Free Wolverhampton Windrush monument ceremony on June 22

A steel monument shaped around the bow of the Windrush ship, an anchor and rising chains is due to be unveiled in Wolverhampton on National Windrush Day.

The Landmark Windrush Monument Unveiling takes place at St Patrick’s Park, Broad Street Basin, at 5.30pm on Monday 22 June. The ceremony is free and open to the public, with residents invited to attend the community-led event before a private evening reception follows.

Public ceremony at St Patrick’s Park

The unveiling will mark Windrush Day in Wolverhampton with a permanent public monument recognising the Windrush generation’s contribution to the city over the past 78 years.

The event details confirmed by the City of Wolverhampton Council are:

The location and themes of the monument were shaped after consultation with Wolverhampton residents. The project has been developed over several years through a community-led partnership involving Wolverhampton’s Windrush Committee, Black Heritage Walks Network CIC, Black History and Heritage Wolverhampton, Churches 4 Positive Change, SIAN Computers, City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.

Artwork shaped by ship, steel and family stories

The monument was created by artist Luke Perry. Its form depicts the bow of the Windrush ship, an anchor and rising chains, using public art to place the city’s Windrush story in a permanent civic setting.

A poem by Casey Bailey, titled A Monument is a Testament, is cut into the steel. The monument also includes painted imagery by Victoria Murrain, telling family stories connected with the Windrush generation.

The source announcement says the work is intended to recognise those who came to Wolverhampton and helped shape the city across generations. Bishop Ruben King of Churches 4 Positive Change, speaking on behalf of Wolverhampton’s Windrush Committee, said the monument honours people who crossed oceans and reshaped Wolverhampton with their hands, hope and spirit.

Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Paul Singh said the city has played a significant role in the story of the Windrush generation, and described the monument as a lasting recognition of that legacy.

Wider Windrush Day programme in the city

The unveiling is one part of Wolverhampton’s Windrush Day celebrations for 2026.

A successful 23,000 pound bid to the Windrush Day Grant Scheme was led by Black Heritage Walks Network CIC and will be delivered in partnership with Black History and Heritage Wolverhampton. The funding is set to support community engagement, storytelling and educational activity.

That programme includes heritage walks for schoolchildren led by Black Heritage Walks Network CIC. A schools’ poetry competition is also part of the work, with winning entries due to be etched into the monument.

The new monument follows other heritage work in Wolverhampton, including a family genealogy programme, Wolverhampton City Archives becoming a FamilySearch affiliated library to improve access to Caribbean histories, and the unveiling of the Mel Chevannes statue, now permanently housed at the Civic Centre.

What visitors need to know before attending

The public part of the ceremony starts at 5.30pm on Monday 22 June at St Patrick’s Park, Broad Street Basin. The source announcement describes the event as free and open to the public.

No booking process, transport arrangements, accessibility details, food stalls or public programme running order were included in the announcement. The public ceremony will be followed by a private evening reception.

Source: Wolverhampton Scraper