In the British Armed forces during the second world war, just as their fathers and grandfathers had in the first world war. Once in britain, they worked hard, offering their skills to rebuild a country during peacetime and seeking opportunities to forge a Better Future for themselves and their families. When they arrived on our shores with little more than what they were able to carry with them, few could hardly have imagined then how they and those that followed them would make such a profound and permanent contribution to british life. If you ever feel like youre in a room and youre the only one in the room, thats the way i feel, at that time. But then you start to meet friends, you know, and here and there, and little bit and that and then they get them together. And then they say, well, its time we have a little thing about my people now, because lots of people didnt believe that. They didnt believe their dream would be such a horrible time. But we survived. Big john has been a pio
offering their skills to rebuild a country during peacetime and seeking opportunities to forge a better future for themselves and their families. when they arrived on our shores with little more than what they were able to carry with them, few could hardly have imagined then how they and those that followed them would make such a profound and permanent contribution to british life. if you ever feel like you re in a room and you re the only one in the room, that s the way i feel, at that time. but then you start to meet friends, you know, and here and there, and little bit and that and then they get them together. and then they say, well, it s time we have a little thing about my people now, because lots of people didn t believe that. they didn t believe their dream would be such a horrible time. but we survived. big john has been a pioneer and the work that he has done to challenge some of these stereotype images that people have of us. these are the things that will live o
in the british armed forces during the second world war, just as their fathers and grandfathers had in the first world war. once in britain, they worked hard, offering their skills to rebuild a country during peacetime and seeking opportunities to forge a better future for themselves and their families. when they arrived on our shores with little more than what they were able to carry with them, few could hardly have imagined then how they and those that followed them would make such a profound and permanent contribution to british life. if you ever feel like you re in a room and you re the only one in the room, that s the way i feel, at that time. but then you start to meet friends, you know, and here and there, and little bit and that and then they get them together. and then they say, well, it s time we have a little thing about my people now, because lots of people didn t believe that. they didn t believe their dream would be such a horrible time. but we survived. big j
in the first world war. once in britain, they worked hard, offering their skills to rebuild a country during peacetime and seeking opportunities to forge a better future for themselves and their families. when they arrived on our shores with little more than what they were able to carry with them, few could hardly have imagined then how they and those that followed them would make such a profound and permanent contribution to british life. if you ever feel like you re in a room and you re the only one in the room, that s the way i feel, at that time. but then you start to meet friends, you know, and here and there, and little bit and that and then they get them together. and then they say, well, it s time we have a little thing about my people now, because lots of people didn t believe that. they didn t believe their dream would be such a horrible time. but we survived. big john has been a pioneer and the work that he has done to challenge some of these stereotype images th
..determination and strength. though drawn from different parts of the world, they collectively enrich the fabric of our national life. ..and the unique tapestry of the commonwealth. i would like to express my particular thanks to baroness floella benjamin 0m dbe, the right reverend rose hudson wilkin mbe, mr rudolph walker cbe, and ms paulette simpson cbe, otherwise known as the windrush portraits committee, who were able to help find such wonderful sitters for these portraits. these stories matter because they haven t been told before. people have been silent. people have carried the pain and the trauma silently, getting on with their lives.