By Sarah Dale
24 June 2024
The powerful film told the stories of the Windrush generation who have made the Tees Valley their home
An emotion-heavy hush fell across ARC’s cinema suite in Stockton as the audience listened to the stories of the Windrush Pioneers who travelled from the Caribbean to live and work in the Tees Valley in post-WWII Britain.
From hard-hitting tales of racism to heartwarming love stories, A Tees Valley Documentary, which was made by the charity, Taste of Africa Northeast, and its creative youth leadership programme, is a specially made film capturing a range of stories from first and second generation Windrush Pioneers.
HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex, on 22nd June, 1948, carrying passengers from the Caribbean after they were invited to the UK to help rebuild post-war Britain. In 2018, it emerged that the details of people granted permission to stay in the UK had not been properly recorded and many people were wrongfully detained, denied legal rights and, in some cases, deported – despite living and working in the UK for several decades. The UK government was forced to issue a formal apology and they launched the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Recorded at Studio 109 in Middlesbrough and the Arthur Wharton Foundation in Darlington, the documentary took five months to complete and features interviews with first and second generation Windrush Pioneers. 
The event, held on Saturday night [22nd June] to mark Windrush Day, was hosted by Georgina Chinaka and opened with a performance by the Brave Hearts choir who sang This Little Light of Mine and other cultural songs of praise.
The film’s interviews included Pat Poinen, who came to the UK as part of a recruitment drive for more nurses. Originally from Trinidad, she was 19 when she moved to the UK to train as a nurse in Harrogate.
“It was the first time I had left my country but when you’re young, you don’t realise the enormity of what you’re doing,” she explains in the documentary.
“I had never worked in my life before and had been totally spoilt as a child, very privileged – not rich – but never went without anything.”
She joined trainee nurses from across the Caribbean, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
“We all looked after each other,” she says.
“The people were okay. They knew we were nurses so treated us a little bit better. Harrogate was predominantly white and still is, so when people saw us, they knew we were nurses.”
She met her husband, who is from Mauritius, during training and they moved to Darlington, where Pat studied midwifery before working as a midwife at the University of North Tees Hospital in Stockton.
Shaun Campbell’s father came to the UK from Barbados in 1957. Shaun talks about his experiences growing up as a mixed-race son of a single white mother, as well as his campaign for more recognition of Arthur Wharton.
In 2007, he attended a Taste of Africa awards ceremony and read about him in a brochure.
Arthur Wharton was the first black professional footballer in the world and was Darlington’s goalkeeper from 1885 to 1888. He also became the first official fastest man when he ran a record time of 10 seconds in the 100 yards (now metres) on 3rd July, 1886, at Stamford Bridge, London. His world record was upheld for more than 30 years. He also later became a cycling champion, professional cricketer and a rugby player.
“I thought ‘My goodness me, how can it be that this guy exists and I have never heard of him?’; I champion greatness, I champion black history,” he says.
And what started as a decision to paint him as a tribute led to The Arthur Wharton Foundation, which he founded in 2010.
The Windrush Pioneers and their families talk about a range of experiences in the film from their first glimpses of snow to horrendous recollections of racism.
Researcher and producer Khialah Wilson admits she cried when she saw the edited film for the first time.
“In the documentary, we pay homage to these Windrush pioneers and recognise their sacrifices, applaud their achievements, and salute their bravery,” she said.
“We feel honoured to have played a part in capturing each individual experience and journey.”
Following the success of Saturday night’s event, she added: “What a night! It was so beautiful to see such a diverse range of communities coming together to acknowledge and appreciate some of Tees Valley’s many Windrush Pioneers.
“Witnessing contributions, sacrifices and experiences, the cinema suite was filled with mixed emotions, sounds of laughter, chuckles as others reminisced and silence fell as heart-wrenching moments were shared.
“Following the documentary, the audience was invited to comment and interview our esteemed panel. It was heartwarming, educational and humbling listening to the cast of the documentary chat about their achievements, sharing wisdom and experiences.
“At this event, we shared a legacy; I have a feeling that there is more to come!”
Alexander Ferris, chief executive and creative director of ARC Stockton, said: “It was a privilege for ARC Stockton to host the premiere of Taste of Africa’s Tees Valley Windrush Documentary in our cinema. The film itself was moving, eye-opening, inspiring and galvanising in so many ways.
“We were delighted that so many people attended and the response from the audience showed how important it is for us all to hear the stories of multiple generations of pioneers. The Q&A afterwards was particularly special, full of unity, support and hope.
“Now we must make sure these stories are shared widely amongst all communities across the region and beyond.”
Following the documentary screening, there was a special Q&A with a panel comprising Pat Poinen, Patricia Martins, Ian Thompson and Shaun Campbell, who all featured in the documentary.
The documentary, which was filmed and edited by Elvis Katoto, premiered at Teesside University last year to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush. It was also screened at the Arthur Wharton Foundation.
The interviewees for the documentary were: Dalfred Samuel Patterson, from Jamaica, and his daughter, Nicole Wheatley; Noel March, from Jamaica; Sheila Lewis, second generation Windrush descendant from India; Conroy Anthony Downie, from Jamaica, and his daughter, Katie Wilson-Downie; Georgina Chinaka, second generation Windrush descendant from Jamaica; Patricia Martins, from Jamaica; Pat Poinen, from Trinidad; Shaun Campbell, second generation Windrush descendant from Barbados; Ian Thompson, second generation Windrush descendant from Jamaica; Victor Tucker, second generation Windrush descendant from Jamaica and his son, Troy Williamson; Tony Squires, second generation Windrush descendant from Grenada; Malcolm Campbell, from Jamaica, and his daughter, Caullette Campbell; and Karen Thursby, second generation Windrush descendant from Nigeria.
If anyone would like to view or screen the documentary, please email: info@tasteofafricanortheast.co.uk
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