Ladies and gentlemen, friends!

My name is Ibrahim Dogus, Mayor of Lambeth, and it is an honour to be here with you today to celebrate the contributions made to all aspects of our community by the Windrush generation.

I know what it is like to make a life in a new country. It is not always easy!

But the challenges are rewarding! And those like me owe a huge debt to those who paved the way.

After the MV Empire Windrush docked in Essex in 1948 many passengers from the Caribbean came here to Lambeth.

Bus drivers, nurses and more often they quite literally built this country from the ground up laying the foundations for the communities that form the backbone of modern Britain.

So I would like to once again thank them to thank you for all that has been achieved. And of course special thanks to Maxine James and the organisers for helping to ensure that this proud history is not forgotten.

Thank you!