Windrush Generation honoured in station exhibition

The portrait pictures have been placed on the footbridge over the railway lines

Portraits of community leaders from Leicester have been put up at the city's railway station to mark Black History Month.

Community arts group Opal 22 said the exhibition had been created to mark the contribution of people who came to the city from Caribbean countries in the 1950s.

The images, taken by photographer Denise Lensi Maxwell, have been installed on the footbridge that crosses the railway lines and will remain in place throughout October.

Among those recognised are community workers, former councillors and a BBC radio presenter.

Exhibition curator Tara Munroe said the people featured had "wonderful legacies in the city".

They were invited to attend a launch event at the station.

Tara Munroe, left, included Elvy Morton, who founded Leicester's Caribbean Carnival, in the exhibition

''They have brought a lot to this country, and this is just our way of saying thank you," Ms Munroe said.

"Thinking of the Windrush Generation - these were people who were asked to come to this country to help rebuild Britain.

"A lot of the men had been killed during the war, and there was a lot to be done.''

Retired radio presenter Herdle White, who had a 55-year career with BBC Leicester, said he was overjoyed to feature in the exhibition.

"We were not refugees and we did our bit," Mr White said.

Other people featured in the exhibition include former Leicester city councillor Joe Allen, current city councillor George Cole, Leicester Caribbean Carnival founder Elvy Morton and Val Fisher, who ran a children's centre in Highfields for many years.

Additional reporting by Dan Martin.

Opal 22 said the portaits honoured the "courage, resilience and determination" of Leicester's Windrush generation