Windrush - Untold Stories

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square

“I’ve lived in Brixton for 70 years. If you gave me a flat in Westminster I wouldn’t accept it.”

Clovis Salmon OBE, also known as ‘Sam the Wheels’, arrived in the UK in 1954. He is a documentary filmmaker who has recorded the lives and culture of Black Britons since the 1950’s. Clovis is also acclaimed for his groundbreaking bicycle wheel building skills and bike repair service outside his home in Brixton.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square

“That is what I’m afraid of, that I have become a stranger in my own country.”

Premio Gordon, grew up in Jamaica with her grandparents will her parent moved to England, when she was 5 years old. In 1972 she came to join her parents in the UK, who by then had 4 new children born in the UK. She found it hard to integrate with her parents new family, so she moved to London on her own and found Brixton as a safe place for black people.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“When the Windrush scandal story broke. I literally got up, got dressed, went down to the BCA and said, right, what are we going to do about this?”

Dawn Hill CBE, Seventy years ago, Dawn arrived from Jamaica at Tilbury Docks in London aged 16.Inheriting her love of music from her parents, she has championed diversity in the classical music world throughout her life. She has worked as a pioneer in nursing for the NHS, attended the LSE, founded the Rainbow Nursery and Blackliners and chaired the Black Cultural Archives from 2012 – 2022, leading the response for those affected by the ‘Windrush Scandal’.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I would see the sun shining outside and I’d rush out, only to discover that it was really cold.”

Daisy Aymer, is 84 and arrived in the UK from Jamaica in 1962.

⁠She worked as a domestic in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and then for Hackney Social Services caring for families and the elderly at home.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“We all grew up together, roughing it. But even in the toughest times, we would always find joy and laughter.”

Lee Lawrence, is an author, social entrepreneur and Founder of the Cherry Groce Foundation.

Aged 11 he witnessed his mother being shot in her bed during a raid by the Met Police, which left her with disabilities and sparked the Brixton Uprising of 1985.  His mum, Cherry Groce, was from Portland Jamaica, a Maroon, and came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation. There is now a permanent memorial to her on Windrush Square, Brixton, London and Lee continues his campaign work in restorative justice.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I don’t need money. I’ve got my family. That makes me happy. That’s my richness.”

Rawle Phillips, is a father and grandfather who came to the UK in December 1971 to join his parents who had arrived from Barbados in 1963. He was 16 years old. Rawle worked in various jobs,before settling as a London Bus Driver, a job which he loves and has been doing for over twenty years. He is instrumental in the Windrush scandal campaign, which he became involved in because of his own personal experience.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I like reggae music and old-time music. I dance the young people off the floor.”

Birdy Stamp, came to the UK from Jamaica in 1961. She worked in a sweet factory and a tin factorybefore taking a job as a cleaner at the Old Bailey, often leaving for work at 4.00am. Birdy loves music and dancing and is known in Brixton and beyond as ‘The Dancing Granny’.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“We arrived on the BOAC airplane. My grandmother told us that if we stuck nutmeg underneath our tongue, we wouldn’t have air sickness..”

Clinton Jones, Arriving from Seaforth, Jamaica by plane in 1963, Clinton, landed in a foggy London during a winter the Thames had frozen over. After the death of his parents and grandparents, aged 9, he came to live with his aunt in Brixton where he encountered the racism of skinheads, greasers and teddy boys in the streets. He has lived there ever since. Clinton has worked for British Rail maintaining the tracks and as an ambulance driver for the NHS.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I remember I would just look in the mirror and try to imagine if this is how my mum looks.”

Sylvia Fuller, grew up in Jamaica with her grandfather as her father, guardian and friend. He was always so caring. Her parents left for the UK for a better life, but she never had any photos or memories of her parent before they left. She met them for the first time at the airport in the UK as a teenager. Her dad was drinking heavily and was violent so she had to leave their house within 6 weeks of arriving.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square

“I saw my mum for the first time when I was nine years old.”

Evadney Campbell MBE, came to the UK in 1971 to join her parents who had arrived from Jamaica in 1959 and 1960 respectively. She spent nearly thirty years working with the BBC as well as decades in a voluntary capacity working with Black communities.

