Observed annually on 22 June, Windrush Day commemorates the arrival of Caribbean migrants who were invited to the UK to help rebuild the country following the Second World War. Many first settled in Lambeth, establishing the borough as the historic heart of the Windrush story.
A key highlight of this year’s programme is the return of the Big Caribbean Lunch for Windrush Elders, taking place on Sunday 28 June in Windrush Square, Brixton.
Hosted by the Friends of Windrush Square, a community-led group dedicated to preserving and celebrating Windrush legacy in Lambeth, with support from Lambeth Council and the Home Office, the event will bring together elders and their families for a day of food, music, storytelling and celebration.
Ros Griffiths, Chair of Friends of Windrush Square and Founder of the Big Caribbean Lunch, said: “The Big Caribbean Lunch is about honouring the Windrush generation while bringing our community together across generations.
“It’s a space to celebrate heritage, share stories and recognise the lasting contribution of Caribbean people to life in Britain.”
Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton will be hosting a concert led by the Pegasus Opera and Brixton Chamber Orchestra. The event will feature excerpts from ‘Migrations’ which was first commissioned by Welsh National Opera and the Windrush Opera.
The concert promises to be a powerful evening celebrating journey, resilience and belonging, bringing to life the experience, memories and voices of migration through moving music and bold storytelling.
Tickets can be booked at Windrush & Migrations Opera in Concert – Lambeth Town Hall – Pegasus Opera | London Opera Company.
Lambeth Libraries will host a series of events, including:
- They Call Me Guess: A Memoir of Roots, Routes and Resilience with Beulah Smith-Coombs, on June 18 at Brixton Library. To book visit eventbrite.com.
- My Mother In-Law’s Dresses, on June 22 at Brixton Library. To book visit eventbrite.com.
Ian Davis, Chief Executive of Lambeth Council, said: “We are proud to mark Windrush Day each year, recognising the immense contribution of the Windrush generation to Lambeth and beyond. This year’s programme reflects the richness of that legacy and the strength of our community today.
“Windrush Square will once again be at the heart of the celebrations, and I encourage residents to take part and book early.”
The Windrush generation takes its name from HMT Empire Windrush, which arrived in the UK on 22 June 1948. Many of those on board initially stayed at Clapham South before settling in Brixton, near the local labour exchange.
Today, Lambeth remains central to the Windrush story, shaped by generations whose contributions span public service, the NHS, culture, music and the wider economy.
