A SPECIAL flag raising ceremony to celebrate Windrush Day will be held outside City Hall on Monday (June 22).

It marks 72 years since the Empire Windrush ship arrived at Tilbury docks in London in 1948, carrying hundreds of people from the Caribbean who came to make a new life in Britain and perform a vital role in helping to re-build the country after the Second World War.

These passengers blazed a trail for thousands more who would travel from across what was then the British Empire to make a vital contribution to the recovery of an exhausted nation. 

Windrush Day was inaugurated in 2018 to celebrate the rich diversity that Commonwealth citizens brought to the country and to mark the major contribution they and their descendants have made to British society, culture and economy. 

The recent easing of lockdown regulations means Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe and Chief Executive Kersten England can attend the raising of the Windrush Flag, which was designed in Bradford and is now used by many councils across the country.

Also attending the socially distanced ceremony will be Charles Dacres, the Director of the Bradford Hate Crime Alliance.

Councillor Hinchcliffe said: “The Windrush generation came to Britain to help the country rebuild after the war. 

“Their contribution to almost every aspect of our national life has been incalculable, and it is a pleasure for us to celebrate that.

“It is right we reflect on this hugely positive impact on our society and I’d encourage everyone to join us in appreciation of their legacy.”

Ms England added: “Windrush Day will allow communities not only here in Bradford but up and down the country to recognise and honour the enormous contribution made by the people who stepped ashore 72 years ago. 

“It will keep their legacy alive for future generations, ensuring that we all celebrate the diversity of Britain’s history.”

Mr Dacres, who is from the second generation of Windrush arrivals, said: “British Caribbean communities have made Britain a better, more prosperous country in so many ways.

“From the communities they have built to the public services they have supported and led, and the arts and culture they have enriched, they have made an incredible contribution to this country and I am proud to be part of that inheritance.”