“Stepping in a big ship
Not knowing how long the journey
Or that you’re stepping into history

Bringing your Caribbean eye
To another horizon”

John Agard first wrote the poem
Windrush Child
In 1998 to commemorate the 50th anniversary
Of the arrival of the ship
The Empire Windrush

Before reading this beautiful picture book
I heartily recommend that you watch
John Agard introduce the poem
And recite it on video
Available from CLPE

John Agard’s inspiration for this beautiful
Powerful and poignant poem
Was a young boy who sailed on the ship
Age 13
Vince Reid

The children and I researched Vince Reid
And discovered his story before reading
The beautifully illustrated book
With vibrant coloured and patterned artwork
By Sophie Bass

Windrush Child follows a small boy and his family
As they board the Empire Windrush
Leaving behind white sands and palm trees
And a much loved Granny

The family are bound for England
Full of hopes and dreams
A journey made by thousands
In search of a better life
And answering a call from Great Britain
To come and help to rebuild the country
After the second world war

Focusing on one family
One child
We can see and begin to understand
What the voyage made by so many
Might have been like
Hope and excitement yes
But also sadness and worries and fear

In Sophie Bass’ glorious illustrations
We see all these emotions
We see families together
Children travelling alone
We see their memories of home
We see their dreams for the future
We see stern faces
Nail biting
Cuddles and cross looks
As the blue water rolls by

Our Windrush Child misses his Grandma
He looks longingly at her photograph
And remembers her cuddles
And her parting words
Reminding him to write

And through his letters home
We learn how the Windrush Child
Starts to settle in England
As he casts his Caribbean eye
To another horizon

And as time passes
We see the family
Learning how to live
In England

This story shows us all
The great courage of people
Who came to England
On the Empire Windrush
To leave behind all they know and love
To come to somewhere new and unknown
The poem and pictures come together
In a stunning portrayal
Of how people overcame adversity
Who despite many challenges
Including racism
Went on to make friends
Build communities
Share their culture
And make Britain a better place

We have loved reading this brilliant and beautiful book
We have spent a lovely morning recreating scenes from the book
While listening to calypso, reggae and jazz

I am so grateful for The Windrush Generation
For one very personal reason
If it were not for the courage of her grandparents and parents
I may never have met my very oldest friend