Evadney now run a PR Agency, Shiloh PR specialising in working with and for the Windrush Generations and their descendants. She is acutely aware and in awe of their contributions to the Britain we know today.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“There were people like CLR James, Claudia Jones, Darcus Howe… I gained this confidence I never knew I had.”

Janette Forson-Lafinda, When she was seven years old, Janette was sent from Jamaica to live with her father in theUK. Separated from her home, her mother and her grandmother and living with ‘strangers’ was a very difficult experience. Janette worked as a social worker in the probation service where she regularly witnessed the devastating impact of inter-generational trauma.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“The only way in which we can achieve anything, is if we work together.”

Dr. Claire Holder OBE, arrived in the UK in 1968. 

She was born in Kensington and was sent back to Trinidad when she was 9 months old. 

to become child number 14 of the grandchildren of John and Rachel Davidson, who brought up all their grandchildren so that their parents could explore employment opportunities in England.

Claire’s parents arrived in West London in 1956, and she joined them in 1968. 

She has worked as a barrister since 1978 and was instrumental in the development of the Notting Hill Carnival, being the Chairperson / Chief Executive between 1989 and 2002. Claire believes in what Carnival represents “Freedom to be …”

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“If I didn’t fight for it, I would’ve never have been who I am.”

Glenda Caesar, arrived in the UK in 1961 aged 3 months with her mother and aunt to meet her father who was already in the UK awaiting their arrival. 

Glenda is now retired but worked for the NHS in administration for over 20 years. Her last position as a GP Practice Administrator, was terminated because she was told she did not have the right to work or live in the UK. Glenda is instrumental in the Windrush Scandal Campaign following this experience and has had her situation settled. She is an advocate, campaigner, and Director of the National Windrush Organisation, and assists claimants, UK-based and internationally, to obtain their status and compensation claims.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I remember when I came off the plane, I touched the ground. It was a homecoming.”

Esther Xosei, was born in the UK. Her Mum had arrived in Southampton from Guyana and Dad from Barbados in 1960.

Esther is a reparations campaigner and scholar-activist and sees the ‘Windrushification’ of African Diaspora history in Britain and beyond as reinforcing a pro-imperial narrative.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“I discovered a different mum when she’d returned. I saw her in her 50’s climbing a banana tree.”

Valley Fontaine, was born in Notting Hill, London, to Dominican parents. 

Her father arrived in the UK in 1957, her mother in 1960. and her Antiguan stepfather in 1958. After 22 years at the BBC, she now works as a freelance journalist and university lecturer.  She is especially proud that her late mother was a Returnee — and thanks to her strength and determination, Valley and her siblings surpassed the expectations placed upon them.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square

“Most come over with a five-year plan, but that becomes ten years, then fifteen...”

Grew up in Camberwell Green (London), but his father was Sam King, who arrived from Jamaica and was a key member of the Windrush community. The original Windrush ship was mostly second world war veterans, they were not economic migrants, they volunteered to come to the UK to help rebuild the country.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square.

“After fishing, Daddy would come home tired, give me a pair of tweezers and tell me to pluck the grey hairs from his beard. While I’m plucking, he’s reciting Shakespeare.”

Professor Stephen Delsol

Stephen arrived in England on Friday 16, July 1965 on the SS Ascania from the island of Dominica. His father had come in 1955, and his mother in 1970. 

Stephen went to university and got a degree in Biology, 3 Masters and a PHD. He taught biology in secondary schools in London and lectured at universities in London and the USA.With a group of Black Educators, Stephen created an access to higher education course in 1977. This is now running in over 300 colleges and universities in Britain and over 1 million students have benefitted. He also set up 7 Saturday schools in Peckham, Bermondsey, Lewisham, Harlesden, Brixton, and Barnet

Stephen is a Spoken Word Poet and writer.

Windrush Untold Stories - Empathy Museum with Friends of Windrush Square

“I don’t remember racism having a holiday – it was just constant – day in, day out.”

Ros Griffiths is first generation British and is chair of Friends of Windrush square. She struggled with discipline at school, but found her voice as a campaigner for the local community and fighting racism.