Windrush legacy: survivor on racism, scandal and life in the UK

It's been 75 years since The Empire Windrush sailed into Tilbury Docks bringing more than 800 people from the Caribbean - skilled young workers who'd answered the call for help to rebuild Britain after the war.
But though invited, they were not always welcomed when they got here, often facing racism, struggling to find work or a home.
We’ve been talking to 97-year-old Alford Gardner - one of only two surviving passengers who were on the ship.

[@brianmosse]

The leading questions were so obvious, this absolute Gentleman obviously deserves his happy life, with his positive attitude he couldn't fail.

[@patrickquine3945]

Really great guy. And he's bang on about just about everything

[@mariajefferies8555]

What an amazing old chap👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 My Dad , like this Gent came to uk from Jamaica with the RAF. He stayed at the end of Ww2, married my mum and had a family who truly loved him. Became a Councillor in Bristol and a JP. This man is a great example of being a Man 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@hourbee5535]

Diversity is strength.

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

Unity is strength. Diversity is genocide.

[@becoming.andreia]

Oh pack it in you bigot, the human race is one.

[@patrickquine3945]

@@JamesSmith-qs4hx Stop cowering in fear. People are people

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

@@patrickquine3945 No, they aren't!

[@user-cx4ll4rj1t]

The man speaks the truth - so they were not invited to come and work. They came because England helped them because they were unemployed. The fact that the Windrush generation was for all Commonwealth Citizens and only 25% of them were West Indians. When will someone point out 75% of them were Canadians and Cypriots etc. It is a shame it turned into a black thing because it never was. The people who came over knew they needed to update their documents and the most of them did - all we now have are liars pretending they were part of this generation and again most black people - sort of similar to the black people claiming they were part of the Grenfell disaster when there were not. This gentleman is a credit to his culture and upbringing and it was so nice to hear him tell us his story. God bless him and his family.

[@magdas1698]

This man seems to have had amazing parents (or whoever brought him up) 👏

[@patrickquine3945]

He's from the era before all Jamaica's political violence and drug smuggling gangs

[@ljhunter2018]

It is they way we are raised, to smile in the face of adversity🇯🇲. There was nothing Great about Britain after WWII, Britain was in rubble when the people of the Caribbean were 'sent for,' 'INVITED to help rebuild 'The Motherland!!! IMAGINE , IF YOUR MOTHER TREATED YOU LIKE THEY WERE TREATED?? THEY'D SERVED, AND WENT BACK TO THEIR HOME LAND!! They were then sent for AGAIN,, just like when they were needed to serve on the front line , many BROUGHT THEIR TICKET , to come and join THEIR army. They left THEIR HOMES, THEIR FAMILY, this Windrush generation , that have had their story turned into a SCANDAL. FOUR Home Secretary's and NOT ONE WITH AN OUNCE OF SHAME to do right by those who gave up their their lives to help. The same as their Enslaved Ancestor's, who had no choice in capture but to help. So, at TWO SIGNIFICANT JUNCTIONS, a generation of people, for OVER 500 YEAR'S , have been wronged , and now being told to ,'MIVE ON'!! This country is BUILT ON OUR ANCESTORS WEALTH. As King was criwn the Diamond in the Crown snd Orb, were from the BIGGEST DIAMOND IN THE WORLD, FROM AFRICA. LOOK AT THE POVERTY IN AFRICA...NOT PART OF EUROPE, OR THE G7, WHEN disaster strikes the Africans, where do they get aid? the sort of aid you see Germany, Turkey and Seria and Ukraine receiving? How us this fair? Slavery is written as THE WORST ATROCITY AGAINST ANY HUMAN RACE!!#FACT . Yet unlike the Jews who received 6 BILLION COMPENSATION, there hasn't been anything for the African and Caribbean community , they keep referring to as BLACK , so they don't have to legislate what they did to a NATION OF PEOPLE, NOT TO A COLOUR OF PEOPLE! The desendants of this blood line still live in this economic poverty, poverty-stricken. I'm glad this elder found happiness. But find me 5 others like him?? Just last week was the funeral of 96 yr old, Peter Brown a RAF Pilot🌹🇯🇲 who died alone in December 2022, but for his neighbours he wouldn't have hot a fitting funeral www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12123955/Farewell-one-Pilots-Caribbean-Hundreds-turn-funeral-WWII-veteran.html www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12123955/Farewell-one-Pilots-Caribbean-Hundreds-turn-funeral-WWII-veteran.html. How?? How does the Ministry of Defence not know the names of these Men and and Women , like they did Sir Tom and Harry Billage, and those Chelsea Pensioners who served?? How do the fallen War Horses, have a Memorial Statue in the National Arboretum, yet there is NO MEMORIAL for the African and Caribbean soldiers who served? You are right to call his spirit lovely, BECAUSE he is one of the happy stories. Paulette Wilson 🌹🇯🇲 who story sparked this scandal in 2018, at age 50 she took a trip back to Jamaica, a country she left as a child, and was refused entry back into the UK. Paulette Wilson has since died;, but don't worry their is a Blue Plaque in her name www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/23/windrush-campaigner-paulette-wilson-dies-aged-64 😭😭😭 #StillWeRise until the WHOLE Truth is acknowledged ✊🏾💜💐

[@user-dz6ly9nw2k]

I imagine the pwople on the Windrush were very decent, respectful hardworking people, but just look how their decendants have turned out. Not sure what we should be celebrating??

