked back

I talk on my experiences. So this is what it is.

I like to just keep it raw and real. I just put it down. I can’t even explain it long stretch, all three of them, and I got an elder brother, he was murdered 20 years ago. He got stabbed up and killed.

“So yeah, that was a shock that kind of moulded me into what I’m doing now.

That was kind of a breaking point for me in my mindset, like, ‘Yo I gotta try a thing fam. I can’t just be doing this road thing and just be out here destroying the community, being on that vibration, I’m bigger than that’.”

Prior to the viral moment he is experiencing, Jah Digga says he would have been most known for his track with rapper Ghetts and singer Georgia Copeland, called Grandma’s Place.

“That got some traction. It’s actually a poetry, spoken-word slash Hip-hop tune.

Georgia’s a soulful singer and that’s done all right. People were resonating with it.

“Like I said, my style is just everyday living, real life scenarios. Concepts that everyone can relate to young, old, women and men. That’s what it is.”

On working with the highly revered Ghetts he adds: “Working with Ghetts was mind blowing because for me, he’s one of the elites. He’s one of the UK GOATS. “Just to watch him work in the studio, how he does this thing was inspiring. At the same time it was a good collaboration, because the chemistry was there and it was organic.”

Sticking with the music, for anyone reading this check out Expensive and Addictions if you haven’t already.

When Jah Digga speaks on encapsulating real life scenarios, these two tracks are special reflections of his musical prowess.

The visuals accompanying both are simple but effective.

He says the Expensive video was shot in one take.

“Expensive is a tune

that I’ve had for about a year. It’s just been in the vault. I’m a man that used to procrastinate.

“I’d have ideas and I just overthink it and don’t execute it. But something clicked and I’m like, you know what I’m just gonna start executing.

“I want to big up Ganji Visuals. She’s my videographer. She linked me. She was like, ‘You’re good, you just need to just up the levels’.

“I used to just film on my phone in the bedroom.

She brought a cleaner, more professional look.”

He says of the track: “Expensive is about the cost of living.

Everything’s gone up. The electric, the gas, the petrol, food shopping.

“Everything’s gone up and e v e r y o n e’s feeling the pinch. The whole country’s feeling the pinch. It’s just real life.

“As we know, the industry’s pushing and glorifying negativity.

They want youths to be

talking about this, that and the third to make them influence the other younger kids coming through.

“For me, I believe as an artist that’s got a following and youths watching, I feel like we’ve got a bit of a responsibility.

So my thing is just to talk about real life scenarios, but still make it sound relatable.”

There are few 2025 musical releases as relatable as Addictions.

Jah Digga says dropping that track was in keeping with his current modus operandi.

Speaking on the process of constructing music that connects, he explains: “I’m more of a lyricist type of guy in it. I like lyrics. I like wordplay. I like rhyme schemes. I like metaphors.

“But I understand that the average listener is not going to overstand me going too intricate. So I always believe that there’s got to be something, a hook, a chorus that’s not going to go over their head.

“The average person can catch it and sing along to it. I’ve always tried to implement that when I’m in the studio.

My next door neighbour can sing along to it, the woman walking down the road can catch it, and it’s sticking in their head.”

He added: “Addictions, that track has gone mad. People have definitely resonated with it. It’s a topic that’s happening throughout households, and something that people are going

through, but nobody’s really spoken about it. “ He continues: “I talk on my experiences.

So this is what it is. I like to just keep it raw and real. So that’s what I was doing.

I just put it down and put it out and it’s just gone through. I can’t even explain it.

“It’s for the people to champion it, all I do is make the art and give it to the world.”

The growing attention hasn’t got to his head, though. He says: “It’s always good for people to resonate with your music.

But still it’s a humble ting, because I’m just an artist. I get it, the viral moment, but my things about longevity.

“I respect and I love the viral moment, but my art is bigger than a viral moment.

I want people to listen to my thing in 10 years time and it’s still got that feeling and it’s still got that energy.

“Big up the viral moment. But I just hope that the tune can help heal some people that are going through it.

“My music’s more about healing. You’re not alone in this thing. There’s a lot of people going through it.

“One of the things I loved was people messaging, ‘Yo bro, I’m going through the same thing, and thank you.’

“They’re the things I like. People, really opening up, sharing their story and being brave enough to jump in my inbox and be like, ‘Fam, me too’. That’s been good.” l Watch the full interview with Jah Digga

on our website.

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 39

Films

Lifestyle

ACTING DEBUT FOR HAYE Former world boxing champion swaps the gloves and ring for the big screen. By Joel Campbell

D

AVID “THE Hayemaker” Haye, former unified cruiserweight and heavyweight world boxing champion, will make his official acting debut at the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF) Media Day on June 25, in Under The Gun, directed by Charles Belleville and also starring Kevin McNally.

The announcement marks a historic crossover for Haye who joins a legacy of athletesturned-actors – but with a distinctly British, urban, and unapologetically authentic twist.

Haye’s debut continues the festival’s rich tradition of bringing boxing’s biggest personalities to the big screen.

Past BUFF premieres have

included the Emmy awardwinning documentary The Trials of Muhammad Ali (2014) and Absolutely Marvellous (2022), the BUFF Studios documentary featuring Olympic silver medalist and heavyweight contender Joe Joyce.

Of his new career, Haye enthused: “Being directed

by Charles Belleville and shooting with the amazing cast and crew was a privilege.

“Acting is a discipline, much like boxing – it takes commitment and preparation to deliver.

“I hope the viewing audience receive my acting as well as they have supported my boxing career.

“I would like to thank my acting mentor and producer,

HELP: David Haye with producer Alex Fidelski

Alex Fidelski, for giving me this opportunity and credit to BUFF for giving our movie the platform to be seen.”

