North Wales Jamaica Society | Windrush 75 - Bangor on Thurs 22nd June

Celebrating 'Windrush 75' on Thurs 22nd June at Penrhyn Hall

Thanks to Bangor City Council for supporting and promoting this event.

Windrush 75 - at Bangor Penrhyn Hall 22nd June - programme below

22nd June is now recognised across the countries of the UK, to recall the arrival of the Empire Windrush 75 years ago with men, women and children from the Caribbean who left their homes to come to help rebuild Britain after the devastation and losses of the Second World Ward. This year the North Wales Jamaica Society have teamed up with Bangor City Council to put on a day of activities and presentations on Thursday 22nd June to explore the stories of people who lived in North Wales who have links with the Caribbean and the challenges and potential today. The event is free at Penrhyn Hall in Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor, with a range of Jamaican refreshments throughout the day. For more details and to register check www.nwjsonline.com

A Jamaican breakfast was provided from 9.15am with peanut porridge and fruits, before offical welcomes and recognition run from 10.00am - 12.00 to celebrate Windrush 75, andto follow up the Welsh Government’s concerns to help people caught up over the past years in what is referred to as the ‘Windrush Scandal’.

Under the ‘ hostile environment’ created by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, many people with Caribbean heritage and British citizenship, were unlawfully stopped from working, they were made homeless and were unable to access health and other support they were entitled to. Garrick Prayogg and Roland Houslin from ‘Justice for Windrush Generations’ explained the background to enable those who may have been affected to seek compensation from the Home Office. There was also recognition for Enrico Stennett and Jimmy Cross from North Wales who were recognised by the Jamaican High Commission for their very significant contributions made in UK over the years. - see Windrush Stories

After a break for lunch, with Jamaican patties and refreshment supplied, the afternoon session enabled colleagues from Jamaica to join during on Zoom to discuss possibilities to link students and teachers, as well as community ventures eg Young Farmers and Girl Guides. Rotarian Walter Leavell from May Pen will also join the session to discuss how Rotary International can also support the venture.

Then there was also an opportunity to share updates on the development of links between the City of Bangor and May Pen in Clarendon, Jamaica, where people from North Wales settled and developed a range of plantations that generated the great wealth that came back to North Wales, enabling the Pennant family to improve their estates and the local infrastructure. Since arranging visits a few years ago, when a delegation from North Wales went to Jamaica to meet people over there, the North Wales Jamaica Society has been able to establish strong links through the Jamaica Wales Alliance and regular Zoom meetings each week have enabled friendships to develop and possibilities to be explored.

Jamaican poet and educator, Yasus Afari, has visited Wales many times over the years and continues to support the ‘building of bridges’ between schools and communities. Now there are more opportunities to explore with the Welsh Government’s Taith initiative, which aims to link schools, colleges and HE students, as well as community groups, interested in developing educational links with countries around the world.

A hot Jamaican meal was prepared by Maggie Ogunbowo, award winning entrepreneur and chef from 'Maggies Exotic Foods’ served from 5.30pm

The evening session started at 6.45pm in person and on Zoom with catch ups for teachers and others interested in developing links with Jamaica. The Tenovus Choir entertained us.

The idea of the 'Jamaica Wales Alliance Appeal’ was discussed to provide support for the community of Pennants and others engaged in developing links for educational scholarships, community food banks and other needs identified by Jamaican colleagues. The North Wales Jamaica Society is working with the Clarendon Parish Development Committee Benevolent Society to ensure all proper procedures and practices are in place to ensure funds reach those in need.

Outline programme of Events and presentations
on Thursday 22nd June in Penrhyn Hall, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor

Please note - we have not been able to arrange translation for this event - so we will operate in English, our common language, with respect and recogognition of Welsh and Jamaican

- we do not have a set programme, as we will have guests joining us on Zoom from around Wales and Jamaica, so we will fit things around times people can join us.

9.15 – 10.00am Jamaican Breakfast - Peanut Porridge and Tropical Fruit.

