A Journey Through Windrush

End Date

The B2022 Community Engagement Team with support of community partner Legacy Centre of Excellence, hosted a community event: A Journey Through Windrush, a commemoration and celebration of a generation and its descendants that have helped to shape Britain as we know it.

The event followed on from the Windrush Statue unveiling live stream event at New Street Station, where we invited community stakeholders from across the region to continue in the day’s activities. The afternoon started with African drumming and steel pan performances from local artists, creating an inviting atmosphere upon arrival. We then transported our audience back to the iconic West Indian ‘Front room’ created by Mykal ‘Wassifa’ Brown, which provided a nostalgic setting for our guest speakers, as they engaged in conversation with our BBC radio WM host Nikki Tapper. Speakers included England Netballer Ama Agbeze, Dr Tony Talburt, published author and Senior Lecturer @ Birmingham city University, Rev Cannon Eve Pitts- first Black female Vicar in Britain, Gilroy Brown- Leading Educator and Pastor of Mount Shiloh Church Wolverhampton, Birmingham Commonwealth Cricket league members Steven Stepheson MBE, Ahmed Khazi and Trevor Mckintosh and Julia Regis late wife of England footballer Cyrille Regis and Chair of Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust.

Set in four acts, interviews followed the journey of Windrush, from Africa and colonial history, The Church, Sport and Legacy, with a live soundtrack reflecting each talking point. We were joined by a mixed and intergenerational audience of 350+ from primary age children to our senior citizens, all commenting and reflecting on the positive experience the event had brought. Mykal Browns exhibition continues at National Trusts Back to Back houses in Birmingham June-October 2022.

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