The Empire Windrush

Tilbury was the starting point for mass immigration

The Empire Windrush
Thurrock Museum
Heritage plaque
Thurrock Local History Society

I have just spent an enjoyable hour perusing your website and reading the interesting accounts of life in the 1950s in Tilbury. It is a wonderful site.

I am currently writing a novel which is set in 1948, and focuses on the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush in Tilbury in June 1948. The main character of the story is a local called Daisy whose father worked at the docks. Her life is turned upside down when she watches the ship arrive and becomes involved with one of the immigrants.

I would be very interested in talking to anyone who lived in Tilbury in 1948 and watched the ship arrive. I would like to hear firsthand what life was like in 1948 and how the locals reacted to the arrival of the Jamaican immigrants. I would also like to hear accounts about every day life in the town and life after the war. Did any of the immigrants settle in Tilbury itself?

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  • My late step father was one of the passengers of the empire windrush, Docked at tilbury docks , Sadly passed away now , But he had a great many years here from jamaica. 

    By alison rankin (29/06/2015)

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