“This is more than just a cameo,” says Emmanuel AnyiamOsigwe, inset left, BUFF founder, co-chair and festival director.

“David is stepping into a whole new arena. His performance will surprise people – and it’s going to shift perceptions in a big way.”

The film will premiere at Rich Mix in Shoreditch as part of BUFF’s 20th anniversary celebrations – a landmark year

for the festival as it returns to London after a groundbreaking two-year residency in West Yorkshire. That chapter included acclaimed screenings of Mapantsula in Leeds and 2025 BAFTA nominee film Brown Brit in Halifax.

SHORTS UP FOR AWARDS

RAINDANCE FILM Festival has announced that this year’s Netflix Documentary Talent Fund films will premiere part of their Official Selection.

The documentary shorts will each be eligible to be considered for Raindance’s Oscar-qualifying Best Documentary Short jury award.

The films will premiere on the closing night of the 33rd Raindance Film Festival on June 26.

In its third year, the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund supports emerging filmmakers to nurture and support a new generation of documentary storytellers.

The six films were selected out of thousands of applications.

Each film received a budget of £30,000 to produce a short documentary between 8-12 minutes long.

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40 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Lifestyle

Community

‘GUERRILLA GARDENER’ IS MOVING ON WITH PURPOSE

After three years with the RHS, Tayshan Hayden-Smith is cutting ties. By Joel Campbell

W

HEN TAYSHAN Hayden-Smith was embraced by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) three years ago, the west Londoner thought all his dreams had come true.

Sitting with the 28-year-old founder of grassroots non-profit Grow to Know in 2025, just weeks after he announced he was to step away from the role of RHS Ambassador of Community and Young People, even though the interview is taking place on Zoom, the sense of despondency is palpable.

Born and raised in North Kensington Hayden-Smith’s stock began to rise following the 2017 Grenfell disaster.

The former footballer, moved by what had happened and eager to contribute to his local area in a positive way, joined the growing guerrilla gardening movement in the subsequent days, weeks and months, as locals took to the streets in search of relief and answers to one of the most tragic and preventable disasters this nation has seen.

Under the moniker the ‘Guerrilla Gardener’, his work garnered attention across the board and led to the creation of the ‘Grenfell Garden of Peace’.

Courted by all and sundry during a time when the message that Black lives mattered was

NEW DIRECTION: Footballer and presenter Tayshan Hayden-Smith says he now sees himself as an activist; inset bottom left, at the Premier League Hall of Fame event last year

I was commodified.

I was seen as something that was marketable — and I understand that being amplified far and wide, opportunities to represent a variety of institutions were 10 a penny.

Since its inception, Grow to Know has worked to make green space accessible and relevant to all — especially in underserved communities.

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and in the wake of the pandemic, the organisation began engaging with the RHS, aiming to break down the barriers between one of the UK’s most prestigious horticultural showcases and one of London’s most overlooked communities.

In a statement issued just prior to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, one of the summer shows which represent the pinnacle of horticultural excellence, HaydenSmith said he’d chosen to step away from his role because there was a lack of clear commitment, and tangible support from the RHS in building a meaningful bridge between the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the local community of North Kensington, which is a key part of the organisation’s mission and was a central focus for Hayden-Smith as part of his role as Ambassador of Community and Young People.

Speaking with Lifestyle, he said: “I think Grenfell

(photos: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Getty)

opened my eyes to the landscape that I live within. I really started to ask those questions of who’s doing what and where? Why are we feeling this way? Why don’t we have access to these things? And because guerrilla gardening was the route into this space, that’s how things started for me.”

On the surface being enveloped by the RHS would surely elevate his efforts, help establish and define an identifiable pathway into the industry for others, like him, who emanate from underserved communities. But he says it didn’t feel like that.

“I was commodified. In some ways I was seen as something that was marketable and I understand that there is a case to be made about amplifying and creating awareness and sharing and communicating. I understand that.

“But that has to come with action. That has to come with delivery and the reasons why I’ve stepped away from the RHS and there’s a few reasons, I won’t go into too many specifics, but just fundamentally they couldn’t have been clearer by way of action, and by the way that I felt treated, which was very dismissive, very undervalued and underestimated.”

Hayden-Smith says he was

First and foremost, I actually position myself as an activist.

And I think that’s important happy to have been brought into the fold but wasn’t treated with any level of seriousness. “I kind of felt like they saw me as a kid off the block,” he shared.

Ideas he wanted to pursue never really got going and in the end, he says the situation didn’t look like improving.

In the statement he released last month Hayden-Smith said: “Whilst there have been positive moments to reflect on during my time as an RHS Ambassador, the decision to step down reflects a deeper divergence in priorities — culturally, and systemically.

“Grow to Know was born out of those very institutional differences, and rather than continuing to explain or justify the diverse and adverse lived

experiences that shape our work, we are choosing to roll up our sleeves and take bold, brave action — grounded in the hope of bettering both people and planet.

“Grow to Know is a vessel for meaningful change — with this, we welcome allies, funders, and the wider public to stand and journey alongside us in closing the green gap — once and for all.”

He admits the journey of the last three years have shaped him, his thoughts about what Grow To Know represents and as long as he’s involved the mission will never be diluted.

“First and foremost, I actually position myself as an activist. And I think that’s important in terms of leading the work that we do.

“So to present myself as an activist means I’m trying to change things.

I’m trying to shift things. I’m trying to see where the opportunities are to bring more people into this space and bring knowledge to a wider community of people.”

Adding further context to why he sees it as very important to clearly define the direction and purpose of his organisation, Hayden-Smith said: “Ladbroke Grove is the front line of change.

And as someone who’s from Ladbroke Grove, I walk in places only because people before me have taken a stand, and have put

their freedom at risk, or put their livelihood at risk to be able to make that change.

