SAM KING is celebrated for his many achievements and contributions to British society: the first black Mayor of Southwark (at the time, the only black mayor in London); his distinguished military career; his work as co-founder of the first Caribbean-style carnival – a precursor to today’s Notting Hill Carnival – and the Windrush Foundation; and his tireless activism for and within the African-Caribbean community, including his work to establish a programme to allow migrants to buy homes in the UK and contributions to the first newspaper for West Indians, The West Indian Gazette. We recognise that, without Sam King, there would be no Windrush Nation.
Windrush Nation Awards
The pioneers of June 1948, and those who followed, have laid the foundation for the Windrush Nation, and as a result, our journeys today are quicker and smoother because of the roads (social and economic) that their efforts produced – we salute them for their enterprise and courage and we acknowledge the late Sam King, for laying the cornerstone that has guided the building of this nation. June 2023 was a milestone year, as we celebrated 75 years since the birth of the Nation, but how do we continue to promote the work of individuals and organizations in years when the spotlight is not as visible?
Life Radio UK and Reach Society are continuing the legacy, first with the commissioning of the Windrush Nation Anthem, and with the formation of Windrush Nation Heritage Limited. This company will be launching a series of initiatives, starting with the Windrush Nation Awards, an annual event to celebrate achievements in the UK Black Community. Our first two awardee were Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE and Rudi Page, both of whom received their award to the Reach Society Recognition Awards in October 2023.
Recipients of the award are those whose background are from the Caribbean, Africa, (where the journey began), and British individuals from a dual heritage background. They will be individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth or culture of an organisation for 10 years or more, or who have served their local community with distinction.
2023 Windrush Nation Awards Winners
The Vision of Windrush Nation Heritage
The vision of WNH is to inform and inspire the Windrush Nation (also known as the UK’s modern Black community) and British society of the many contributions made by individuals who are of the Windrush Nation since 1948.
The Backstory
The original Windrush Pioneers have mostly passed on but their descendants (such as their children and the generations that followed them), plus the new migrants from the African nations and citizens of a mixed heritage (namely having one white parent and one Black) have grown to become a small nation of approximately three million people. This modern Black community or Windrush Nation has produced a song in 2023 which was commissioned to mark the 75 anniversary since the first cohort arrived in 1948 from the Caribbean.
Windrush Nation Heritage is seeking to shine a light on the contributions of the Windrush Nation by producing materials and some events that will be available throughout the year and expand the range of materials and historical accounts on offer. This process is already underway with series one and two of the Milestones podcasts on Life Radio UK. You can also read more about our Windrush 75th anniversary celebrations.
The Anthem
2024 Windrush Nation Awards Winners
The WNH Directors
Mike Johnson
Mike is an experienced, award-winning radio broadcaster and faith leader with several decades of multi-industry experience where diversity and inclusion have been as critical as high-level advice and execution.
He is able to guide initiatives from conception to delivery, having worked with gospel music industry talent at all levels, brought through Ofcom-approved radio projects, and participated as Chairman of Campbell Park Parish Council, leading social engagement initiatives.
He previously served as an elected Senior Elder in a church of over 200 members, from over 30 nationalities, overseeing services and delivering a culturally diverse range of faith programmes.
He specialises in broadcast media and community action, with the ability to recognise talent and ensure progression and success. He is the founder and CEO of Life Radio UK: – a faith-based radio platform producing a hybrid mix of Christian and community programmes to meet the needs of an enquiring generation.
Dr Dwain Neil OBE, FRSA
Dwain was awarded an OBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, “for services to the British African Caribbean community.”
He was founder and MD of Leriko & Associates (L&A) for 15 years from 2002. L&A was a management consultancy offering a unique mentoring programme to young people and management services to employers.
He is co-founder and the chairman of Reach Society, a 2017 QAVS award winning social enterprise, which was founded in 2010 with two colleagues.
He is a co-host of the Milestones podcast series 1 and 2 aired on Life Radio UK which showcases Black community contributions to the UK since 1948.
He worked in senior business leadership roles at Shell International Chemicals Company (SICC) for 21 years from 1979; was a conference speaker; and a volunteer in the public and third sectors since 1979; and served on the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and many others.
He has a joint honours degree in Physics and Chemistry (1976); and a PhD in Nuclear Chemistry (1979) both from the University of Manchester. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufactures (RSA).
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