Windrush Day marks the anniversary of the arrival at the Port of Tilbury, near London of Empire Windrush and her 1027 passengers from the Caribbean, who disembarked on 22 June 1948. It encourages communities to celebrate those who came to the UK from Caribbean islands and other Commonwealth countries after a call for people to fulfil the post-war labour shortage.

The arrival of the Empire Windrush marked an important moment in Britain’s history and has come to represent the rich diversity of this nation. Those who arrived on the Empire Windrush, their descendants, those who came before them and those that followed after them, have all made, and continue to make, an enormous contribution to Britain and Wales, not just in the vital work of rebuilding the country and public services following WWII but in enriching our shared social, economic, cultural and religious life.

The national day was announced in 2018 to honour people arriving in the UK between 1948 and 1971 from Caribbean and other Commonwealth countries who have been labelled the Windrush Generation following the scandal resulting from the UK Government’s “hostile environment” policy. This saw a number of people wrongly detained, denied benefits and losing access to the NHS.

Overcoming great sacrifice and hardship, the Windrush Generation and their descendants have gone on to lead the field across public life, in business, the arts and sport. Wales and Britain would be much diminished without their contribution and that of all those that came from the Caribbean Islands both before and after them.

Our online exhibition sets out the background and celebrates the contribution made by the Windrush Genration to the life of Tiger Bay and Cardiff Docklands