Schoolchildren from across Cornwall honoured the 76th anniversary of the Windrush generation by immersing themselves in theatre, music and food from the Caribbean.

Black Voices Cornwall hosted the event at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro on Friday, welcoming 1,200 pupils and teachers from years 5 and 6 in 17 Cornish schools throughout the day.

Theatre group Ubuntu CIC performed an interactive theatre piece entitled Farewell Jamaica, illustrator Alasdair Hoswell led a workshop inspired by the work of poet Benjamin Zephaniah, and children tasted Caribbean cuisine and had a go at gospel singing and limbo dancing.

In the evening, members of the public were invited to enjoy reggae and cocktails.

The gala marked the fact that on June 22, 1948, more than 500 Caribbean people arrived at Tilbury Docks on the HMT Empire Windrush. They had been invited by the government of the day to help rebuild the UK after the war, and thousands came for many years afterwards, followed by family members.

“We know people from the Windrush generation are living in and visiting Cornwall, and we wanted to represent that community,” said Abi Hutchinson, arts and culture lead for Black Voices Cornwall.

Abi describes herself as “third generation Windrush” - her grandmother came over from Jamaica in 1961, leaving behind Abi’s father, who was one year old and came to the UK when he was 12. “I respect that sacrifice my gran and others made by coming to a new country, to help to rebuild Britain and give their children a better life,” she said.

While acknowledging that much of what we learn about Windrush today focuses on the negatives – the racism the immigrants faced upon arrival, and the more recent scandal of Windrush descendants being threatened with deportation to Jamaica due to the “hostile immigration policy” - Abi said the Hall For Cornwall event was more of a celebration of the culture and diversity Windrush brought to this country.

“We would love people to go away feeling empowered, as though they have learned something new and positive about Windrush – and that, in a ripple effect, they will tell others,” she said.  

Black Voices Cornwall is based at the Hall For Cornwall, which stepped in to host the event and tackle the challenge of moving 1,200 10 and 11-year-olds between workshops and venues (including next-door-neighbours LA Studios). HFC deputy creative director Helen Tiplady said: “It’s really nice to be able to collaborate as two organisations in Cornwall that want to champion diversity.”

Probus School pupil Tom Bowen, 11, said he had enjoyed the gospel music workshop. “It was really upbeat music, and it felt really happy. The leader showed us pictures of herself with her mum and dad when they came here.

“We learned that the ship’s full name was HMT Empire Windrush, and that it wasn’t just one ship load of people, but lots.”

Tom’s Year 6 teacher, Jason Parekh, had accompanied 29 children to the event. “When we heard about it, we were very keen to attend,” he said. “Living in Cornwall is very monocultural, and one of the drivers in our school is diversity, to show the children that there is a bigger world out there.

“We study the British Empire and the impact of the Victorians around the world to show that Britain has a past that isn’t liked by everyone. At the same time, it was great to enjoy the culture today.”

The Steelers, Treviglas Academy’s steel drum band, played a repertoire ranging from Harry Belafonte to Bruno Mars, while a rendition of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off had everyone singing to register on the Richter scale.

Music teacher Steve Mildenhall has been leading the band for 22 years. “It was an honour and a joyous occasion to be here today, demonstrating how one island’s instrument has become popular worldwide,” he said. “Playing popular songs the children recognise leads them into listening to more traditional songs with calypso rhythms.”

Player Finn Millson-Hill, 14, said: “It was amazing - the energy from the crowd was just ecstatic. It became a reality that those people came from another country, and now we have their music – it was touching.”