[@patrickquine3945]

@user-dz6ly9nw2k Crime is considerably lower today than it was 25yrs ago. So I have no idea wtf you're talking about.

[@user-dz6ly9nw2k]

@@patrickquine3945 Yeah right......lol

[@masterxeon1001]

this has been interesting to find out about. This man's story has been inspirational and amazing to hear in such an accent. He's a man that survived a very interesting life. What a legend.

[@kalelake3067]

He is so refreshing; lovely man..

[@watch-Dominion-2018]

The only wind rush I get is after eating beans...

[@YoAddicts]

Such a great and beautiful soul with that overwhelming sense of positivity. When something bad happens, he just laughs away.

[@gsb5012]

Some of us white British born of British parents also came to England for the first time in the 1950s on the Empire Windrush. Born in the far east as father was in the RAF. I consider myself part of the Windrush generation. All of us PEOPLE, individuals with different lives, with that ship in our history. I learned to walk on that ship!

[@arabellasommers9343]

Lovely man God Bless him 🙏

[@AvilaSpectrum]

Regardless of our skin color, we’re all spectrum of the human race ✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

[@mr.thegreat557]

Of course we are. 😉

[@leemondez]

what a lovely man

[@marlenefearon1027]

Wow. What a lovely man with a heart of gold. God bless him

[@user-dz6ly9nw2k]

I wish the real truth about the Windrush was told, rather than the usual ‘Saviours of the U.K. labour shortage’ nonsense.

[@sharonwashington8150]

Ignorance is bliss for some, but through sheer hard work and determination the sun shone through for just such a man. Its an absolute disgrace how these people were treated by a government that is just criminal itself. They deserve better and we should all know better!

[@mr.thegreat557]

Why? Half of them were only here five minutes and our prisons were full of them. They destroyed this country. 😡

[@sharonwashington8150]

@@mr.thegreat557 You cannot tire all with the same brush! same can be said for some of the brits born here! that keep breaking the laws!!

[@mr.thegreat557]

@@sharonwashington8150 well what exactly have they done for England? Because all I see is drugs, guns, crime, graffiti, gang culture and sexual violence. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@patrickquine3945]

@mr.thegreat557 Is that why crime today is half what it was 25yrs ago ? Jackass.

[@williamrutter4058]

Barbados pleaded with Britain to take them as there was going to be civil unrest over unemployment. They were never invited and never did any 'rebuilding' It's wrong to say otherwise. They bought tickets offered by chancers on the make. There were no jobs here for them, Britain didn't need them. Still doesn't

[@ljhunter2018]

Imagine you served for a country helped them to win a war, and excluded

[@mr.thegreat557]

😂😂😂

[@janeilsley7702]

No suprise Britain has always been spiteful

[@errolbaptiste]

Very well spot on message.

[@John-qd5of]

Thank you Sir, for working so hard on our behalf.

[@bettyboo4971]

Jade goodys grandad was part of the windrush generation. So sad she went so soon but saved so many lives. Tv ain’t same without her 😢😢

[@annalafayette838]

Say what?? Dat woman was an out and out racist!

[@Mikejames1080]

Shame Jade Goody was racist to Shilpa Shetty.

[@Dave-hu5hr]

🥔😂

[@sbaby-kg8hn]

She doesn't even like black people

[@samabrahams7687]

What a chap ❤

[@dazfire5646]

He seems a good man.

[@danidandanms]

What a beautiful man xx

[@ottooctavius5855]

A beautiful soul. What a life he has lived

[@stephenwalker2924]

A surprising lack of bitterness or anger. Maybe that's the way to a long life. Just let the negative stuff (and all the things you can't control) go - just be positive and focus on the good gifts of life. idk

[@VentureHolly]

By your logic, Martin Luther King should have just “gone home and had a cup of tea”….

[@Furrierity]

@@VentureHolly Well yes if he wanted to live a long life, which unfortunately he didn’t.

[@teekolinski491]

It is the way to longevity. Being optimistic & positivity in everything. My grandparents & great- grandparents had the same attitide as this man when they migrated to the UK, Canada, & the US. As long as they had work & a decent roof over their heads- they were fine. The West Indian community was more united back then also. When you came over, everyone on your street would be trying to help you find work, had knowledge of a landlord that was renting, told you how to get around, etc. We lost that unity.

[@John-qd5of]

I mean by " what pills he is on?" that he is looking good for his extreme age. My uncle, when he died at 77,looked older than this man does. However, my uncle had cerebral palsy.

[@London_miss234]

Lovely!

[@2gointruth]

The way which leads to world peace now follows...

[@sleish85]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ health and happiness. Thank you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ love jamaican ppl ❤❤

[@John-qd5of]

97 years of age!😮 I wonder what pills he is on.

