Windrush Day — celebrated annually on June 22 in the UK — was particularly important this year as it marked the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush docking in Tilbury, Essex, carrying passengers from the Caribbean to fill labour shortages in the UK in 1948.

Newly appointed Jamaican Ambassador for Arts and Culture Theresa Roberts took the opportunity to open the doors of the Covent Garden location of her business, Jamaica Patty Company (JPC), for a Jamaican-style celebration.

JPC partnered with the legendary VP Records which arranged for DJs Ras Kwame and YNG CPTN to entertain guests with non-stop music from their back catalogues.

Naturally, guests enjoyed patties washed down with Duppy Share white Jamaican rum. Roberts also put on a small exhibition of Jamaican art in the downstairs area of the venue. This was entitled The Watson Dynasty: Windrush History Makers and featured the work of four generations of the Watson family whose patriarch Barrington Watson met his wife Gloria Thompson when they both travelled to the UK as part of the Windrush generation.

The party, which started at three in the afternoon and finished around 10:00 pm, was a huge success with guests delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate in style. The event was blessed with ‘Jamaican style’ sunshine and guests took advantage of the outdoor seating provided, leaving the inside of the shop to become an impromptu dance hall. Page 2 has highlights.