Mansfield Museum

Mansfield District Council's project aims to shine a light on the contribution made to British life and culture by the Windrush generation and their descendants since HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948.

Those stepping off that initial sailing were the first of thousands of new arrivals during subsequent years as people from the Caribbean were encouraged to start a new life in Britain.

Mansfield was among those places where these new citizens settled with some taking jobs down the local coal mines, factories and hosiery mills.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said he was proud of the way Mansfield had embraced the Windrush celebrations.

“The carnival was fantastic, a day of great energy and good vibes. It is events like this which really help to bring communities together in pride and send out the message of friendship and inclusion.

"I am so proud that Mansfield has really been leading the way in this region in terms of recognising this important milestone for the British black community and celebrating it as part of our own district's heritage and history."
  
As well as the carnival, the past months have seen a major exhibition, It Runs Through Us, open at Mansfield Museum, alongside Windrush educational activities for children and dance lessons for people who want to take part in the carnival.

The museum has also been co-ordinating a significant series of oral histories from members of the local black community.

These videos are included in the exhibition and form the first archive of black-led oral histories in Mansfield, charting the memories and achievements of these Windrush pioneers.

The Mansfield-born children of these families, many now grand-parents themselves, are featured in the history videos, sharing positive experiences of childhood, friendships, and working lives, alongside challenges faced.

Among those who came to the UK from the Caribbean was Samuel Case whose family story, going back to the days of plantation slavery in the 1700s, is told by his son, Carl Case.

Samuel worked at Welbeck Colliery after leaving Jamaica as a young man and later became first ever black man elected as a Deacon by a 120-strong congregation at Mansfield’s Baptist Church, the highest honour the church can bestow on a person.

Carl said: "The wide variety of local Windrush events taking place this year is a tribute to the early pioneers who travelled, settled, and now have Mansfield born and raised great grandchildren living here.

"This is a true celebration of our Elders' achievements and also a reflection on some of the challenges they faced - some of which our community is still sadly facing. However, these events are showing that, collectively, there is the commitment and resolve towards working to remove these unnecessary barriers.

"It's so encouraging to see how the council is leading on sharing positive perceptions of black history within the wider context of local history to encourage equality and fairness for all."

The carnival and other Windrush events have been possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) programme, which the council successfully secured last year.

The celebrations are set to continue. As well as the exhibition which stays open until November, other activities are planned.

Sian Booth, the council's Cultural Services Manager, said: "The Windrush story is a significant part of British history.

"As part of the legacy of the exhibition, a digital version of It Runs Through Us will be made available for every child in Mansfield, so that schools can continue to build understanding of this shared national history.

"Black history and decolonisation will continue to be a major theme for Mansfield District Council in future years. Not only is the Windrush 75 a milestone in our history, but it will kick-start a wider programme of work that aims to fully represent our multi-ethnic society."

Mansfield Carnival was funded by Arts Council England. To help us capture the best possible picture of who came, please fill in this very short survey. It takes about 2 minutes:

To find out more please contact Kirsty on ksanders@mansfield.gov.uk or 01623 463088.