BASILDON-BASED YOUTH leaders have galvanised the shipping community to re-stage the arrival of the Windrush at Tilbury port in an emotional tribute to the generation who arrived in the UK on the ship 1948.

The annual Windrush Day celebrations on 22 June at the ship’s landing point were cancelled due to COVID-19. However a flotilla comprising of police launches, Port of London vessels, a Thames clipper and Thurrock yacht club private boats decorated with bunting, Union Jacks, Jamaican and official Windrush flags, and sounding sirens and hooters, commemorated the arrival and contributions of the passengers and their descendants on Friday 23 October.

Representatives on shore included the children and a grandchild of a member of the Windrush generation.

Audley English, architect and CEO of Build-eco, said: “It was very emotional linking hands with my sisters watching the flotilla and thinking of my mother’s sacrifice, as a widow with three children under the age of four, to give us a better life, leaving family and friends behind. We will continue to live up to her high expectations and honour her by helping to build a better UK for others.”

As well as the flotilla, a series of testimonies from members of the Windrush generation and their descendants are being showcased via Zed Generation UK’s YouTube channel. The videos include the testimony of a 104-year-old member of the Windrush generation.

Rani Moorcroft, CEO of Zedgeneration.uk, said: “It was very hard work putting this on at short notice with no funding or staff except for willing volunteers, the magnificent shipping companies, charities and the port of London especially, and Tilbury port.”

Yetunde Adeshile, founder and CEO of The Chosen Generation and the coordinator of Basildon’s Black History Month programme, said: “It has been an honour to incorporate the Windrush celebrations in 2020 as we look forward to a bigger and better commemorations next year.”