A SPECIAL celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the landing of the ship the Empire Windrush is being held in Bangor.

The North Wales Jamaica Society is hosting a Jamaican breakfast and open morning at the Bangor Town Hall on Friday, June 22.

The ship famously brought workers recruited from the Caribbean to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War.

The passengers arrived in the country, at Tilbury, on June 22, 1948, and would go onto work in British hospitals, factories, transport industry and other services.

The Bangor event, runs from 10am until 12noon, and includes a presentation, at 11am. Breakfast includes Jamaican Porridge along with a selection of tropical fruits.

Organiser Liz Millman said: "The Bangor event will recognise the very significant contribution to the rebuilding of the UK made by the generous spirited and adventurous passengers who came in the Windrush crossings.

"Recognition will also be given to those now called the “Windrush Generation”, the thousands of others who came to the UK as children to join their families, or as adults coming to fill work vacancies left by the significant losses incurred in the Second World War.

"They came as British people from the Empire with British passports or after Jamaican Independence, they were proudly travelling on their Jamaican passports, coming to the “Mother Country.”

"One of those people, now recognised by the Race Council Cymru, is Enrico Stennett, who settled in Llandudno after a remarkable career challenging racism and discrimination in the UK."

His widow, Mary Stennett, will be guest of honour. There will also be an opportunity to find out more about the “Pennants Project” managed as part of the Jamaica Wales Alliance activities.

Although not many Jamaican families settled in North Wales, the area has strong historical connections with the island of Jamaica.

Liz added: "This project is bringing together funders to support the much needed refurbishment of the facilities at the primary and basic schools in Pennants, Jamaica, which is where huge profits from the sugar plantations came that enabled the development of the Penrhyn Estates and the building of Penrhyn Castle."

For more information contact the event co-ordinator, Liz Millman, on 07711569489 or e-mail lizmillman@yahoo.co.uk