Over 800 of the men and women who arrived in Tilbury on 22 June 1948 were among thousands of others that journeyed to the UK from the Caribbean in the post-war period. For many of them, it was not an arrival but a return. England Calling is inspired by a Second World War radio show Calling the West Indies; the Windrush generation, and the contribution of Black British people to the Second World War.
Created by spoken word artist and poet Kat Francois, these poems and digital films have been specially commissioned by IWM to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush.
A total of four films were made for this project, below is just one of them.
Lilian Bader by Kat Francois
Inspired by Lilian Bader’s oral history record and the WAAF uniform on display in the Second World War Galleries at IWM London. This performance is an artist’s response to the extraordinary lives of real people.
Creating England Calling
Kat François is a performance artist, educator, director, writer and creative arts coach. She was the first person to win a televised poetry slam in the UK and is a World Slam Poetry Champion. Kat continues to teach and perform globally, currently pushing her art form through movement and hula hoop. Her short story, Indigo Waters, is featured in Hidden Realms Short Stories, published by Flame Tree Publishing.
This project was created in association with Imperial War Museums.
Follow the buttong below to watch all the videos and learn more about the project.