Special Tribute for Windrush Generation

A special tribute to the ‘Windrush Generation’ will be one of the highlights of this year’s Service of Praise and Thanksgiving, being organised by the Jamaican High Commission in London to mark the 46th anniversary of Independence.
This year is being commemorated for the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the ship, the Empire Windrush in Essex, which marked the start of mass migration of Jamaicans and other West Indians to the United Kingdom (UK).
The service this year, will acknowledge some of the original passengers as well as their descendants. There will also be a special dance of tribute, choreographed by Kerry Anne Henry; and Windrush themed poetry, read by well known actress, Dona Croll.
The sermon this year will be preached by the Reverend Jennifer Thomas, the Vicar of the Church of the Ascension in Pollards Hill, London. This year’s collection will go to the Hope Institute Hospice at Mona in St Andrew.
A service of Praise and Thanksgiving will be held at the parish church of St. Martin in the Fields at Trafalgar Square on Saturday, August 2. It is one of the major events to be held across the United Kingdom to celebrate Jamaica’s Independence.
The annual Independence Summer Ball, hosted by the Association of Jamaicans UK Trust, and the Independence Dinner/Dance and Young Achievers Awards, organised by the Jamaica Society Manchester, will also be held on August 2.
On Sunday, August 3, the very popular Fun in the Park Family Day, put on by the Jamaica Basic School Foundation UK, will be held at the Crystal Palace Park in London, while in Preston in the North of the UK, the Jamaica Nationals Association Preston will hold its special Independence Service at the Guttridge Methodist Church.
High Commissioner Burchell Whiteman will make an official visit to Redditch on Saturday, August 9 and participate in the celebrations, organised by the Redditch Community Relations Council.
The Jamaica Society Leeds will host its Service of Thanksgiving at the St. Aiden’s Church, at Roundhay, Leeds on Sunday, August 10. The Association of Jamaican Nationals in Birmingham will also host a Service of Praise and Thanksgiving at the St. Michael’s Parish Church, in Handsworth, Birmingham, while a garden party will be hosted by the Friends of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica Ltd. at St James Church, Welham Road in London.