A special Windrush event and flag raising ceremony took place on Thursday 22nd June at County Hall in Maidstone to mark 75 years since the arrival of the SSE Windrush to the UK in 1948. The event was arranged by the North Kent Caribbean Network and supported by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Kent County Council.

The event began the flag raising outside of Sessions House which was attended by partners, community and NKCN group members as well as KCC and Kent Police colleagues. The flag which was designed by a volunteer from NKCN, flew centre stage at the top of Sessions House and was flown for the remainder of the week to mark the national celebrations for Windrush 75.

The flag raising was followed by a luncheon serving traditional Caribbean cuisine that was attended by civic guests including High Sheriff of Kent Nadra Ahmed and Chairman of Kent County Council Cllr Gary Cooke. Also in attendance was the Leader of KCC Cllr Roger Gough and Chief Superintendent Shaun White from Kent Police.

During the luncheon, attendees were able to view an exhibition produced by the NKCN called ‘The Front Room’ which serves as a time capsule for what would have been a typical household for those who arrived from the Caribbean to the UK. Members of the Windrush generation from North Kent were also on hand to talk about their experiences and challenges working, studying and living in the UK.