In the British Armed forces during the second world war, just as their fathers and grandfathers had in the first world war. Once in britain, they worked hard, offering their skills to rebuild a country during peacetime and seeking opportunities to forge a Better Future for themselves and their families. When they arrived on our shores with little more than what they were able to carry with them, few could hardly have imagined then how they and those that followed them would make such a profound and permanent contribution to british life. If you ever feel like youre in a room and youre the only one in the room, thats the way i feel, at that time. But then you start to meet friends, you know, and here and there, and little bit and that and then they get them together. And then they say, well, its time we have a little thing about my people now, because lots of people didnt believe that. They didnt believe their dream would be such a horrible time. But we survived. Big john has been a pioneer and the work that he has done to challenge some of these Stereotype Images that people have of us. These are the things that will live on. You go to this meeting. You do this marching. And things like that. You do that because there was nobody taking up for us. We have a lot of things to march on. We have marched against apartheid. Against bad housing. We have marched against police brutality. In terms of some of the Employment Laws that has been enacted. Im glad that big john is still around to ensure that information is passed onto our younger people and it will continue. We have a long way to go. A very, very long way. I wont see the end of it. Grandma. Oh, look at the cameras waiting again for me today. Gracious me. Me dont care how tired i am. I have to find time for people to look after them, pray with them. Sometimes when im here at home, i bring them and talk with them. I love doing her. Shes beautiful. Lovely lady. Down the mountain, the river flows. In 2007, my dear mother decided, at the age of 77, that she wanted to set up a group for older people. And shes very loved in the group. And as you can see, shes quite a feisty lady. And what she decides shes going to do, shell do it. I feel quite proud of her, actually. Yeah. I just see some things to be done, ijust do it. I dont wait to be asked. Ijust get out and do it and thats me. And they would tell me off, you know . She chuckles she was born when like women, especially like black women, were like, you know, heavily, like there was so much against them and she like rose above it and did things that were amazing and, yeah, shes really inspirational. My name Isjessie Stephens with a ph. Born in castries, st lucia, west indies in the year 1927. Mum was a Police Liaison officer. In the middle of the night, you know, the police would come and pick mummy up so that she could go down to help some of these kids who had problems. For a black woman to be working with the police at that time was very awkward because people never trusted the police, so therefore they wouldnt trust her. We used to get picked up by the black mariah, which was a big van with the police in it. And they would stop us, they would search us and it was really uncomfortable. You know, it was your civil rights were being taken away from you. It was a very heavy period. But she didnt care. She thought she had a duty to do. She felt she needed to really help the community and help the youngsters that were having issues and problems. They needed someone at the time, you know . All those members of the police were all men, i was the only woman. And i thought id help, but some of the Police Officers didnt like the idea. I was called out and i went and when i got there he said to me, the detective doesnt want you. And i turned my back. I came home. Then the phone rang. It was the detective. He told me hes been waiting on me. I said, but i was there and your sergeant said that, um, that you didnt need me. He said, how could he say so . I never told him i didnt need you. Right, so. So he said to me, i have the little boy here. I need you to be here. If i had not attended that little boy, he would be locked up, you see. He would be locked up and. And i felt that that little boy, a ten year old, shouldnt be locked up, you know. What has he done . All he stole was somebody� s, some food, Something Like that, you know, because hes hungry, you know . Hes, you know. Yes. But thats the only way, you have to be in there. For you to know whats going on, to understand it, you know. You couldnt do it on the outside. Well, ive had a beautiful life. Beautiful. All the way. I think had it not been for people like her working in the nhs, doing most of the jobs that others wouldnt do, im not sure where itd get you. And i think its important that britain does not forget the contribution of the Windrush Generation. I cant doubt nothing. Ive been lucky in england. I have a good life. So i cant knock it. They should be given a pat on the back for doing the work