The Windrush Generation - A Walsall Connection

The next meeting of the Society takes place on Thursday 9th May at 7:30 pm in St. Andrew's Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley.

The very short Annual General Meeting is followed by a presentation: The Windrush Generation - A Walsall Connection. The speaker is Jennifer Blake who has recorded the experiences of West Indians living in the town. Her acclaimed book captures their contribution to the local community and the Black Country.

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush's first voyage from the Caribbean to Britain. It was the start of mass migration from these islands between 1948 and 1971. An estimated 500,000 people made the journey.

The Windrush Generation's legacy in helping rebuild public services such as London transport and the NHS have often featured in the media, while in the Black Country contributions in health care, manufacturing and education are significant together with a prominent influence in music, dance and food.

Admission is £2 – exact amount appreciated.

Did you know?

In June 2022 the National Windrush Monument was unveiled at Waterloo station. In February 2024 one of London's Overground lines was named 'Windrush'. It passes through areas with strong links to London's Caribbean communities.

2024 – Spring Teaser - Answer

These houses were standing until the 1970s.

We asked if you could name the street and find out what is happening there today.

The houses stood on the south side of Bilston Street (A463) in Sedgley near the junction with High Street. The photograph was taken in July 1971. The left hand block was the oldest with a date stone inscribed 'Built 1845'. The row was demolished in the late 1970s.

When this area was cleared Dudley MBC used the land to build a prefabricated Estate Office. At the time of writing (June 2024) it is part of a much larger site under development for an Aldi store due to open in October 2024.