“And so I’m honouring that, I guess. And I think the works that we do, it can never be passive.

“And I think that’s kind of the direction that Grow To Know is trying to go in.”

In response to Hayden-Smith’s outlined reasons for stepping down from his official role as RHS Ambassador of Community and Young People, an RHS Statement to the Voice read: “The RHS delivers one of the UK’s biggest national community gardening initiatives, investing millions in school gardening, community outreach and grass roots projects.

“The RHS supported Grow to Know on a project in the North Kensington borough and provided direct funding towards a community garden.

“All gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show live on to be community green spaces in places like hospitals and schools around the whole of the UK. “The world-famous event also raises vital funds for the RHS to do community outreach as part of its national programme of community work.” l Read the full interview on the Voice website

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 41

Lifestyle

Theatre

IT’S A DREAM COME TRUE FOR THIS TOP BOY

STAR TURN: The theatre has what it takes to attract top acts from across the globe

Alessandro Babalola so proud to be playing a key role at Walthamstow’s Soho Theatre. By Joel Campbell

F

OR A lot of you reading this article, Alessandro Babalola is the guy from Top Boy. But you should also know that he is the co-chair of the newly opened Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

It’s a role which, even before he knew it was available, was one he wanted.

For Babalola, who grew up in the borough of Waltham Forest, a theatre of this stature, of this ilk, in this neck of the woods, was a dream come true.

This major new 960-seat venue will house the very best UK and international comedy, theatre, cabaret and panto, alongside a lively creative engagement programme. Beautifully restored from the 1930’s former Granada

by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre, the new venue includes a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium, brand-new studio spaces, backstage facilities, four bars (Main Foyer, Ziggurat, Cross Hall and Circle), and a restaurant.

A passionate advocate for acting and the arts in general, when Babalola learned the iconic venue in east London was to be turned into a space where performing arts would be front and centre, he just knew it was something he had to be involved with.

“I’m born and raised in Waltham Forest. I’m a Leyton baby,” Babalola enthused.

“My mum’s an English teacher and my dad’s a writer, so I’ve been exposed to the arts from a very, very young age.

“My mum realised when I was younger that I was very articulate, I was good at summing up my mind, and just good at communicating with adults.

“They understood that I was a decent orator and then they put

me in drama schools essentially.

Fast forward, my mum’s put me in all of these schools, I go on to university. I study drama at the Arts University of Bournemouth.

I studied acting, finished that and graduated into the industry.”

With the academic stuff out of the way, Babalola says he started to flirt with Fringe Theatre. It proved to be a shrewd move.

“Myself and a couple of friends, we did this show called Flesh and Bone. Only due to the grace of God, it ends up being a runaway success.

SUCCESSFUL “We started it in Camden Etcetera Theatre and there were shows where we only had one of our mums and a friend in the audience. I’m talking about two people in the audience.

“Then it got picked up by the Pleasance Theatre who took it to Edinburgh.

“We went to Edinburgh Fringe and we were really fortunate to be very successful there. We won the Fringe First award and we won something called the Holden Street award, but we also won the attention of Soho Theatre.

“Soho Theatre then cast me. I did a couple pantomimes with them in Oxford, and then I was basically saying how much I’d love for our show, Flesh and Bone, to come and do a run in Soho Theatre, London, Dean Street, and they were like, ‘oh, we already had you in mind for that anyway’. So that got sorted.

“We did the show in Dean Street, which was an

incredible experience. We then got nominated for an Olivier award.

“Then we won the Olivier award, and then I got cast in Top Boy. Doing Top Boy led to me getting cast in a Guy Ritchie film and then doing a show with ITV and then getting cast in another Guy Ritchie film.”

Babalola says he has benefited so much from working with Soho Theatre that when he saw a tweet from the organisation announcing the opening of the new east London venue, he seized the day. “I should point out that I first came to Soho Theatre when I was 14 years old. My dad brought me to watch a show by Roy Williams, called Joe Guy starring Abdul Salis.

“It was directed by my godfather, Femi Elufowoju Jr. I went into that show wanting to be a footballer. I came out wanting to be an actor. I was so struck by the performance of Abdul Salis.

“I should point out that this was like 2007 and it was an all Black cast, which just wasn’t that much of a thing then, but not an all Black cast in like Stratford

Theatre Royal, an all Black cast in Soho Theatre, Dean Street.

“I was too young to understand the socio-political implications of what I was watching. But I just loved the play.

“So when you think about it, Soho Theatre played a formative role in my entire artistic life.”

He added: “One day I’m on Twitter, and I see a tweet that said ‘after a great long campaign we’ve finally been given the rights to the former Granada Theatre and we’re going to turn it into a theatre.

“I’m thinking WHAT!! We’re going to get a theatre now?

“Remember, at this time I’ve already got a great relationship with Soho Theatre, so I literally just responded to the Tweet and said, ‘I’ve got to be a part of it. I’m from Waltham Forest’.

“I wasn’t trying to be presumptuous or arrogant. I just very humbly wanted to be a part

of this. I love Waltham Forest. I genuinely love it beyond the fact it’s my borough, there’s something very wholesome about Waltham Forest that a lot of other boroughs don’t have, especially in our side of London, the east side.

“So I thought I would love to be a part of bringing that magic of arts and culture to the borough.”

DESTINED At a glance, Babalola’s involvement with Soho Theatre Walthamstow looks like a divine calling, prophetic almost. It seems as if he was always destined to be where he finds himself. It’s manifestation personified.

Having attended Leytonstone secondary school, Babalola is very aware of how the new venue can not only benefit the Black community and further afield, he’s also clear on how the venue itself will benefit from enveloping local talent.

He added: “When I think of theatre, I always think, man, I would love to give Waltham Forest that experience I had growing up, which was, in truth, a cultural explosion.