that maybe some of the brits didnt want to do at that time and they worked hard. You know, like my parents were from that generation, they didnt have credit cards, you know, they didnt run up huge credit bills and stuff like that. They bought everything. And they instilled that in us. Its important to kind of have a starting point. And i guess the Windrush Generation, some of the things that have happened recently weve seen that, you know, they were supposed to be welcomed but that welcome wasnt so smooth and, you know, things like peoples passports and. It hasnt been as happy a reception as it could have been. So, yeah, i think its important to now, you know, to lay your flag on the ground and start to, you know, try to do things better. The windrush scandal has upset a lot of people and i know lots is being done to apologise for that. But this is just like another step to show that the Windrush Generation is important and that we do care and they deserve a spot in the royal gallery. Like, thats a pretty big thing. I think its very significant. Its an acknowledgement. Of our history. Its an acknowledgement that we are the same people from the past. Who wouldnt have their. Portrait put up in this way . And the very fact that our portrait is being put up i in Buckingham Palace in the royal collection, to me, that reflects an understanding. That were one humanity. Nothing less, and weve always been that. Yes, now you come up with the portrait. Probably you know more that i can ask, you know. Well see that when we go to Buckingham Palace . Oh, good. All right. Thats all right. She deserves it because she has worked continuously through the last. Even till now, you know, in the community for the saint lucian people, for our people. Even now, you know, at her gooder age, people still. That phone never stops. The phone does not stop ringing, you know, because people are always asking for her assistance all the time. I cant begin to tell you. It just seems like. Its something that happens to somebody else. Its. |ve. Ive looked at other people in that kind of situation and think, good on you. Well done. Its a thank you, isnt it . For me being me. Amazing. I cant wait. I just cannot wait to see it because. She� s very, very special to me. Well, i think the king like me. I know i will cry. I dont know about my mum, but i know definitely i will cry. You know, to just see that. Do you know . Something that 500 years later people could still say, look, this woman came from the caribbean and she achieved this. Im looking forward to seeing it because, you know, it will be a surprise because you dont know what is coming. So it will be a surprise. Would you feel emotional . Nah, no, what for . Nah, what for . Sorry. No. Im not going to feel emotional. Nah. Im just cool about it. Yeah. My sincere hope is that this project acts as a reminder that our society is woven from diverse threads. Each comprising stories of remarkable courage and sacrifice. Determination and strength. Though drawn from different parts of the world, they collectively enrich the fabric of our national life. And the unique tapestry of the commonwealth. I would like to express my particular thanks to baroness Floella Benjamin 0m dbe, the right reverend Rose Hudson Wilkin mbe, mr Rudolph Walker cbe, and ms Paulette Simpson cbe, otherwise known as the windrush portraits committee, who were able to help find such wonderful sitters for these portraits. These stories matter because they havent been told before. People have been silent. People have carried the pain and the trauma silently, getting on with their lives. Busy working in the nhs, in the railways, in factories. Doing things that other people didnt want to do. Untold stories are now being told, and youre going to see that through this historic portrait project. Whoa laughing yes. Look. Ah, that is lovely. Duct tape and crystal tape on four cork panels. Brilliant. Wow. 0h, fantastic. Laughing. Isnt it lovely . Clifton has done you proud. Hes done a greatjob. Your mischievous smile. Your twinkle in your eyes. Oh, yes. Beautiful. What do you think of the clouds . I think sometimes i think im dreaming. Laughing. Because somebody tell me this will happen. No. Yeah. No. Both oh, my god. Magical. 0h, isnt that amazing . Fantastic. I wasnt expecting to see this, you know . Its so much like me. I can see her life through this portrait. Something we can all think back and say, yes, this isjessie. This is my mum. I think its wonderful. I think its. Well, you know, its. I dont know. Im lost for words, for a change. It somehow reflects the windrush spirit. I think it, you know, we came and. We saw and we conquered. I like that pink. That pink dress, outfits lovely. L what do you think about it, mum . Its beautiful. Its lovely. Well, i didnt know i looked that pretty. And modest as well. Oh, its beautiful. I see how hard my mum worked and to see from where she came to where she achieves now, i think ism i thank god for that. Its too much. I cant