Windrush 2017

By working with Peppie Close residents and using poetry to reflect on Windrush memories, 2017 saw a beautiful tribute to our Windrush history.

In 2017 Senior Archives Officer Lydia Julien worked with the Peppie Close residents who were kindly facilitated by Christopher Garnsworthy from Hackney Community Library Services. She created a prose poem, Me Say, You Say from the resident's oral histories and memories which went on to be performed at Peppie Close and the Windrush Tea Party at Hackney Town Hall 2018.

Peppie Close is a specialist residential unit for people from the African-Caribbean community, which enables vulnerable adults, usually aged 55 and older, to live as independently as possible.

Watch Lydia Julien read ‘Me Say, you Say’ poem.

Did We Say You Can Stay? – Poem by Sonia B

Sonia B is a local poet who writes her feelings, family, experiences, and mental health. She has written two collections: Within A Mental Mind and Second Time Around about fulfilled life experiences.

She was is a member of the Hackney Libraries Lockdown Poetry group, which published a collection of work later in 2020. "Did We Say You Can Stay?" was Sonia B's welcome contribution to the Windrush celebration.

Windrush Girl – Poem by Whistel Edwards

Whistel Edwards is a local poet who attended the first Windrush tea party in 2018 and also performed work from her collection of poetry. Listen below!