“You couldn’t even put your finger on it. It was dance, it was singing, it was theatre. It was a real mesh of all these things.”

He added: “There were these groups in the borough like Kids Culture Club, KCK, they did so much to expose us to the arts, but it wasn’t in a gentle way. It was like, really, you know, get up and get involved. Dance your ass off, sing your head off, go and be free.

“In the life we live there can be so much that restricts us and makes us fall in line, but the arts is a place to achieve a variant of freedom.

“So my vision for Soho Theatre Walthamstow is that, along with the actual theatre’s vision, for it being a local theatre with a national profile, a place where you can go and see world-class entertainers, from comedians to theatre to music, I also envision it being a place where the kids of the borough, all the way up to the old people, have a place to literally go and feel liberated artistically, because that’s what Waltham Forest did for me.” l Watch the full interview on

SO IMPRESSIVE: It’s easy to see why Alessandro Babalola wanted to be associated with such a magnificent theatre

our website to find out how a chance meeting with the CoExecutive Director of Soho Theatre Walthamstow, Mark Godfrey, following an unsuccessful audition for a role Babalola knew he wouldn’t get, paved the way to him finding his feet at the helm of the new site

42 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Lifestyle

Music

T

HE LAST two decades have seen an incredible rise in the world of music festivals in the Caribbean.

Music tourism in the region is a strong and viable option for fans of various genres (what’s not to love? Music, incredible weather, big-stage shows and memories for life…)

Over the last five years, the likes of the St Kitts Music Festival as well as the World Creole Festival in Dominica have seen rapid growths in popularity. However, a true trendsetter in this field has been the Jazz festival which takes place in St Lucia.

Recently renamed the Jazz & Arts Festival, it represents a twoweek celebration of a range of genres that are cornerstones of the islanders’ love and passion.

From traditional jazz, to R&B via gospel, dancehall and soca.

Although predominantly based in the bustling north of the island, the festival has worked hard to ensure all four corners of St Lucia get a taste of activities – there have been shows in Vieux Fort in the south as well as showcases in the historic town of Soufriere in the west.

Sizzla opened proceedings in Micoud, at a bespoke location which served as an incredible backdrop and brought the Jamaican superstar to a different audience. He definitely understood the assignment, and the festival was off with a bang as he reeled through his 30 years of hits effortlessly.

The idyllic Pigeon Island plays host to the main bulk of

Photos: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

JAZZ IN THE SUNSHINE

The amazing St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is continuing to get better and better, says Ray Paul the activity. Set at the most northernly point of St Lucia, this National Heritage Location has become synonymous with jazz. A four-night residency was about to play host to four very eclectic and themed nights.

Thursday was ”Kingdom Night”, a celebration of worship and gospel music which was greatly attended with over 8,000 fans.

The strength of worship music in the region was there for all to see, with Grammy-winning headliner Tasha Cobbs effortlessly serving up music for the soul to a predominantly female audience who were lapping it up.

“I always love worshipping with those who appreciate it”, she enthused. “This is my first time here, but I have been told that people on the island feel and believe the power of worship music, so I’m looking forward to sharing the words and power with them.”

Tasha was seemingly b e i n g modest.

The audience sang every word, listened to the stories and anecdotes, and

came away feeling refreshed and blessed. It was a very astute way to start the run of shows and anticipation for the weekend grew even further.

Friday was a night that I was intrigued to see how it would fair in this setting. Even though the festival took place in the Caribbean, having a line-up of some of the hottest dancehall and soca acts could have seemed out of place, given the title and projected outlook of proceedings.

But not only did it hold its own, it flourished.

With a crowd of over 11,000 (seemingly all driving their cars) to the venue, getting to (and from) a bottlenecked venue proved difficult, with valuable lessons being learned about arriving at festivals earlier and the

journey almost always taking longer than you may expect (it took us nearly three hours to complete a four-mile journey and almost the same to get away from the venue at the end of the night), the line-up definitely did their best to make to journey worthwhile.

Dancehall’s finest, Bounty Killer & Beenie Man, headlined the night with hit after hit after hit for the expectant crowd. High octane, high energy, and they looked like they enjoyed the freedom that the platform allowed them.

Their work was made much easier by a supporting cast that included local soca artists Ricky T & Teddyson John, Trinidad’s Patrice Roberts and the man of the moment Young Bredda.

It was a great night that had all the key components – a picture perfect setting, true veterans at work and a receptive crowd.

The following night saw one of the performances of the festival as Nigerian star Ruger marked his debut performance on the

HEADLINER: Bounty Killer was just one of the performers to thrill the festival crowd

SHINING BRIGHT: Ever ything was perfect about this colourful Caribbean extravaganza

island with a regal display of showmanship. The ladies showed their appreciation at the hits such as Girlfriend, Bounce and Dior showed that the local crowd knew the tracks word for word.

The night ended with American R&B songstress Summer Walker putting on the expected polished and slick R&B show. Dressed in all white along with her sizeable on-stage entourage, it was ladies time for sure.

On to the finale of the festival and one of the highlights of the two-week gathering is Sunday afternoon at Pigeon Island, with the sun setting over the water and capacity crowd watching Jazz legend Ronald “Boo” Hinkson blending his classic repertoire and introducing some of St Lucia’s next generation of Jazz talents.

The climax was fast approaching, and what a way to end proceedings! Up first were

bonafide legends Earth Wind & Fire, complete with Phillip Bailey. Their performance was a masterclass in stage perfection.

Effortless in their delivery, the crescendo included Boogie Wonderland and September, and they looked like they loved every minute of their set. Without doubt the performance of the festival!

John Legend had the honour of closing the 2025 St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival with all of the sophistication and smoothness you would expect. This was his hat-trick of performances at the festival and he was clearly still a strong crowd favourite.