[@NubianPrince85]

🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jake465]

We should thank the altruistic foreigner who, despite intense racism, stayed and replaced the men who died in the war to fix our country

[@johno4521]

By 1948 Britain was just about back on an even keel after the war; HIS country was in a worse state, why didn't he want to stay there and fix that?

[@jake465]

@@johno4521 mystery (£££)

[@JohnDoe-wb9ht]

Would rather live in an African shanty town or a mud hut than slavery ever existed then.

[@smimtiaz4556]

😮

[@jimmyjones1266]

Glotten for punishment

[@sunnysparkles4729]

Sadly, not all current immigrants have the decorum, culture and morals his generation had.

[@MzeeMoja1]

Similar to British ‘expats’, how they integrate wonderfully by learning Spanish for example, not!

[@RokeJulianLockhart.s13ouq]

@@MzeeMoja1 Indeed. I wonder what the unifying factor between them is, if anything, or whether the similarities between their actions are solely coincidental.

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

@@MzeeMoja1 True British people have hard time intergrating and assimilating in foreign countries...but expect people to do it here in UK. Kind of hypocracy.

[@TheAArmstrong]

@@onlineonlineaccount2368 Those Brits pay their way though….

[@Lando-kx6so]

​@@TheAArmstrong so do the vast majority of us immigrants here in the UK. You people don't realise how expensive & difficult it is to actually come here

[@widen_inhorizons]

Cold😂😂 Tell me about it

[@guff9567]

Good luck to them. Nobody else would want to live there

[@thaliadrew7642]

Only criminals are the fascist Tories who are racist and xenophobic!! Many criminals are white British men so deport them!

[@Christinebanks11]

Jamaica or britain? 😆

[@mr.thegreat557]

The biggest mistake we ever made was taking the Empire Windrush off the Nazis.

[@belkentens]

When there’s no actual racism stories… channel 4 will conjure one up

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

Japan lost 4 times the number of people in WW2 and were victims of 2 atomic bombs. They became a world economic power within a few decades without the assistance of boatloads of substandard bus drivers. 🤔🤔🤔

[@markwilliams6613]

What are you talking about?

[@chrissilver7719]

Pity one wasn't substandard enough to knock some sense into you.

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

@@chrissilver7719 Are you suggesting they are also violent Chris?

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

@@markwilliams6613 It's like how Trojans celebrated the arrival of that wooden horse.

[@CesaerRamirez]

You must always understand the sick depraved under handed enemy you face. They watch videos of a WW2 veteran who fought on their side and come up with some racist comment about bus 🚌 drivers. That’s why I tell the younger generation never to support any Anglo Saxon war effort!

[@BlogofTheW3st]

5:02 … This man is proof that “racism” - to the extent it exists at all - really doesn’t affect much of anything.

[@luffy101311]

This guy thinks racism doesnt exist in the same era when the British were enforcing apartheid in their colonies, what a halfwit💀

[@RokeJulianLockhart.s13ouq]

That's obviously incorrect, and a really weird and dumb conclusion to reach.

[@BlogofTheW3st]

@@RokeJulianLockhart.s13ouq How so?

[@CesaerRamirez]

Britain was weakened after WW2 that he fought in. The nation welcomed or used immigrants to rebuild Britain. Although they faced racism the British institutions where to weak to act on their racism. They still created what was called “The hostile Environment” see (Rab Butler MP). The effects of this policy where felt by the 2nd generation hence the Brixton and Liverpool riots. Read some history about this. Just a suggestion.

[@becoming.andreia]

What a completely ignorant and uninformed opinion...

[@fishgodeep204]

Ypu dont like it leave we dont care 😂😂😂😂

[@Christinebanks11]

Jamaica has millions of $$$$$ in phone scams .

[@user-gf6vb1lo3h]

Nigeria. Not Jamaica

[@Frank-xp7bp]

​@@user-gf6vb1lo3h Jamaicans are doing it too, there's documentaries about this

[@CesaerRamirez]

I think slaving for England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and then fighting in wars from Napoleons to WW2 then coming to help rebuild Britain 🇬🇧 was all worth it 😊👌. Our legacy of black on black gun crime, knife 🔪 crime, a few boxers and footballers makes it all worth it. No CEOs or Prime ministers, billionaires, tycoons!

[@onlineonlineaccount2368]

Mate what are you on about he British Carribean what does this have to do with Nigerians or Kenyans in the UK

[@CesaerRamirez]

What are you on about ? The statement is very clear. Your either white, a troll or someone who has no understanding of the black community.

[@Chopper8472]

Judging by your name you must be confusing hispanics with blacks.

[@CesaerRamirez]

@@Chopper8472 judging by your name I’m confused why you bother to comment. African slaves where taken to the Caribbean by Spanish, Dutch and English slavers. Jamaica 🇯🇲 was the Spanish Main before it ceded to England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. Chopper sounds like the name of a biker gang member not an Afro Caribbean.

[@CesaerRamirez]

Good 😊 sport

[@climatechangeradiouk]

no one asked him to come here he is a illegal immigrant

[@mahfuzurchowdhury2765]

The UK government at the time asked him.

[@Stoicgenuis]

Windrush where asked

[@matthewmckenzie6744]

What a lovely man