Telford's Windrush community celebrate a long and lasting legacy

The ship, and many more that followed, brought people seeking work from the Caribbean to fill post-war labour shortages in the UK.

Those that arrived between 1948 and 1971 became known as the Windrush generation.

For many, their journeys brought them to Telford, and on Saturday some gathered at the Telford Elim Community Church in Hadley, to celebrate the anniversary.

Along with family and friends, they came together for afternoon tea with a Caribbean twist, complete with jerk chicken, plantain and steel drums.

But for the organisers, the Telford African & Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre (TAARC), the Windrush generation that came to feast and celebrate were the real stars of the show.

Board member Heather Reid explained: "Many people think of London, Manchester and Bristol, some of the cities when it comes to the Windrush generation - but even green leafy Shropshire has a strong Windrush influence.

"Most of the remaining members of the Windrush generations are now in their 60s and 70s, and many of Telford's Windrush community have now passed on, but it was once a large community.

"While it is a diminishing community, it's still a strong one in terms of its influence and many descendants have remained in the area. One of Telford's former mayors, Leon Murray, was part of the Windrush generation himself.

"It's significant and influential, and part of the reason why TAARC is here is to keep that legacy alive, right here in the town."

Marjorie Brown, 75, came over from Trinidad and Tobago to train as a nurse in 1965.

Just three days before her 18th birthday, she landed in Britain knowing no one in the country. She spoke of the troubles she faced when she first came to the country.

Marjorie explained: "Some people appeared to have accepted me, others quite the opposite.

"Some people told me to go back to where you came from, take your black hands off me, some called me blackie, and monkey.

"But, I just let it go. I know I came here to do something, and I carried on and did it."

Mrs Brown went on to spend 50 years working for the NHS in hospitals around the country.

Eudalia King, 76, came to Britain in 1960 aged 12 on the RMS Ascania from St Kitts, joining her mother who had moved to London in 1955 and was working for British Rail.

She described her first impressions of England: "I was the first black child at that school. It was intimidating at first, but I think when you're a child, you're excited about all the changes.

"We came in May so it was the beginning of spring and it was quite nice. I had no expectations, as a child you just do what your parents tell you do."

Flora Quest, 78, was born in Trinidad and came over by plane in 1967 to train as a nurse. She landed in London and took a train to Wolverhampton where someone from the hospital was supposed to collect her.

"No one was there," she said, "so I got a taxi. I'm from a big family and I had no one. The first thing they did when I got there, instead of giving me something to eat they made me do a test to see what I could do.

"It was hard, to start with, when you come from a big family you're missing all your family. But, we got through it."

Flora married her husband, Kenneth, in 1975 and began working at the Princess Royal Hospital.

Kenneth, 83, was born in Jamaica and flew to England in 1962. Within three weeks, he had secured work in Shropshire and moved to Regent Street in Wellington.

Kenneth worked for GKN Sankey for 39 years.

The grandmother of TAARC chair and founder, Natalie Headley, came over from the Caribbean and worked in housekeeping in the Houses of Parliament.

Natalie herself was born in Jamaica, and along with a group of volunteers has made it her mission to change the stigma around race, culture and immigration.

Natalie and volunteers host dozens of events each year and visit schools around Telford to educate students about Black History.

She explained: "It's about showcasing beauty. There is a stigma of negativity when it's not understood about hair, about culture about why we speak like this.

"We're able to go in, explain, and people are so much more encouraged and open and excited."

To mark the anniversary, the talks and events have taken a Windrush theme.

Heather added: "Not just the music and the food as lovely as it is, but the nurses and the doctors and the NHS, the politicians and local heroes and poetry and literature.

"It's about celebrating who was involved, why they came, what were some of the challenges they faced, how they overcame and what are their positive contributions that last to this day."