So there you have it – an international festival worthy of its name – both welcoming and entertaining. As someone of St Lucian heritage, I was proud to see how the festival had grown since my last visit, and I look forward to where it can get to next.

JUNE 2025

THE VOICE |43

44 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Lifestyle

Arts

A JOURNEY THROUGH ARTISTIC MASTERY

SPECIAL: To Improvise a Mountain exhibition invites audiences on a journey of encounters with artworks that create emotional landscapes of intensity and wonder (photo: Rob Battersby)

Leading figurative painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s new exhibition will take you to a good place. By Joel Campbell

T

O IMPROVISE A Mountain is the latest exhibition curated by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, one of the foremost painters working today.

For this exhibition, she has selected works that have been critical to her way of seeing and thinking, inviting audiences around the UK on a personal journey across different geographies and generations of artists.

Taking place at the Leeds Art Gallery as part of the Hayward Gallery Touring, the exhibition has also been developed in partnership with MK Gallery and Nottingham Castle, supporting the Southbank Centre’s ongoing mission to create experiences for the nation’s enjoyment.

Featured artists include Bas Jan

Ader, Pierre Bonnard, Lisa Brice, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Samuel Fosso, Peter Hujar, Kahlil Joseph, Zoe Leonard, Glenn Ligon, Toyin Ojih Odutola and YiadomBoakye (inset), to name a few.

Speaking with Lifestyle, Brian Cass, senior curator of Hayward Gallery Touring, said: “Lynette Yiadom-Boakye brings us on an imaginative journey of encounters with artworks that – like her remarkable paintings – conjure different moods, personalities, colour and emotions.

“Her curation celebrates the imaginative spirit of the contributing artists, and the endless potential of art to bring new thinking and feeling into existence, continuing Hayward Gallery Touring’s longstanding history of partnering with artists on ambitious exhibitions

that invite audiences inside their worlds.”

Yiadom-Boakye, 47, was born in London. Her recent solo museum exhibitions include No Twilight Too Mighty at Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, in 2023, and Fly in League with the Night, a mid-career survey organised

by Tate Britain in London, and which travelled to the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, K20 in Düsseldorf and MUDAM in Luxembourg, from 2020-22.

She was awarded the Carnegie Prize in 2018 and was the 2012 recipient of the Pinchuk Foundation Future Generation Prize. She was also shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2013.

Yiadom-Boakye’s exhibition with Hayward Gallery Touring continues the organisation’s long history of partnering with artists on ambitious exhibitions that invite audiences inside their worlds.

Speaking on the exhibition, she enthused: “My use of words in writing is not always so different to my use of brush marks in painting.

The logic, patterns, relationships and decisions are guided by intuition and a means of thinking through what is felt.

“That’s how I wanted to approach this show. And I wanted to bring together works by artists whose vision beguiles me: fellow poets, dreamers, thinkers and wanderers. It is humbling and a dream to show amongst them.”

To Improvise A Mountain invites audiences on a journey of encounters with artworks that create emotional landscapes

of infinite knowledge and infinite knowing that poetry allows us.”

Jane Bhoyroo, principal keeper of Leeds Art Gallery, said: “Leeds Art Gallery is delighted to be collaborating with Hayward Gallery Touring and the remarkable artist Lynette YiadomBoakye to premiere this visionary exhibition in FRESH: Leeds.

“It promises to be a Lynette wonderful opportunity YiadomBoakye’s to present artworks by internationally renowned Oracular artists from across the globe, from the late 19th century to the present day, of intensity, intimacy, refusal, including celebrated paintings activism, and wonder.

For Yiadom-Boakye, “the and drawings by Walter Sickert governing principle, the dialogue from the Leeds Museums and between the works, is that spirit Galleries collection”.

ERIVO RELISHING HER RETURN TO THE STAGE FOR DRACULA CELEBRATED Tony, Grammy and Emmy-award-winner and threetime Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo will return to the stage for the first time in nearly a decade next year, starring in Dracula, writes Joel Campbell.

Last month, producers Michael Cassel and Adam Kenwright announced that Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed production, adapted and directed by theatremaker Kip Williams, will premiere at London’s prestigious Noël Coward Theatre in February 2026.

Erivo, starring in this bold, oneactor reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel, said she couldn’t wait to get back in front of

KEEN: Cynthia Erivo will perform the gothic tale (photo: Mark Seliger) a live audience. “Returning to the stage feels like a homecoming, one that I’ve been craving for a long time,” the Wicked actor enthused.

She added: “To do so with a story as rich, complex, and haunting as Dracula offers a beautiful opportunity to delve into character, into myth, and into the heart of what makes us human.

“From the moment I was asked, I could not get the role out of my mind. Kip’s vision is thrilling, terrifying, and deeply resonant, offering a chance to sit with not only the darkness in the world, but also the light we fight to hold onto.

“It’s a rare gift for an actor to inhabit so many voices and perspectives in one piece, and I’m honoured to do it for West End audiences in this extraordinary production. The prospect of doing

this show scares me and I know it will be a huge challenge. This show will ask everything of me – and I’m ready to give it.”

In this radical interpretation, Erivo will embody all 23 characters in Stoker’s iconic tale – from the naïve solicitor Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina Murray to confidante Lucy Westenra, her suitors, and the formidable vampire hunter Van Helsing – as well as the infamous Count Dracula.

Dracula represents the final and most ambitious production in Tony Award-nominated director Williams’ gothic trilogy, whose productions have redefined the canon on both Broadway and the West End.

The production follows on from his genre-defining adaptations of the six-time Tony Award-nominated The Picture of Dorian Gray (which enjoyed triumphant seasons in both the West End and on Broadway) and the award-winning Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Williams, director and adapter, said: “I am excited to reunite with many of my Dorian Gray collaborators on this project, and it is an immense privilege to have such a singularly gifted artist as Cynthia at the heart of it.