10.00am – Welcome – Deputy Mayor of Bangor

Speakers including: Garrick Prayogg, Director of Justice for Windrush Generations

With opportunities for invited guests to endorse the event with comments

Presentations and films: Life and times of Enrico Stennett and Gilbert Mullings, with respect as well to their wives and family.

1.00pm Soup and Jamaican patties

2.30 – 4.30pm Presentations on:

Civic and Rotary links re: 'The Pennants Project’ - when we will be joined on Zoom with colleagues and speakers from Jamaica

Taith – with national and local presenters, with schools who have had previous links with Jamaica over the years

6.00pm Jamaican meal - with Ital options

7.00 – 9.00pm - Joint session with ‘Jamaica Wales Alliance’ guests from Jamaica on Zoom

Summary of the day’s sessions with focus for staff and those unable to attend on the day.

Launch of the ‘Pennants Community Appeal’ and NWJS Summer School plans

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Many thanks again to Bangor City Council for supporting this events and the efforts being made to develop links.

The North Wales Jamaica Society has also applied to Welsh Government for Windrush Day Grant Funding 2023 managed by Race Council Cymru, but were not successful - surprising as it seems a very reasonable applicaton:

Background

The North Wales Jamaica Society (NWJS) is a Small Charity, constituted in 2011 managed by a team of volunteers. We hold monthly Open Meetings on Zoom to engage with colleagues in Jamaica in areas with historical links with North Wales, and interested individuals in North Wales, with others from around the UK and other parts of the world.

The NWJS Committee includes: Chairperson - Natalie Fagan Brown, Secretary - Liz Millman, Treasurer - Lesley Evans. Other Committee members include: Caroline Evans, Karen Cross, Derek Hainge and Martha Botros

The North Wales Jamaica Society is pleased to have the opportunity to apply for Welsh Government Grant Funding for Gwynedd and Anglesey to mark 75 years since MV Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, as stated ‘this key moment symbolises the Windrush Generation and crystalises how migration to the Wales has shaped our society today’. The North Wales Jamaica Society shares the values enshrined in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan.

We are delighted that the Welsh Government continues to wholeheartedly embrace this anniversary, on Thursday 22nd June, to celebrate, and recognise, its wide historic and present-day significance as we work together to make Wales an anti-racist country.

We support the Welsh Government’s commitment to deliver an anti-racist Wales by 2030, by bringing a clearer understanding about the history and consequences of racism.

The NWJS / Bangor City Council event is on 22 6 2023

The NWJS is working with Bangor City Council to hold a day of activities related to Windrush and our shared history on Thursday 22nd June - which will hopefully be filmed to create a resource for school and community use, along with resources for others. Additional funding will be sought to create a Summer School for teachers and community members to explore more about North Wales shared history with other parts of the world, with a focus on our shared history with Jamaica.

We are inviting members of the public from across our local communities and the organisations that support local communities, as well as people with key responsibilities in Gwynedd and Anglesey, along with others from across North Wales with links with Jamaica. You can book a place through Contact Us

Bangor City Council is inviting key officials from Gwynedd Council and Councillors, also the key contacts in Anglesey and across North Wales.

We are inviting local representatives of the Senedd and Welsh Government teams, as well as local representatives of the Westminster Government and Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth and other local members of the House of Lords.

We are inviting the Bishop of Bangor’s team to invite those from local parishes and other faith groups, as well as the Equalities Officials at the Health Authority, Police, Fire Service, North Wales Senedd Office, local Welsh Government Office, local Trade Unions. We are also inviting RAF Valley and armed services groups.

We are engaging with Bangor University – to invite both staff and students, as well as Gwynedd and Anglesey Education Services, Schools and local colleges. We will also extend a specific invitation to the many Jamaican students who have studied at Bangor University in the past, as well as any current or recent students from Jamaica.

We are inviting local Rotary, Probus and Lions Clubs, local historical groups and National Trust staff and volunteers at Penrhyn Castle and Plas Newydd and other community support and equalities organisations.

