Caribbean group to hold tea party for Windrush Day

The Empire Windrush brought the first people from the Caribbean to fill Britain's post-World War Two labour shortages.

A Caribbean tea party will be held to celebrate Windrush Day.

The African Caribbean Research Group (ACRG), based in Cambridge, will hold the event on 22 June at the city's Guildhall.

As well as a Caribbean afternoon tea, there will be poetry readings and Windrush stories while Ska, bluebeat, soca and rock steady music will be played at the evening party.

The ACRG said the event would also focus on the generation's contribution to the city of Cambridge.

Organiser Carol Brown-Leonardi said the event was open to everybody

The HMT Empire Windrush was a ship which travelled from the Caribbean to Britain in 1948.

Although Black people lived in England before the Windrush ship arrived, the Windrush generation, marked a new era in Black history in England.

Commemoration events have been held on 22 June every year since 2018.

Organiser, Carol Brown-Leonardi, said people from all heritages and cultures were welcome at the tea party.

"The Windrush were invited to Britain to rebuild England after World War Two and they were successful," she said.

The ACRG, which has only been going since 2022, was set up "to promote understanding and tolerance and improve cultural connections" as well as tackle local poverty and isolation.

The group runs a weekly Caribbean dominoes social session in the city for people of all cultures and nationalities to take part, which Ms Brown- Leonardi described as, "a lovely melting pot experience".

The ACRG is hoping to set up a Caribbean cricket academy for local youngsters and is seeking more volunteers as well as a pitch to hold matches.