Windrush and Caribbean Connections Legacy event – 2025

It is 77 years since the HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex, carrying passengers from the Caribbean to the UK. HMT Empire Windrush became a symbol of a wider mass-migration movement. Commemoration and National events have been held on 22 June every year since 2018 across the country. Somerset and the south-west have a rich history and connection with people from the Caribbean. Somerset County Cricket Club along with the Somerset Cricket Foundation in partnership with the Somerset African Caribbean Network are planning a series of events during 2025 to remember and reawaken the legacy.

Following on from our very successful Windrush Legacy event last year – https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/news/club-news/black-history-month-celebrating-the-windrush-legacy/

Somerset Cricket Foundation, Somerset African Caribbean Network, Somerset County Cricket Club and Somerset Cricket Museum all collaborated as part of the Red Ball Carnival of Cricket event that started on Sunday 29th June at the Cooper’s Associates County Ground.

A VIP welcome was accorded to Lynette Richards-Lorde she recalled her journey from Guyana 65 years ago to train as a nurse at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton – a legacy that connects Somerset to those invited from the Caribbean in the 1950s to help rebuild the NHS. It was time to celebrate and reflect on the contribution that the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to health and social care across the UK. We were delighted that Jayne Cooper- Director of Nursing at Musgrove and her staff along with Jayne Mee recently appointed Chair of the Somerset Cricket Foundation were able to join us as she gave her inspirational talk in the Somerset Cricket Museum.

Somerset African Caribbean Network Jean Harper and volunteer Reg Ebanks provided a stall celebrating the Caribbean. It was wonderful to see younger members of the community enjoy a game of dominoes and learning interesting facts about the region.

Susann Savidge herself hosted the Windrush Legacy event in the Museum which consisted of some displays and atmosphere to celebrate -carnival- cricket and music- highlighting the importance of honouring the Windrush Generation and Descendants. Trinidadian poet and author Faustin Charles provided a recorded reading of his poem Viv. He was also a member of the Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Caribbean_Artists_Movement#:~:text=The%20Caribbean%20Artists%20Movement%20(CAM,film%20makers%2C%20actors%20and%20musicians.

We are grateful to Mike Unwin and the museum team for their amazing help in making this possible.

Somerset African Caribbean Network

They are a community & campaigning network based in Somerset for: People of African Caribbean origin. They aim to:

  • Connect people from all generations of the African Caribbean community living in Somerset.
  • Share our experiences of living, studying, and working in the area.
  • support and information to anyone of African Caribbean heritage new to the area.
  • Celebrate, share, and promote our history, culture and heritage via community events and activities.
  • Campaign on issues such as criminal justice, education, economic, housing, health, and social care reform to ensure the best outcomes for our community.
  • Increase understanding and eliminate all forms of prejudice, racism, and discrimination.

A selection of music was played throughout the day – based on a special playlist provided by vintage Black music historian and DJ Dave Chapple from Bridgwater.

Judith Desbonne performed Dub poetry which is a popular form of performance poetry that is accompanied by pre-determined Reggae music and is delivered in front of an audience. These poems are incredibly effective due to the way in which poets carefully select their accompaniment. Judith managed to perform several poems with a cricketing theme.

“Viv” – a poem for cricketer, Vivian Richards by Trinidadian Faustin Charles (Poems on the Underground 2012) reproduced with kind permission of Peepal Tree Press was shared with schools and the wider community by way of a poetry competition. We are grateful to Waterstones in Taunton for providing some book vouchers and the County club giving us a signed photo of Joel Garner and a copy of the club’s 150th anniversary book as prizes. Results will be announced in due soon. A wonderful, framed copy of the poem “Viv” by Faustin Charles donated to SACN by the (Poems on the Underground 2012) publishers can be viewed in the museum.

A special artwork print “Ode to Windrush “by visual artist Shane D’Allessandro was also displayed in the museum. He breaks down his artwork ‘Contributions’ which sits in the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool and explains how each country represented has significantly helped the growth of the UK.

Feedback:

‘Thank you for inviting me to support the Somerset African Caribbean Network event at SCCC yesterday. Lynette Richards Lorde was truly inspirational speaking in the Museum about her journey and the wonderful career she built in the NHS and healthcare. Judith Desbonne has a beautiful talent in writing poetry which was a pleasure to hear later in the afternoon. It was a lovely day to engage with all our invited guests.’

Jayne Mee – Chair of Somerset Cricket Foundation.

It was such a privilege listening to Lynette recount her time in Musgrove Park Hospital as a 19-year-old. The courage to leave home, and travel to a new country to commence her nursing career in the 1950s is admirable. She talked of her achievements so humbly, we could clearly see her commitment, determination, and great leadership throughout. She is a voice of hope and inspiration to us all; I am so glad that her contribution and time in Somerset will be remembered for many years.

Jayne Cooper – Musgrove Park Hospital – Director of Nursing

Somerset CCC – EDI Coordinator

Thank you for all the work you put into making Sunday’s Windrush Celebration such a wonderful day for SCCC and SCF. It was deeply inspiring to have Lynette, Susann, and others, in attendance as well.

The vibrant colour, which we all experienced through stories, flags, poems, genuine friendship and so much more will stay with me for a long time. The smells and vibe created by Islands, situated in a perfect position were authentic too. The moment which stood out most for me was the way in which Lynette described in her museum talk how she dealt with racial discrimination. Her unswervingly positive outlook, steadfast dignity and practical no nonsense approach were moving to say the least. I really hope we can build on this next year and continue to grow awareness and appreciation of the Windrush legacy and its importance to all of us in SCCC and SCF. From an SCCC perspective, we are enormously grateful for all the time spent developing relationships with people and for the work done to ensure they feel welcome in CACG.

