Celebrating Uncle George, A Windrush Pioneer at The Albany Theatre, Deptford

Uncle George is one of the Windrush Pioneers who will be honoured on Thursday 14 July 2022 at The Albany Theatre, Deptford, London.

He was among hundreds of West Indian passengers who arrived in England on the ship Empire Windrush in June 1948.

The ship docked at Tilbury, Essex, on 22 June 1948 with more than 1,027 passengers who came to help rebuild Britain after WWII.

Some settled in the London Borough of Lewisham and one of them was Wilmoth George Brown, also known as ‘Uncle George’.

He was said to have been the first West Indian to have bought a house in Lewisham.

However, it was difficult, as he faced many hurdles.

Obtaining a mortgage for the property created a major problem and it took four years before his dream became a reality.

According to ‘community activist’ Uncle George’s Memoirs (Windrush to Lewisham) first published in 1999, a mortgage office was approached in Deptford Broadway, where the clerk asked him:

“Are you the purchaser?”

Uncle George: Yes

Clerk: Where are you from?

Uncle George: Jamaica

Clerk: Are you a British subject?

Uncle George: Yes

Clerk: We do not provide mortgages for British subjects.

Uncle George: Who do you provide them for, aliens?

Clerk: Yes

The application for a mortgage was refused, and he went elsewhere.

It was not until January 1952 that Uncle George and his wife Dellie were successful and moved into their own house in Lewisham Road, London, SE13.

Come along on 14 July 2022, hear more of this amazing story about how the property was purchased, and celebrate the Windrush Pioneers.

For tickets, please visit: www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/celebrating-windrush-pioneers/

 

Picture credit: Windrush Foundation