Windrush, Calypso & Cricket

Wednesday 21 June 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain in 1948. To celebrate this hugely significant moment in British history Trafford Local Studies have contributed to and organised special events and displays. 

Windrush, Calypso & Cricket is a digital exhibition that runs alongside a physically curated display of loaned material at the Trafford Local Studies centre. The physical display features contributions from the National Jazz Archives, BBC Film Archives, Lancashire County Cricket Club, and local community members. A main focus point in the exhibition is legendary Calypso Singer Lord Kitchener (real name Aldwyn Roberts) who was a Trafford/Manchester resident for the majority of his 14 year stay in England between 1948-1962. Lord Kitchener is widely regarded as the “Grandmaster” of calypso music. As part of our Windrush 75 Activity Day at the Limelight Centre, Old Trafford, award winning poet and Lord Kitchener fictional biographer Dr Anthony Joseph delivered an author talk on the great Calypsonian.

Manchester Artist Venessa Scott has created Windrush themed activity sheets for this year's 75th anniversary, which are available to collect at the Trafford Local Studies centre and across all Trafford libraries.

If you would like to share your Windrush story, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us on 0161 912 3013 or by our email trafflocals@trafford.gov.uk