We are also inviting members of the Welsh Government Equality and Human Rights Division to recognise the work done and have the opportunity to thank everyone who is supporting for their work.

We are staging the event at Penrhyn Hall – the Civic Hall of Bangor, which will comfortably take 100 people. We will invite people to register through this site and will run and record the event on Zoom.

Below we have outlined our plans and how we are weaving themes together at this special time – to progress themes the NWJS team have been working on for years:

The focus of the Windrush Celebration Day in the morning is ‘Windrush 75’ recognising and celebrating the contributions of men and women from across the Commonwealth who helped to build a modern Wales and made this country their home. In particular local Windrush Generation people, Enrico Stennett and Gilbert Earl Mullings, who are recognised in the Jamaica High Commission publication ‘Jamaicans in Britain – a Legacy of Leadership’ and also their wives.

With regard to the Welsh Government’s commitment to seek justice for the Windrush Elders in line with the Wendy Williams report published on 19 July 2018, we have also invited Garrick Prayogg from ‘Justice for Windrush Generations’ to make a presentation in the morning – paying specific attention to the Wendy Williams Report and subsequent actions taken by the Home Office.

We will also share the stories of the Windrush 75 events and activities being held in Jamaica and then we will be joined by Jamaican colleagues by Zoom in the afternoon (from 8 – 10 am in Jamaica)

The focus of the Windrush Celebration Day in the afternoon, will feature the formal launch of ‘The Pennants Project’ and the ‘Pennants Community Appeal’, when we will be joined on Zoom with colleagues and speakers from Jamaica, including the Mayor of Clarendon Cllr Winston Marage, other Councillors including past Mayor Cllr Scean Barnswell, Chief Executive of Clarendon Municipal Corporation: Rohan Blake, the Director of Education Region 7 Clarendon: Dr Barrington Richardson, retired Chief Executive of the Institute of Jamaica: Vivian Crawford, Director of the Museum of Jamaica: Dr Jonathan Greenland, the Custos of Clarendon: The Hon William Shagoury and his team members.

Professor Anthony Bogues from Brown University in US has been invited to join us, as well as Prof Pat Hudson, now retired from Cardiff University, as well as other speakers from North Wales and Jamaica.

This will contribute to the Welsh Government’s commitment to deliver an anti-racist Wales by 2030 by bringing a clearer understanding about our shared history of colonisation, as Prof Sir Geoff Palmer says: “We cannot change the past, but we can change the consequences of the past”. We have also invited Prof Robert Moore to speak on ways we can clarify the roots of racism.

In the evening 7-9pm, we will also launch an invitation for schools, colleges, community groups and HE students to express an interest in taking up the Welsh Government’s ‘Taith’ project to link with Jamaica and the Director of Education for Region 7 - Clarendon, Dr Barrington Richardson, will speak to this on Zoom. We will also share plans for schools, community and HE links, as part of the Welsh Government’s Taith project.

In the evening we will also present a summary for others who could not join during the day – with a live Zoom link with Jamaica to provide background and to the potential of contributing to the development of Welsh links around the world.

We will start the day with our well known NWJS practice of providing a Jamaican Breakfast of peanut porridge and fresh fruit, with a Jamaican lunch of red peas or pumpkin soup, and Jamaican patties, with a full reception at 5.30pm with chicken, vegetables, rice and peas etc. Our reputation (pre Covid) for providing good Jamaican catering is well known and we will have support again from Award Winning caterer and author Maggie Ogunbanwo.

This day of activity will be preceded by a series of in person and Zoom meetings and discussions to ensure that best advantage can be made of the resources that this event will generate for schools and colleges. We have been in discussion with Prof Charlotte Williams about this and also invited her to attend on the day to update us.

The event will respect and recognise all three languages, Welsh, Jamaican and English, with simultaneous translation from English to Welsh, and the presentations will be filmed with transcripts and translation of the presentations if funds allow. However, we will operate the day’s event in English – the common language between us all. At times in the day when we welcome or wrap up, ie the most likely times when Jamaican or Welsh are used – there will be an English explanation.

