The artwork is by Jamaican artist Basil Watson and depicts three figures – a man, a woman and a child – dressed in “Sunday’s best” and standing on a pile of suitcases. It was officially unveiled by a small group representing the Windrush community across all generations. Commenting on the sculpture, Mr Watson said: “It was an honor to design and create this monument that pays tribute to the Windrush immigrants as they arrived in Britain with their dreams and aspirations, courage and dignity, skills and their talents. “They came up with the idea of laying the foundations for their families and their future and the hope of contributing to a society that they expected to welcome them in return. “From this seemingly auspicious start, despite the many challenges, they have spread their culture throughout Britain, influencing many aspects of society. “My parents, along with many others, made the long arduous journey from the Caribbean with very little or nothing but their ambitions, their courage and a promise of opportunity for progress. This monument tells this story of hope, of determination. , strong self-belief and vision for the future “.
