National Windrush Museum

Dr Les Johnson, Dr Barbara Adewumi and Patrick Vernon.

It was a real privilege to visit the National Windrush Museum, based at the National Maritime Museum, yesterday.

I attended in my capacity as Chair of the Windrush 100 Network and Trustee of British Future, alongside founder Dr Les Johnson, fellow trustees Denize Ledeatte Dr Barbara Adewumi, Elaine Baldry curator of the Windrush Food Exhibition and an inspiring group of interns.

I was given a guided tour and had an important conversation and opportunity to explore future collaboration, partnerships, and shared ambitions as we look ahead to 2028 and the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush arrival at Tilbury.

Our discussions also focused on continuing the work around highlighting the Home Office Windrush scandal, while deepening national conversations about how we honour, preserve, and celebrate the history and legacy of the Windrush generation for future generations.
The exhibition will be running over the coming months and is constantly evolving and being updated, so I strongly encourage people to visit and support this important institution.

There are also exciting plans for podcasts and storytelling initiatives where people can record and share their lived experiences, helping to preserve Windrush histories and legacies.
The museum has bold and ambitious plans to centre the Windrush story within Britain’s cultural and historical landscape, and it deserves wide support.

I look forward to working closely with the board and wider team in the months and years ahead.