Windrush Stories is a collection of 24 podcast episodes, each of which contains an in-depth interview with a member of the Windrush Generation.
In the words of the podcast producers:
“This generation, and their children and grandchildren, have significantly influenced British society through sport, politics, art, poetry, literature, language, food, and most of all music. Listen to stories of lives lived in the UK and the enormous cultural influence this generation has had on British life.”
Episodes include interviews with well-known figures such as poet, novelist and musician, Prof Benjamin Zephaniah, Member of Parliament for Brent, Dawn Butler MP, Executive Director of Nottinghill Carnival, Matthew Phillip and the first Black woman to be elected to parliament in Britain, Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP amongst many others.
Spanning the worlds of sports, culture and media, the interviews each tell the individual journeys and life stories of people who came from the Caribbean nations to the UK in the 1940s creating a life in the UK and contributing significantly to its culture and economy.
Stories include first generation decedents such as Audley Morais Forrester who served 2 years in the Jamaican Army and trained as a salesman, before leaving for England in 1955, still a teen. A coal miner for 5 years, he then spent 37 developing South Yorkshire’s public transport services – for which he was awarded an MBE in 1997.
As well as third generation stories such as Nia Archives who was born and raised in Bradford and Leeds - a rising star of UK dance music, working as a producer, singer-songwriter, DJ and visual artist. Nia is part of a new wave of young talent celebrating and paying homage to sound system heritage and culture.