Windrush anniversary sparks community celebrations on campus

Windrush Generation members of the Reading Golders Luncheon Club were invited to attend a lunch at the University of Reading this week [Tuesday 20 June] to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the Empire Windrush.

Reading Golders Luncheon Club is a group that was formed officially in October 2021 by the over 60s Black community in Reading from the Windrush Generation.

Thirty people attended the lunch, which was organised by the University’s Diversity & Inclusion team and hosted by Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading.

Professor Van de Noort said: “It was a pleasure to host members of the Reading Golders community group on campus, to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush in the UK.

“Reading is a wonderfully diverse community and this major anniversary of Black British history gives us an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the wide-ranging contribution of the Windrush Generation in our society.

“As we celebrate, we also acknowledge the difficulties that many of those Windrush pioneers faced, and continue to experience, through mistakes by government and prejudice in wider society. I hope through conversation and dialogue we can find solutions together.” 

Constance Gooding, manager of the Reading Golders Luncheon Club, said: “The Golders enjoyed the day very much. It was the first time since lockdown that we have gone out in a group. Everyone was very happy. 

“Our Golders have never been to a university campus before, and were full of wonder and excitement.”

Evelyn Abubakar, 79, a former nurser from Coley, said: “We, the Reading Golders Luncheon Club, would like to express our thanks for the University’s hospitality. We are happy that the Reading Golders were chosen to be celebrated, and to be honoured, by having this three course lunch at the University of Reading. It’s a good feeling to be experiencing this, to know that someone cares about us.” 

The lunch was held at Park House, on the University’s Whiteknights campus. It is part of a series of celebrations taking place across Reading to celebrate 75 years since the arrival of the ship the Empire Windrush in the UK in 1948. This marks the start of a significant period of immigration from the Caribbean to the UK after the Second World War.