Cambridge’s hidden Caribbean heritage is stepping into the spotlight thanks to a new exhibition capturing the remarkable lives of the city’s Windrush generation.
The project, led by Dr Carol Brown-Leonardi of the African Caribbean Research Group (ACRG) in partnership with the Museum of Cambridge, began in 2023 with the collection of oral histories. What emerged were tales so unexpected that Dr Brown-Leonardi felt compelled to share them publicly.
“We didn’t realise we had an elder, John Lyons, who is now 92, living in Cambridge with works held in national art collections,” she said. Another standout story is that of Lileth Warford, a 92-year-old former nurse who, after a life of service in the UK, went on to open a mother and baby clinic in Sierra Leone.
Other surprising revelations include the existence of a Caribbean cricket team in Cambridge, founded with the help of Jamaican-born landlord Albert Gordon, and the story of the first Caribbean-heritage soldier deployed to Northern Ireland.
The exhibition, titled Legacies of Windrush in Cambridge, was made possible through a £48,000 grant from the Arts Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Running until January, it shines a long-overdue light on the contributions of African Caribbean residents to Cambridge’s cultural and civic life.
Visitors can explore the powerful narratives of individuals who not only made Cambridge their home but also shaped its cultural, medical and sporting landscapes in ways that deserve lasting recognition.
