Community members joined councillors, residents and local schoolchildren in Wood Green on 22 June to mark Windrush Day with a flag-raising ceremony at George Meehan House.
Windrush Day 2026 Team Photo Pic 1
The Windrush Day flag was raised by the Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Dawn Barnes, in recognition of the lasting contribution that the Windrush Generation and their descendants have made to Haringey and communities across the UK.
Council Leader Cllr Mark Blake, resident Yvette, EMBRACE network, students from St Thomas More Catholic School, poet Keiron Rennie and writer Bridget Badoe McQuick spoke about their personal connections to the Windrush legacy.
Marked annually on 22 June, Windrush Day celebrates the contribution of people who came to Britain from the Caribbean between the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush in 1948 and the Immigration Act 1971, as well as the generations that followed.
This year’s national theme, Carrying the Flame, highlights the enduring impact of the Windrush Generation, celebrating their cultural contributions, resilience and community legacy.
Mayor of Haringey, Cllr Dawn Barnes, said:
Windrush Day is a chance to celebrate the extraordinary contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants to Britain and to Haringey. Their hard work helped build our NHS, public services and communities, while enriching our borough’s culture, food, music and identity.
Haringey is proud of its strong history of diversity and anti-racism, and today we honour those who helped shape the borough we know today. Their legacy reminds us that our differences are our strength and that we are stronger together.
Yvette Buttigieg, Haringey resident, said:
I arrived in this country in the 1970s, part of the second generation of the Windrush story – too young to remember the ship, but old enough to carry everything that came after it. We didn’t just come here to survive. We came here to build a home, and we did. We raise this flag for all those who made that journey and thank them for their sacrifices, which helped make life easier for future generations.
I thank them for paving the way for those of us who came after.
The Windrush Generation has helped shape every aspect of life in Haringey and remains an integral part of the borough’s diverse and vibrant community, helping to make the borough a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds.
