A specially commissioned artwork celebrating the contribution of Berkshire's Windrush Generation is now on display across Berkshire Healthcare sites, marking Windrush Day and honouring the people whose dedication helped shape the NHS we know today.
Funded by Berkshire Healthcare Charity, the artwork was created by local artist Joseph Silvanos Wafula and inspired by conversations with members of Berkshire's Windrush Generation, many of whom dedicated decades of service to patients and communities across the county.
The original artwork is displayed at London House, Berkshire Healthcare's headquarters in Bracknell, with copies available for patients and public to view at Prospect Park Hospital and Erlegh House n Reading, St Mark's Hospital in Maidenhead, West Berkshire Community Hospital in Thatcham, and Wokingham Hospital.
The project forms part of our wider commitment to anti-racism and inclusion, building on the conversations, partnerships and community engagement developed through Berkshire's Anti-Racism Community Forum.
A celebration of Berkshire's shared history
The painting brings together symbols of migration, belonging and Berkshire's shared heritage.
It features the Empire Windrush alongside recognisable local landmarks including Reading's Maiwand Lion, The Blade and the historic entrance to Battle Hospital. At its heart is a bridge representing journeys, connections and the contribution migrant communities have made to Berkshire and the NHS.
Inspired by the experiences of people who came to Berkshire, built lives here and helped shape local healthcare services, the artwork serves as both a celebration and a reminder of the lasting impact of the Windrush Generation.
Advice for today's healthcare professionals
As part of the project, Berkshire Healthcare spoke with members of Berkshire's Windrush Generation about their experiences of working in healthcare and the advice they would offer today's NHS workforce.
While healthcare has changed enormously since they first stepped onto hospital wards, their messages remain strikingly relevant.
Former Battle Hospital Auxiliary Nurse Everett Marshall reflected on the qualities needed to succeed in healthcare:
"You need a strong mind and a stronger heart."
Gloria Jack, who worked at the Royal Berkshire Hospital from 1968, spoke about the rewards and realities of caring for others:
"Nursing is rewarding... but you need a strong backbone."
Former Battle Hospital nurse Ianthe Chaitoo encouraged today's generation to recognise how far the profession has come while continuing to build on that progress:
"You will face challenges, but things have progressed."
Former Battle Hospital Auxiliary Nurse Olga Inniss, who dedicated 20 years of service to patients in Berkshire, shared a message that remains as important today as it was throughout her career: "If you see something wrong, say something."
Together, their words tell a story of courage, resilience and compassion, and remind us that healthcare is about more than clinical skills – it is about kindness, determination and standing up for others.
Honouring a lasting legacy
Many of those whose stories inspired the project worked at hospitals that remain familiar to local communities today, including the Royal Berkshire Hospital and St Mark's Hospital, as well as sites such as Battle Hospital which played an important role in Berkshire's healthcare history.
Their contribution helped build the NHS and shaped the communities we serve today.
“The stories shared through this project are a powerful reminder of the contribution the Windrush Generation and migrant communities have made to the NHS and to Berkshire. Their courage, resilience and commitment to caring for others helped shape the health service we know today. By sharing these stories and displaying this artwork across our sites, we hope colleagues, patients and visitors will take a moment to reflect on that legacy, celebrate the diversity that strengthens our organisation and recognise that the NHS has always been built on people from different backgrounds coming together with a shared purpose of caring for others
”
We encourage colleagues, patients and visitors to take a moment to view the artwork and reflect on the stories it represents.
Their legacy lives on in the NHS colleagues who continue their work today.
Find out more
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Watch the artist unveil and talk about his work on Instagram.