“I can’t wait to share this piece with London audiences, especially in the West End, a place where Bram spent so much of his creative life.”

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 45

Lifestyle

Architecture

THESE CURATORS DESERVE THEIR SPECIAL MENTIONS The creative, cultural and educational links between the countries of the UK and Kenya celebrated. By Jerome Conway

T

HE BRITISH Pavilion curators and commissioner were awarded a Special Mention for National Participation at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia – last month.

The exhibition, titled GBR – Geology of Britannic Repair, is a collaboration between a multi-disciplinary team of curators: Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi of Nairobi-based architecture studio cave_bureau, with UK-based curator and writer Owen Hopkins and academic Professor Kathryn Yusoff.

It comprises installations developed by the curatorial team as well as commissioned installations by a range of international practitioners, including Mae-ling Lokko and Gustavo Crembil, Thandi Loewenson, and the Palestine Regeneration Team/PART (Yara Sharif, Nasser Golzari and Murray Fraser).

The commission is a core part of the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, which celebrates the creative, cultural and educational links between the countries of the UK and Kenya.

The exhibition’s geographical, geological and conceptual focus is the Rift Valley, a geological formation that runs from south-eastern Africa through Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia, along the Red Sea, through Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Lebanon to southern Turkey.

The British Pavilion received a Special Mention from the jury for “a dialogue between Great Britain and Kenya about reparation and renewal. The Pavilion reveals an architecture defined by extraction, which generates inequality and environmental degradation”.

ON DISPLAY: Installation view, Geology of Britannic Repair, at La Biennale di Venezia

“The jury notes attempts to imagine a new relation between architecture and geology; as well as the Venice Fellowships Programme, a notable initiative for knowledge exchange between Venice, Great Britain and Kenya.”

Curators Karanja, Mutegi, Hopkins and Yusoff said: “We are hugely honoured that GBR has been recognised by the jury.

“The exhibition creates a vital space for dialogue and collaboration between our two countries that builds on their difficult, traumatic and deeply unbalanced past relationship, to imagine different possible futures.

Architecture has a unique capacity to further repair, renewal and restitution and we are delighted that this message has so resonated for the jury.

“We have already been overwhelmed by the visitor response to the exhibition, and we hope it will continue to challenge and inspire those who visit over the coming months.”

Sevra Davis, Director of Architecture Design and Fashion at the British Council and Commissioner of the British Pavilion, said: “The British Council, the curators and I are honoured to be awarded a Special Mention by the jury of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition and we would like to extend our thanks to the jury and La Biennale di Venezia.

“GBR confronts difficult conversations of the role played by architecture in extractive relations while also creating opportunities for hope, optimism and joy.

“I am immensely proud of the curators and our partners for their work on this

RECOGNISED: From the left, Owen Hopkins, Stella Mutegi, Kathryn Yusoff and Kabage Karanja (photo by Taran Wilkhu)

historic collaboration between the UK and Kenya which celebrates connection between the two countries – in line with our mission of building understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.”

The British Council has been responsible for the British Pavilion at the International Art and Architecture Exhibitions of La Biennale di Venezia since 1937, showcasing the best of the UK’s artists, architects, designers and curators. These exhibitions, and the British Council’s Venice Fellowships initiative introduced in 2016, help make the British Pavilion a major platform for discussion about contemporary art and architecture.

The British Council commission GBR – Geology of Britannic Repair at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 runs until November 23, 2025.

OYIRI BRINGING FRENCH FLAIR TO TATE MODERN ARTIST AND DJ Christelle Oyiri is the first person to undertake the Infinities Commission, a new annual commission to showcase the limitless experimentation of contemporary art, writes Jerome Conway.

Each year, an expert panel is asked to select an innovative and boundary-breaking international artist to create a visionary new work for the Tanks, Tate Modern’s unique spaces dedicated to performance, installation and film.

This year’s jury has selected French artist Oyiri.

Based in Paris, Oyiri works across multiple disciplines – from music and film to performance and installation – often exploring under-the-surface stories about contemporary culture, media and identity.

She has described her work as focusing on ‘the things that lie between the lines’, including lost mythologies, youth subcultures, and diasporic histories.

Her staged installations, performances and events have been featured around the world, including at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Haus der Kunst in Munich, Tramway in Glasgow and the Serpentine Gallery in London, as well as working as a highly respected DJ under the pseudonym Crystallmess.

TALENTED: Christelle Oyiri (photo: Chris Lensz)

Catherine Wood, Director of Programmes, Tate Modern, said: “We are thrilled with the selection of Christelle Oyiri for our very first Infinities Commission.

“She disrupts the boundaries between creative disciplines and tunes our attention to the world around us with fresh vision.”

She added: “This new commission reflects the evolving nature of Tate Modern as a living museum, with expanded programmes that invite our audiences into the worlds of today’s most interesting and imaginative artists.”

Oyiri’s new work will be open to the public from June 17 to August 25, 2025.

46 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

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JUNE 2025 | THE VOICE

ON SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Inspired by the Windrush generation, Chelsea legend and Charlton director Paul Elliott setting a goal of achieving more diversity in football. By Rodney Hinds

C

HARLTON Athletic Vice-Chairman Paul Elliott CBE MBE was recently recognised on this year’s Football Black List.

The respected Elliott has literally been around the football block, starting his playing career at Charlton in the early 1980s.

Elliott signed for First Division Luton Town in 1983. He then joined Aston Villa in 1985 and spent two years at Italian club Pisa before joining Celtic in 1989.

During his spell at Chelsea between 1991-1994 he became the club’s first Black captain. In 2017, Elliott became Chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board. Six years later, Charlton confirmed Elliott as the Board of Directors’ lead for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and mental health.

