Celebrating contribution of Windrush generation
CITY STAGES EVENTS ADAPTED TO MEET COVID RESTRICTIONS
EVENTS and celebrations took place across Nottingham city centre to celebrate the contribution and legacy of the Windrush generation.
Many people gathered yesterday afternoon to celebrate the people who emigrated from the Caribbean on the British vessel in 1948.
The first event of the day took place inside the Council House in Old Market Square where a restricted number of people had access due to Covid-19 regulations.
Other attendees watched the live -streamed event on their phones in Old Market Square.
This was followed by a special guest appearance from former Nottingham Forest and England footballer Viv Anderson at The Forest Rec stop later in the afternoon.
Visitors were invited to take part in celebration activities at the New Art Exchange in Hyson Green where Caribbean food, live performances dominoes and music were played.
A special tribute for Sophia Ramacharan, who organised the first Nottingham Windrush Tea Party, also took place and the celebration was due to continue until 9pm.
Hoepfully next year we will do it bigger and better.
Charmaine Binnsmuhammad
Despite the initial disappointment that the first event took place indoors with a restricted number of people attending, many said that they were looking forward to attend.
Engineer assessor Michael Thorpe, of Silverdale, 64, said: “I do not mind standing outside.
“It is lovely to be reunited with the rest of the community.
“More should be done to celebrate the ones who did so much for the future generations.”
Manager of a Jamaican restaurant, Sharon Lindo’-coor, of Arnold, 50 added: “I hope the day should go pretty well considering the challenges.
“It was lovely to see other people today because we have been isolated for a long time.”
The decision to move the first event inside the Council House was taken following concerns from the organisers about elderly people standing potentially in the rain.
Organiser of the event Charmaine Binns-muhammad, said: “We managed to get funding for this event this year.
“We managed to work with quite a few of other organisations to make this possible.
“It is not just about this day, it is going through October.
“The reason that we had this big day today was to celebrate in the centre of Nottingham.
“However, because of Covid we had to move and change the way delivered the event because the restrictions meant that we could not have a certain amount of people gathering.
“We had to put it in a room upstairs, but the event is streamed so everyone can watch it in real time.
“It is a real shame that it could not happen here today, in the Old Market Square.
“Hopefully next year we will do it bigger and better.”