Event: Windrush, A Voyage through the Generations.

The Brixton Immortals Domino Club teaching the young generation how to play the game as part of a collaboration with Lambeth Libraries. Jeremiah is 9 and this is his first introduction to the game. Photo by: Jim Grover.

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of MV Empire Windrush which is coming up on June 22nd, award-winning photographer Jim Grover presents a new photography exhibition at Clapham Library, Mary Seacole Centre.

Windrush: A Voyage through the Generations is a moving new photo-story that explores how the generations who followed the Windrush Generation are living their lives in the UK today. Uniquely, this work explores and invites conversations around the different ways of passing down traditions, the continuity of heritage, and intergenerational exchange.

97-year-old Alford Gardner who was born in Jamaica and who is one of only two known surviving adult passengers from MV Empire Windrush in 1948.

Made up of 70 colour photographs, the exhibition shines a light on individuals, groups, and organisations in South London, who are doing so much to preserve their distinct heritages and traditions from around the Caribbean, for current and future generations.

The exhibition opens with a new photo-story of 97-year-old Alford Gardner, one of just two known remaining adult passengers from the landmark 1948 voyage, and ends with a collage display of 75 photos submitted by the youngest of the generations - young people under 16, who shared a photo of an item that is an important part of their families Caribbean story.

One of the most memorable stories is that of Merah-Louise Smith, who was born in Jamaica in 1912, and came to the UK in 1963, aged 50. She is now 110, and only gave up her favoured pastimes kick-boxing and line dancing at the age of 103, on doctor’s orders. At 110, she is amongst the oldest, if not actually is the oldest, woman of Caribbean heritage alive in the UK today. She lives in Croydon, and has three children, six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

The exhibition runs from June 1st-September 2nd 2023, and entry is free, with no booking required. Opening times and more details can be found here.