Letters - 07 July 2023
From Windrush and housing to From within Quakers
Windrush and housing
Many of us will have recently seen the TV programme about the 802 migrants who came to Britain in 1948 from across the Caribbean. They had been promised a start by a Jamaican newspaper advert, but they weren’t expected by the British government and were initially not welcomed. But they became nurses, bus drivers and rail workers crucial to the rebuilding of Britain’s post-war infrastructure.
The newcomers soon discovered they were not wanted by many Britons, and found it impossible to find somewhere to live. The programme included some of these new arrivals, who spoke about how they had survived, some in fact becoming successful in jobs at the BBC.
Towards the end of the programme, Charles Mountbatten-Windsor was seen speaking with some of the 1948 arrivals at Buckingham Palace. After all these years the ‘newcomers’ were recognised and accepted.
The Big Issue recently focused on the same subject, the difference being that Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ was mentioned.
There were also comments about why charity Quaker Social Action had set up a housing project which has supported thirty-two young adult carers living in four homes in London over the last six years.
Janet Toye
Joy
What an interesting and useful topic for discussion in troubled times. The Quaker Lesbian Group (QLG) took this subject recently when it met for a residential weekend, itsfirst since the Covid epidemic.
Within the spirit of friendship and mutual support we explored a number of thought-provoking questions including: How do you find joy in your everyday life? Can we know joy without having its opposite experience? Is joy always an expression of the exaltation of spirit/soul?
Our weekend was overall joyous and was much enhanced by the care of staff and the beautiful house and gardens of Holland House in Worcestershire.
We may not have found answers to our own questions, or even some of the universal questions as to what to do in the face of adversity, however it seemed a step in the ‘right’ direction and we were glad to have taken it together.
Jill Jesshope
Correspondent, QLG
qlgfriends@gmail.com
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.