The social history of the Windrush Generation will come to life throughout October in a unique ‘front room’ exhibition which will tour across three cities, starting in Bristol. As part of this year’s Black History Month celebrations, the Shakespeare pub in Prince Street will take a trip back in time and give punters a chance to step into a ‘Windrush Front Room’ next week.
The Windrush Generation is used to describe people from the Caribbean who were part of the wave of migration that took place between 1948 and 1971 to fill Britain’s post war labour shortages. The name ‘Windrush’ describes the boat which arrived on Britain’s shores in 1948 when people living under the former British colonies of the Commonwealth were invited to live and work in the UK.
The “Windrush Front Room” exhibit, managed by Fairweather Productions, will tour the country stopping in three of Greene King’s pubs throughout October – the Shakespeare in Bristol, the Greene Man in Euston and the Malthouse in Birmingham.
The “Windrush Front Room” is a nostalgic look back at the well-remembered homes of the Windrush Generation, featuring a re-creation of the iconic Caribbean front room, and showcases many family favourites, from the Blue Spot Gramophone to the eclectic ornaments displayed in glass cabinets.
This first of its kind exhibition, that takes the Windrush front room straight into the local pub, is specifically available in Bristol and Birmingham due to their history with the Windrush Generation, which saw people relocate to these areas on arrival in the UK in 1948.
Audiences will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the social history of the Windrush Generation and learn about the cultural significance of artefacts from the era as well as live talks from curator Tony about the lives of people from the Caribbean coming to Britain on the promise of a new life.
Historian and curator of the Windrush Front Room, Tony Fairweather said: “Pubs are the heart of their local communities, so what better way to bring a piece of our social history to people within the community and make it more accessible for them to find out more about this generation.
“It’s important for people to understand our shared history and partnering with Greene King on this project means that I will be able to share the stories of people from the African-Caribbean community, and the challenges and resilience they showed adapting to life in the UK, to a wider audience.”
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Jasveer Banning, chairperson of Unity, Greene King’s ethnic minority employee-led inclusion group, said: “It’s a privilege for us to be able to host Tony and the Windrush Front Room exhibit in our pubs. Tony’s passion, enthusiasm and positivity really brings this generation’s history to life where we can all feel a sense of nostalgia and resonation. It’s important to us to provide the opportunity for our team members and our local communities to come together in celebration all while learning something new about our shared history.”
The Bristol events will take place at Shakespeare Tavern from Tuesday, October 1 until Friday, October 4 from 12pm to 2pm. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite for £3 but walk-ins on the day are also permitted. The exhibit will then travel onto the Greene Man in Euston (9-10 October) and finish at the Malthouse in Birmingham (23-24 October).
Money raised from the entry fee and donations will go towards the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT). Those attending will get a chance to enjoy a drink and a chat with Tony Fairweather, the founder and curator of the Windrush Collection and the Windrush Exhibition of artefacts. You can find the Eventbrite link here.