A celebration of the Windrush generations' contribution to Britain saw more than 90 guests gather for a special dinner.

The Windrush Elders’ Dinner at the Britwell Centre included former mayor of Slough Lydia Simmons, current mayor Avtar Kaur Cheema, Acting High Commissioner Dominica Janet Charles and Minister Counsellor at St Kitts & Nevis High Commission Elsa G Wilkin-Armbrister among the guests.

The guests represented various Caribbean islanders who had moved to Slough between 1948 and 1971 to support British industry, the NHS, and the armed forces. Many of the attendees present found work on Slough’s trading estate and had made Slough the vibrant and diverse community it is today.

The community organisers were honoured to have Lydia Simmons OBE at the evening.

She was the first black lady Mayor in the UK and Slough’s Mayor from 1984 to 1985.

Guests were treated to a dinner cooked by head chef Sandra Heywood who volunteered her time and served traditional Caribbean dishes.

She said: “It was a pleasure to work with Carol, Janice, Cheryl and Lennox in the kitchen and see the seniors really enjoying themselves. My mum and aunty were recruited from Slough in Antigua and worked in NHS for over forty years, my mum as a psychiatric nurse and my aunty as a midwife. My dad worked at Mars on the trading estate. Because of them I went to catering college and became a chef. This dinner is my way of honouring not just them but all our seniors.”

Cllr Natasa Pantelic, Slough Council's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I was privileged to attend this dinner celebrating the Windrush generation who have contributed so much to Slough. We were treated to traditional Caribbean cuisine and entertainment and a great time was had by everyone. It’s fantastic so many community groups came together to make this event possible and we will work to make sure it’s an annual event.”