After the event we are organising a ‘Summer School’ programme of talks and walks, in line with and with a focus on Jamaica’s Emancipation Day and Independence Day, 1st and 7th August, with training for teachers and others who are interested, to follow up and explore any of the themes of the day and the wider Black History of North and Mid Wales, this is in partnership with the Black Heritage Walks Network, the National Trust, the Jamaican High Commission and others.

We also have plans – yet to be shared - to hold at least one ‘Jamaica Day’ at Penrhyn Castle this summer.

We will also have a series of community workshops planned to progress ‘The Pennants Project’ and the ‘Pennants Community Appeal’, along with our regular NWJS Open Zoom Meetings on the first Saturday of each month.

From this programme of activities and consultations with school staff and church leaders, we will create resources including an edited film of the event and guidance documents, to be made available soon after the event for all participants to use and share, as well as for use by schools and colleges, churches, and other community organisations – with notes for creating lesson plans, assemblies, talks and sermons etc.

The contribution from the Welsh Government from the Equalities and Diversity team Windrush funds will mainly go to supporting the event on 22nd June, and additional funding and sponsorship is being sourced from other organisations.

We are inviting people from across the local communities – working with local organisations like the North Wales Africa Society, NWAMI and NWREN and we will support activities on other days around this time when they may plan and host Windrush events. We will also promote this in the Bangor Aye, North Wales Chronical and other local press, on BBC Radio and through as many other channels as we can, as well as using local social media platforms. We will make sure all promotional materials are bilingual.

We are involving Bangor City Council and Gwynedd and Anglesey County Council teams in the planning of the event, to ensure we are involving as wide a group as we can with people in North West Wales and then to follow up with appropriate invitations.

We support the Welsh Government’s commitment to deliver an anti-racist Wales by 2030, by bringing a clearer understanding about the history and consequences of racism.

The NWJS / Bangor City Council event is on 22 6 2023

Bangor City Council is inviting key officials from Gwynedd Council and Councillors, also the key contacts in Anglesey and across North Wales.

We are also inviting RAF Valley and armed services groups ie the local Clwyd & Gwynedd Army Cadets, the Military Training College in Bangor.

We are inviting local Rotary, Probus and Lions Clubs, local historical groups and National Trust staff and volunteers at Penrhyn Castle and Plas Newydd and other community support and equalities organisations.

We are also inviting members of the Welsh Government Equality and Human rights Division to recognise the work done and have the opportunity to thank eveeryone who is supporting for your work.

We are staging the event at Penrhyn Hall – the Civic Hall of Bangor, which will comfortably take 150 people. We will invite people to register through this site and will run and record the event on Zoom.

Below we have outlined our plans and how we are weaving themes together at this special time – to progress themes the NWJS team have been working on for years:

We will also share the stories of the Windrush 75 events and activities being held in Jamaica and then we will be joined by Jamaican colleagues by Zoom in the afternoon (from 8 – 10 am in Jamaica)

We also have plans – yet to be shared - to hold at least one ‘Jamaica Day’ at Penrhyn Castle this summer.

After events in July and August 2023;

‘Summer School’ programme of talks and walks, in line with and with a focus on Jamaica’s Emancipation Day and Independence Day, 1st and 7th August, with training for teachers and others who are interested

Plans for at least one ‘Jamaica Day’ at Penrhyn Castle this summer

Community workshops planned to progress ‘The Pennants Project’ and the ‘Pennants Community Appeal’

Our regular NWJS Open Zoom Meetings on the first Saturday of each month.

We are asking for funding support from the Welsh Government – this is the main proportion of the cost of the event planned. For additional costs on the day, and the preparation and the follow-on events planned, we are seeking additional support and sponsorship from key organisations and funding sources.

The key purpose of the Welsh Government funding is to cover the costs of staging a very high profile recognition of ‘Windrush 75’ at Penrhyn Hall Bangor from the Welsh Government Funds allocation for this recognition

For more information contact: NWJS Secretary, Liz Millman on 07711569489