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Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

75 years ago today, on 22 June, 1948, 492 Jamaicans disembarked from the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks. These indelible images capture their excitement, curiousity and joy as they stepped into an unknown new life in Britain

Thursday 22 June 2023 09:16 BST

Empire Windrush arrives packed with West Indian immigrants at Tilbury Docks on the River Thames in Essex on 22 June 1948 (Alamy)

Passengers reading a newspaper whilst waiting to disembark from the ‘Empire Windrush’, having sailed from Jamaica (SSPL/Getty)

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1/20Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Passengers reading a newspaper whilst waiting to disembark from the ‘Empire Windrush’, having sailed from Jamaica

SSPL/Getty

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Mona Baptiste on The Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks

Mirrorpix/Getty

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Left to right: John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

‘Empire Windrush’ arriving at Tilbury Docks

Getty

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Jamaican immigrants arrive in Britain on 22 June 1948

SSPL via Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Looking a map of the Underground

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Having a meal at a support centre for Black women in London

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Jamaicans get their first look at Britain as they arrive on the Windrush at Tilbury Docks on 22 June 1948

Alamy

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Heading to coaches, which were taking those without friends to shelters in Clapham, London

Alamy

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A musician plucking his electric guitar near a pianist as their jazz band performs in London, 1948

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

An employment exchange 120 feet below ground was constructed in Clapham Deep

Topfoto/PA

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A group of young people enjoying activities at a recreation centre in London

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Mr W 'William' Dickson, wearing a 'zoot suit' as he steps ashore after arriving onboard the Empire Windrush

Getty

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A group of men playing pool in London, 1948

Getty

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

In “Clapham Deep”, originally constructed as a deep air raid shelter it was used as a place for Widrush arrivals in the country

Topfoto/PA

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A boy holding a piece of luggage gets off a ship followed by a girl and two women at an unspecified port in 1961

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A group of women and children in a waiting room of an unspecified airport after getting off a plane coming from the Caribbean

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

A West Indian girl and a woman seen together in Britain, 25th May 1961

Getty Images

Ship of hope: Windrush in pictures

Empire Windrush arrives packed with West Indian immigrants at Tilbury Docks on the River Thames in Essex on 22 June 1948

Alamy