Here he talks to Rodney Hinds about his inspirations and some of his aspirations for the Beautiful Game.

What does the Windrush generation mean to you?

To be honest with you, when we speak about the Windrush generation, the first two people I think of are my grandmother and my grandfather. They came over to England in the late 1940s.

When I talk about Windrush that’s what it reminds me of, seeing the struggle, the challenge, the lack of acceptance.

People don’t realise how many of that Windrush generation were skilled workers, engineers, people of the highest order, intellectually bright people, lecturers, but they wanted to come to the UK and obviously start a new life.

LEADER: Paul became Chelsea’s first Black captain

DRAWING INSPIRATION: Paul Elliott admits his Windrush generation grandparents played a key role in helping him pursue his footballing dreams

It starts then, it starts from the position of these people who made a huge contribution to this country.

They were the shoulders that I built my character on, that I built my resilience on, to take on what I took on when I became an elite player.

That resilience you talk about must have helped you during your career?

One hundred per cent. Unequivocal is the word I would use, and it was the same way, it was embedded in my mum and dad’s DNA about survival: adversity breeds character. Your resilience becomes your brilliance.

My grandparents, and then subsequently my mum and dad, they always told me, ‘Hey, you’re going to have to work really hard in this country’, we were cognisant of the challenges and the struggle, and what it all looked like and felt like.

At that time, Black people were living it, Scottish people were living it, Irish people were living it, and it was no coincidence that my family had a lot of Scottish and Irish friends, as we were all collectively excluded.

You could not fail to see what was going on, the daily life, the struggle, the challenge of prejudice, inequality and discrimination.

I knew straight away that, my goodness me, if I wanted at 16 years of age, when I broke into Charlton and its first team, to have a career, I needed to go over and beyond, because it wasn’t about fairness, it wasn’t about equity, it wasn’t about equality, it was about survival.

It reminds me of running a 100m race; many people had a head start. We never had a head start, and I still managed to keep in the race. Over time, I went past them.

You’ve also had to use your grandparents’ Windrush spirit in order to make a difference off the field?

They set an example in terms of values. It’s helped me make an impact across football, across football administration, across society, across community.

If you can impact change, policy, leadership, governance, equity, inclusion across the football landscape,

that’s going to have a wider impact on setting the example, what the world should be doing and what it should look like through the power of football.

You are looking to build on the foundations of the early football pioneers, aren’t you?

Correct. All the people before us, they’re on the first rung of the ladder. From my grandparents, people such as Arthur Wharton, Walter Tull, Cyrille Regis, Brendan Batson et al, step by step, each of us are climbing on the ladder, and we’re not even halfway up the ladder.

Do you expect that progress to continue?

Some 43 per cent of the players that play in the Premier League are Black, or from a diverse background, so you’ve got that acceptance and got the equity on the field of play.

The EDI work you do at Charlton is noteworthy and a great example to other clubs. Explain a little more.

It inspires me, it mobilises me, it empowers me to get up every day in the morning and push even harder with more vigour.

You know that Charlton, with former

players like from Phil Walker back in the 70s, have always embraced EDI. I want people to talk about Charlton, I want people to say, ‘Charlton is the EDI club’.

Not just on the field, either; within the workforce, inside the boardroom. That is what I call the best practice template that you can evidence with Charlton.

Then that brings us into the other project, diversifying the fan base. We’ve got the diversity on the field, we’ve got the diversity within our coaching staff, within the workforce.

Then it’s about then modernising and taking that fan base on the journey as well that’s representative of the local demographic.

Having more diversity in decision-making spaces is key surely. How do we accelerate that?

That is the challenge. To accelerate that, people have to realise the social value, the human value, and economic value. It’s about taking people on the journey for the economic upside of diversity and why it’s relevant to their business.

Chelsea Women have just won the Treble. Give me some thoughts on the women’s game I think the women’s game is positively evolving. When I think about the likes of Lauren James, pictured, she’s unbelievably gifted, unbelievably talented, and what I love about her is her character, the winner.

This country is leading the way. But what’s very important to me in the women’s game, and I’ve made this clear publicly, that diversity is also very important.

My message to women’s football, is recruit from the widest possible talent What I don’t want is the women’s game to be like the men’s, where we’ve lost two generations of potential players who wanted to transition from playing on the field into coaches.

We still need that pathway, and there needs to be greater investment into those disadvantaged, low socioeconomic communities because that’s where a vast talent pool is, that can’t ordinarily get that entry point and access into the game.

JUNE 2025 THE VOICE | 47

Sport

‘HISTORIC’ BUTCHER TELLS HIS OWN STORY

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OLAND BUTCHER was the first Black cricketer to represent the England Test side in the early 1980s. A stellar career saw him play around the globe for Middlesex, Barbados, Tasmania and Suffolk.

Along the way he made countless friends and created memories.

Barbados-born Butcher has just penned his first book, co-authored by Dr Sasha Sutherland, entitled Breaking Barriers; Barbados to England… And Back. Here he talks to Voice sports editor Rodney Hinds about his latest work.

RH: How satisfying is it to finish the book?

RB: The fact we have reached this point is very satisfying. It is not something I really had been planning. I knew one day that I would eventually do an autobiography, but I wasn’t sure exactly when that was going to be or when I wanted to do it.

I think what really brought it forward, people have been saying to me for ages, ‘listen, you need to write, you need to do an autobiography.’

About a year and a bit ago, a very close friend of mine, Dr Sasha Sutherland, encouraged me also. She said, ‘you should really write your autobiography, and she was really thinking then that I should get somebody to do it.’

She’s never written any books before, but I knew she would take it on. I would say between October and now, this book

The man who became the first Black cricketer to play a Test for England reveals all in his new book. By Rodney Hinds has been produced, she’s been amazing.

