Faces of Windrush generation immortalised by portraits as King lauds 'pioneers'

21 June 2023 , 23:01

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Portraits were painted as part of special project (Image: PA)

The King is celebrating Windrush pioneers with a series of portraits commissioned for the Royal Court Collection.

Marking the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush docking in Essex, a BBC documentary will follow the project, in which 10 leading artists created portraits.

Charles III writes in a book accompanying the portraits: “It is crucially important that we should truly see and hear these pioneers who stepped off the Empire Windrush at Tilbury in June 1948.”

He adds that Britain should “recognise and celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children and their grandchildren have made to this country”.

He goes on: “Those pioneers, who arrived in a land they had learned about from afar, left behind all that was familiar.”

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Faces of Windrush generation immortalised by portraits as King lauds 'pioneers'

Artist and sitters with King Charles and Camilla (BBC Studios/Ian Jones/Royal Household)

Among those first arrivals was Geoff Palmer, now a professor, a Sir and an OBE. He recalls when, aged 14, his aunts told him he was leaving for England the next day, to join his mother there.

After docking in Liverpool, he asked directions to Paddington station in London, where a woman grabbed him by the shoulder and said ‘Boy, come, I’m your mother.’

Sir Geoff, 83, says: “I wouldn’t have recognised her, but a mother recognises her children.” He was wrongly labelled “educationally subnormal” but got a cricket scholarship to grammar school.

Later employed as a lab technician, a professor helped him get into Leicester University.

A career in botany followed and he now lives in Penicuik, near Edinburgh, with his wife Margaret, 80. Of being painted, Sir Geoff says: “It was a great honour.”

* Windrush: Portraits of a Generation, June 22, BBC2, 7.45pm. The exhibition is at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Palace, today to mid-Sep, then London’s National Portrait Gallery, London, in October.

ALFORD GARDNER, 97, Leeds

Born in Jamaica, at 17Alford joined the RAF. He helped found the Caribbean Cricket Club in Leeds.

Artist: Chloe Cox

Alford Gardner (BBC Studios)

Portrait of Alford (© the artist)

CARMEN MUNROE OBE, 90, London

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Carmen came to the UK from British Guiana in 1951 and became an actor, best known for Desmond’s.

Artist: Sonia Boyce OBE

Carmen Munroe (BBC Studios)

EDNA HENRY, 92, Cardiff

Edna came from Jamaica andworked at Ely Hospital as anursing assistant. She spent 23 years working for the NHS.

Artist: Amy Sherald

Edna Henry (BBC Studios)

GILDA OLIVER, 91, Birmingham

Arriving from Jamaica in 1955, Gilda was an NHS healthcare support worker. She tried to identify and meet the Black community’s needs.

Artist: Clifton Powell

Gilda Oliver (BBC Studios)

Edna's portrait (© the artist)

Portrait of Gilda (© the artist)

DELISSER BERNARD, 94, Wolverhampton

Jamaican-born Delisser lied about his age to get into the RAF at 16 in 1944. His four kids are an Olympian, entrepreneur, nurse and firefighter.

Artist: Honor Titus

Delisser Bernard (BBC Studios)

JESSIE STEPHENS MBE, 95, London

Jessie came in 1955. She was a volunteer liaison officer after hearing of police harassing Black boys.

Artist: Sahara Longe

Jessie Stevens (BBC Studios)

Portrait of Delisser (© the artist)

Jessie's portrait (© the artist)

LACETA REID, 92, Newport

Laceta left school at 13. Following one of his brothers, he left Jamaica in 1957 and worked odd jobs.

Artist:Serge Attukwei Clottey

Laceta Reid (BBC Studios)

LINDA HAYE OBE, 90, London

Arriving in 1958, Linda helped set up the DofE awards and was on the Police Complaints Authority.

Artist: Shannon Bono

Linda Haye (BBC Studios)

Laceta's portrait (© the artist)

Linda's portrait (© the artist)

SIR GEOFF PALMER OBE, 83, Edinburgh

Geoff came from Jamaica in 1955 and went on to become a scientist, human rights activist and the first Black professor in Scotland.

Artist: Derek Fordjour

Sir Geoff Palmer (BBC Studios)

'BIG' JOHN RICHARDS, 97, London

A photo of Big John, with two other men, is used to depict Windrush. He campaigned against racial injustice.

Artist: Deanio X

'Big' John Richards (WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) as set out at www.bbcpictures.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/. In particular, this image may only be published by a registered User of BBC Pictures for editorial use for the purpose of publicising the relevant BBC programme, personnel or activity during the Publicity Period which ends three review weeks following the date of transmission and provided the BBC and the copyright holder in the caption are credited. For any other purpose whatsoever, including advertising and commercial, prior written approval from the copyright holder will be required.)