The modern Commonwealth is all round us, not least because of migration into Britain since the Second World War. These population flows included returning communities from the dissolving British Empire, socioeconomic migrants, family reunions and marriage, refugees and asylum seekers. Each one had a unique story of transition and migration, which was infinitely personal and varied. As the recent stories around ‘the Windrush Generation’ and the Partition of the Indian sub-continent have shown, individual experiences of those travelling to and settling in Britain have remained hidden from history and largely unknown by younger family members.
The importance of capturing of these memories goes far beyond academic study. Each of us can use ‘oral history’ to record people’s memories, unique experiences and opinions. Capturing this living history of our families sheds light on the world around us.
This workshop, which is part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, offers the opportunity to gain important foundational skills around interviewing techniques. It runs from 1.45–4pm, is open to all and requires no prior knowledge of history.
The ‘Children of the Windrush Generation’ workshop will be followed at 4.30pm by a screening of Mutiny (Tony T and Rebecca Goldstone), a story of World War One and the black struggle for pride and freedom. Eyewitness testimonies of surviving veterans, official documents and archive photos, reveal the incredible story of the British West Indies Regiment.
The panel discussion at 6pm led by Professor Clem Seecharan, features authors Colin Babb and Yvonne Archer, human rights lawyer and daughter of Barbadian Windrush migrants, Cecile Ogufere, and Patrick Verson, a commentator and social activist who led the successful Windrush Day campaign.
Date: 8 May, 1.45–8pm
Who: Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Where: Dr Seng T Lee Centre for Manuscript and Book Studies, Senate House Library, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU