A Proud Inheritance Exhibition 

The Community Photo Album and  Where I am From paintings were commissioned by London Borough of Newham alongside the "At Home Exhibition " by Tony Fairweather.
The exhibition documented the stories of members of the Windrush generation and beyond the portraits were transferred using acrylic medium onto Dollies a soft furnishing favoured by the  African caribbean community. 

Personal Stories.

 Oldette Skeet Bennett – Barbados
 
 “I came after the Windrush in 1962 as part of workers called by the U K Government.
I was a qualified nurse even though my qualification was not recognised by the UK government; I was more qualified that the UK nurses.
 
I did not face Housing discrimination as housing was provided by the government.  All in all it was not bad”.

 
Una Lewis – Guyana
 
“I came in 1967 as a Nursing student I went to Blackpool I was the only black student in class.  My immigration status was in jeopardy if my nursing contract was not renewed.
 
I was well received by the indigenous white British who welcomed me in their home. Overall it was a good transition.”
 
 
 
 
Genelva Shackleford - Jamaica
 
“I arrived on a plane with my cousin who invited me over;   I was my cousin’s support in 1962.  I was single with four children.
I lived with my cousin for a while when it was time to find a house and job it was a struggle.
 
Racism played a part as travelling on the bus was almost like a scene from America’s Deep South. You could not sit next to the British people.
 I eventually secured a job at Lions Tea Shop and raised my four children.  I met my husband in England who was also Jamaican”.
 
 
Mr Owen May - Jamaica.
 
“I came in the winter via Geest in 1973 in the cold.  My father was here from Jamaica, he went back home and left me here.  It was hard to find a room because there wasn’t much rooms to rent.  White people didn’t want to rent to you. So you have to find a black landlord.  I worked on the railway for Barking and Dagenham.  After a while I sorted myself out and things worked out fine.”

Celia Marquis - St Lucia
 
“I came in 1962 it was horrible, dark, not nice I stayed in Mile End and I was 16 and a half  I came to stay with my mum.
I never had a problem with anybody. I later went on to work at Tate and Lyle sugar refinery at Canning town.”
 
Pam (Nurse P) - Jamaica
 
“I came as a nurse straight from Jamaica, it was ok but when I had to take exams there was bias against me with marking my work because of my colour I was told by my teacher an Asian woman that I shouldn’t expect a higher mark than the white students, however the Social life was good”