New exhibition to celebrate Windrush generation in Reading

A new exhibition has launched to celebrate the Windrush Generation and to mark Black History Month.

Enigma of Arrival at the Battle Library in Reading reflects the lives of those who travelled to the UK from the Caribbean.

Peter Small, from Reading, is part of the Windrush generation who moved to Berkshire in 1962.

Mr Small said the exhibition "chronicles the arrival" to the UK between 1948 and 1972 of Caribbean people, and showcases "the challenges they faced and how they coped".

He said: "A white person was in yesterday and she was looking around it.

"She burst into tears and I got rather emotional as well.

"She asked me if this really happened, that people never actually accepted that 'you guys were here and you were invited and made you welcome'."

The exhibition and stories have been collated by the Community Centre and the University of the West Indies.

Mr Small said: "There is lots and lots of things to learn, even things I did not remember."

He said he has three generations in his family and "it is so important for future generations to see the history".

"I think a lot of it has been hidden and people have not actually spoke about it."

He said in the future he is hoping that his great-grandson can go into the library and "ask for a book about the Windrush conversation in Reading".

Enigma of Arrival at the Battle Library in Reading, Berkshire and runs from the 14 -24 October.