Last year marked 75 years since the HMT Empire Windrush docked on British shores. The ship brought more than 1,000 people from the Caribbean over to Britain on June 22 1948 and introduced the UK to rich new cultures of food, music and more.
Those passengers and those that arrived on ships over the following years have since become known as the Windrush Generation and you can read some of their first-hand stories on Time Out here. Tomorrow (June 22) will see friends, families and neighbours across the country come together to remember them and recognise everything they’ve done for Britain.
What is Windrush Day and why is it celebrated?
Since 2018, Windrush Day has commemorated the Windrush generation and their descendants, celebrating the immense value that they have brought to our country and communities. Many had served for Britain in World War II and arrived to help fill post-war gap, becoming manual workers, drivers, cleaners, and nurses in the NHS.
When is Windrush Day 2024?
Windrush Day is celebrated on June 22 each year.
How to celebrate
Communities and institutions across the UK will be running events to mark the occasion. The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford will be running a memorial lecture and in London there will be embroidery workshops, mini festivals and educational trails.
You can also organise your own get-together. There’s a handy pack at Gov.uk to help you do that.
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