We burned the midnight oil for a long, long period, and we’re very satisfied with what we’ve got right now. It was just a case of us sitting for hours, she would ask questions, and I would provide the answers.

Each chapter was developed, and obviously you’ve got to contact people to do forewords, remarks and tributes.

RH: You have some stellar names endorsing the book.

That must be pleasing?

RB: I’ve got some very interesting people such as Sir Clive Lloyd, Lord Ian Botham, Professor Hillary Beckles, Michael Holding OBE and Sir Garfield Sobers amongst others.

These people are very important in my life. Sir Gary was a hero of mine when I was a kid in Barbados growing up. Michael Holding, now we go back a long way. My first game for Barbados was against Michael with Jamaica.

RH: These friendships that you’ve developed and maintained, that’s a very special part of your life and career, isn’t it?

RB: That is the real part of your career, because you spend so much time away from your families, you’re either on the training ground or in the dressing room or travelling, or in the field.

When you’re in the field, you’re there for six hours, so those friendships are gold. The friends you make through cricket really last a lifetime.

I cannot honestly say there’s anyone in cricket that I hate! I mean, there are some people that annoy you, but you will never say that you really hate someone through cricket, because it is not that sort of a game. So those friendships are very, very important to me.

I also remember the other person who did a remark was David Gower, who was my teammate. When it comes to tributes and testimonials, you’ve also got Ebony Rainford-Brent, who is a very close friend. She’s got her own story to tell, she’s done amazing things, and continues to do amazing things. Once she was getting involved in ACE, the phone rang and I was asked to be a patron, so I’ve worked with her for a while.

RH: You’ve always told me that being the first Black man to play Tests for England never really connected with you at the time. Do share that landmark moment

LEGEND: Roland Butcher in action during his England Test debut against the West Indies at Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1981; below, standing next to the statue of Sir Gary Sobers at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, in 2022 (photos: Getty Images)

RB: It was just a page in history.

It was probably thought about more by other people than me. I didn’t really pay a lot of attention to it, but I think when I sat down, and Sasha was probing me about everything related to that first Test match, and my feelings, you get a different perspective then on the whole thing.

We delved deeply into that, something I hadn’t done before, and that was quite refreshing, because in cricket an event happens, and you move on. It has been a good journey, I’ve enjoyed it.

RH: How challenging was it writing the book?

RB: It is not just the writing. Once you’ve written a chapter, you’ve then got to sit down and go through that chapter, from beginning to end, make sure it makes sense, the spelling, if you’ve got to move things around. That is the difficult part.

Then talking about it, and getting it written, but the detail of getting everything in the right place, and how it flows etc.

RH: The book highlights your family’s support. What role have they played over the years?

RB: My family is very much a central part of the book. My upbringing in a very poor household in a rural area of Barbados is explained and what it really meant to me and what it did for my development.

That’s the central part of my story,

that really shaped my thinking all the way through in relation to family.

Family plays a huge part of the book, and, of course, the sacrifice of my wife, in particular, and children have had to make along the way.

RH: What’s the next phase of your journey?

RB: The book certainly talks about the future. It also really gives people the drive that they can do things as well.

It is a book to show people that it doesn’t matter what background you come from, what religion, what colour, whatever, there are things to do that you can become successful. It’s about teaching people, young people, particularly, that, yes, they can achieve and do great things.

RH: Where does this completion of the book sit amongst your proudest moments?

RB: Since the book captures everything, it must sit, I think, at the top of all my achievements, because it is a collection of everything that has happened right through my life, good and bad.

48 | THE VOICE JUNE 2025

Sport

LION KING MARO FULL OF PRIDE

Itoje follows in the footsteps of rugby league legend Clive Sullivan as a Black man leading his nation. By Rodney Hinds

T

HE legacy of rugby pioneer Clive Sullivan lives on. Sullivan, whose parents hailed from Jamaica and Antigua, made history in 1972 when he became the first Black man to captain any Great Britain team, leading them to their first and only Rugby League World Cup victory, scoring the deciding try in the final.

Some five decades after Sullivan etched his name into the record books, Maro Itoje has recently been named as captain of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Men’s Tour to Australia in 2025. Itoje, born in Camden north London to Nigerian parents Efe and Florence, will skipper the 38-man squad in his third Tour.

Lions head coach Andy Farrell, said: “I want to congratulate Maro on being named captain of The British & Irish Lions. This is a great honour for Maro, his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career

from Saracens to England – and on to The Lions in 2017 and 2021.

“As a two-time tourist, Maro fully understands what The Lions is all about and also the role of the captain in helping the group achieve its goal of winning a Test Series this summer.”

Itoje was the youngest player on the 2017 tour of New Zealand.

He has featured in all six of The Lions’ last Test matches and was voted as the Lions’ Player of the Series in South Africa in 2021.

Of his appointment, Itoje said: “It feels amazing to be

“This is a great honour for Maro, his family and everyone who has supported him throughout his career”

named Lions captain. I’m deeply honoured, humbled, and I will do my best to do the role justice.

“I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great Tour. I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”

Sullivan was the first Black star of rugby league. Having made his debut for Hull FC on December 9, 1961, Sullivan went on to become the club’s all-time leading tryscorer whilst holding the record for most tries in a single game and most career hat-tricks.

He switched to cross-city rivals Hull Kingston Rovers for a successful six-year spell before returning to his first club to help them lift the Challenge Cup in the Final replay at Elland Road against Widnes in 1982.

Sullivan earned 17 Test caps, scoring 13 tries. He also gained 19 caps for Wales, scoring 12 tries.

For his efforts, he was awarded an MBE for services to rugby league.

HISTORY MAKERS: Maro Itoje, above, is the first Black rugby union player to be named the captain of the British Lions, something Clive Sullivan, left, achieved, when he led the Great Britain rugby league team to World Cup glory in 1972