Jane Law – Safeguarding & EDI Coordinator SCCC

Community partners who were able to join us:

Glade Project

Susann Savidge and Lynn Cutler (from The Glade Centre A Place Called Home project) joined us for our school’s day (Days two and three of the match) and provided an information stall of their work and again assisted us in the promotion of the Windrush story.

Somerset Diverse Community Learning Conversation group

Thank you so much for the opportunity to visit SCCC club and for the warm welcome we received from all the staff and volunteers on site – they were all so friendly and helpful, Mike was equally wonderful at the museum and gave a fantastic tour which was accessible to all the women – some hope to return with their families. A few quotes I have received from the women since returning home – they came from France, Somali, Algeria, India, and Türkiye and all enjoyed finding out about a sport most had never heard of:

‘It was such a wonderful experience exploring the stadium with you. Had an amazing time and the entire day was unforgettable.’

‘It was great to watch a cricket match and visit the museum too – thank you!’

‘Thank you so much for a wonderful morning!’

‘Thanks a lot for the opportunity to watch a cricket game – such a good experience!’

Bev Janes – Somerset Diverse Community Learning Conversation Taunton Group

Voluntary Action North Somerset

Unfortunately, one of the families we had tickets for could not attend due to one of their children being ill. Their Family Support Worker, has spoken to both families and commented as follows:

Family unable to attend-They were really looking forward to going – right up until the Saturday evening when unfortunately, they had to cancel due to a child being ill. This is a low-income family of four, for who, without the free ticket offer, felt this is an activity that they would not have considered or been able to attend together.

The parents have already contacted the Family Support Worker expressing their disappointment at ‘missing out’ and have asked if the opportunity is likely to come again.

Family (who attended) family of four. They too were looking forward to, and very grateful for, the opportunity to visit the County Ground The trip to the match was “great fun” and the “whole family had a great experience.” Going to a cricket match was not something they had considered, had done before, or felt they could enjoy, and they now have a “better view of cricket and would like to go (to a match) again.”

In addition to Claire (from VANS) we had a group of five young asylum seekers who are being supported by YMCA and another young person attend. One of those young people has shared that – “I thought Sunday was good because it was my first long format game. It was very interesting to learn about 4-day games, and the museum of cricket was also interesting, where I learnt that Somerset was one of the first professional women’s teams.”

David Crossman – Voluntary Action North Somerset

Watchet Welcome hub – Ukraine group

Eighteen people attended and the following feedback was received.

The day was perfect and relaxed. It is very different activity from football more social.

The museum was a fun for the children, and we liked the Caribbean corner even!

Our day at the cricket ground was very good, thank you very much. Never been to cricket before. We had very long day, but happy that we were there. Thank you for the opportunity.

My day was perfect! Thank you! I really enjoyed it.

Thank you very much for the tickets! It was my first cricket match and despite I do not really know rules it was quite interesting.

Thank you for arranging this on behalf of the hub.

Kate Kennedy Hub Coordinator – Watchet Welcome hub.

Bristol Polish Women’s Group

Ten members of the Bristol Polish Women’s Group also had an enjoyable time at the cricket and were made to feel really welcomed.

Monika Lucas Group Coordinator.

Islands Foods Restaurant

Islands – a Caribbean restaurant outlet local to Taunton hosted by Emma and Richards Cummings was available for everyone at the ground to purchase and enjoy the tasty cuisine on offer.

Rainbow Steel band

Rainbow Steel band from Bath joined us for the One-day Women’s International a few weeks earlier, but the rains spoiled the day and sadly budget did not allow us to invite them for a second time! – a real pity but we were delighted to welcome them.

Finally, a few acknowledgements – were also delighted that Jamie Cox and Sir Michael Barber were able drop in and take an interest in our activities. Thank you to Jane Law for all her support with the EDI planning and organization and to her husband Tim Law for his help on the day.

To Lisa Burton for her digital creative support in developing the “Viv” poem activity. To Spencer Bishop, Sarah Trunks, Ben Warren and Mark Cox and their respective team colleagues across the county club team for the help in making this a welcoming and special EDI event for so many people not least our valued guests.

Footnote and Upcoming event:

Susann Savidge and Mustafa Shaikh gave a brief talk in the Somerset Cricket Museum during Roland Butcher’s walkers and talkers event. Susann explained the significance of the Windrush legacy based around the artwork print “Ode to Windrush “by visual artist Shane D’Allessandro and the “Viv” – a poem for cricketer, Vivian Richards by Trinidadian Faustin Charles (Poems on the Underground 2012) reproduced with kind permission of Peepal Tree Press). Mustafa shared his passion of cricket by sharing his affinity with the Caribbean community though his lived experience and by the playing some calypsos and recollections of famous West Indians cricketers such Alvin Kallicharran and Rohan Kanhai he met in his formative years and the Indo-Caribbean diaspora connections.

Looking ahead (subject to confirmation) Walkers and Talkers event – Black History Month Tuesday 7th October vintage we are hoping that Black music historian and DJ Dave Chapple Calypso will come and play his vinyl’s and re telling the story behind the music- watch this space!

Our vision for next year would be to develop the Windrush Legacy event linked to a celebratory cricket match- how good would that be!

Final words from Lynette Richards-Lordes:

“Thanks for giving me and Chrissy the opportunity to return to my beloved first home in England. It is now so beautifully developed.