even. I feel like crying. Im crying for happiness. Yes. Its lovely. I think its beautiful. You think its beautiful . Yeah. If you say so, its all right. Im glad about it. Its a representation of like everything hes been through and like what hes had to overcome and hes still overcoming to this day. So i feel like its a True Representation of what my grandads been through. Very special. It is special. Im absolutely speechless. Absolutely fabulous. Stunning. Its a wonderful experience to have seen it. Oh, wow. Actually, but you know what . I see a lot of mother. Yes. Dont you think . My heart is racing. This is so deep. You know what i mean . This is part now of the history of this place. Not bad. Chuckling but its me. Its you. Its definitely you. Its lovely. Thats amazing. Yeah. Definitely captured you. I grew up a happy boy. I raised a happy family. But to think im in, here am i in Buckingham Palace. Laughing. Good heavens. Never thought such a thing wouldve happened. Shes done a brilliantjob. Wouldve happened. Absolutely. Wouldve happened. Every whisker. Wouldve happened. Laughing. Wouldve happened. Hello, big john. Wouldve happened. How are you doing . Wouldve happened. How very nice to meet you. Wouldve happened. Very nice to meet you, too. Wouldve happened. What do you think of your portrait . Its very wise. Because did you come over in 1948 . Yes. I was in the war and i came back on the windrush. Thank you so much for. Thanks very much. All the wonderful contribution you have made. Hello, jessie. Pleased to meet you. My goodness, you look absolutely wonderful in yourgold. Did you paint it . I painted jessie, yes. Goodness, thats so lovely. Edna, your majesty. Nice to meet you. I thank you. You survived this experience, did you . Yes, yes. You didnt have to sit for too long . No, no, no. You didnt fall asleep in the middle. Laughter. No, no, no. And i hope you got on with the artist all right. Very much. Ive adopted her, actually. I mean, literally, carmen has been my life because ive seen you since i, you know, as far back as i can remember. Its nice to meet you and im praying for you. You are kind. Yes, and your family. Well, i need all the prayers i can get so im most grateful to you. Yeah. How do you think about it, because its so difficult looking at yourself, isnt it . It is so difficult looking at yourself, but i think she has captured my characteristics. This is incredible. Thank you. So these are duct tape. Yes. Yeah, because im interested in migration and the story of windrush is about migration. Its a real masterpiece. Did it take you quite a lot of time to. . It was easy, it was his energy. His energy is what i wanted to capture. I think its so riveting how youve done it on, was it newspaper . Its newspaper, but theres an amazing link to his story. He was wrapped in newspaper when he left jamaica. In 1955. Thank you very much for your contribution to the windrush story. Hello. For most of us, boxing day turned into a pretty decent day. We had some spells of sunshine. Certainly, it was a fine day to get out and about. The same does not apply to the day ahead. Wednesdays weather dominated by storm gerrit, bringing a combination of rain, snow and gales with a very real risk of disruption. This is our storm system, this vast shield of cloud on the earlier Satellite Picture just enveloping the uk. Outbreaks of very Heavy Rain Driving Northwards and eastwards, some really strong winds. Notice all the isobars on this chart. And with the wet weather running into cold air, briefly a bit of snow mixing in over Higher Ground in northern england, southern scotland, but in the highlands, we could well see 15 centimetres of snow or more accumulating over the highest ground blizzard conditions when we combine that snow with the very, very strong winds. In fact, it is going to be a windy day for just about all of us. Some very heavy rain affecting parts of england and wales 90 millimetres possible for hills of wales, north west england. Lots of hefty downpours, too, in northern ireland. A windy day for all of us, gales in places. We could see gusts of 70 to possibly 80 Miles Per Hour developing in the north east of scotland. Temperatures north to south, 5 to 13 degrees. And then through wednesday night, well, actually, if anything, the winds will strengthen further around parts of wales, south west england. Also extremely windy weather across the northern isles. Well see snow and blizzard conditions for some in shetland. Lots of showers elsewhere, blowing through on those very strong winds. As a result of the strength of the wind, its not going to be a particularly cold night. And then into thursday, it stays blustery, the winds only slowly easing. I think well continue to see gales in places, particularly around some western coasts. Lots of showers, some of which could be heavy, possibly thundery. Wintry showers over high ground in the northern half of scotland especially. And those temperatures, 6 degrees there in aberdeen, perhaps 13 as the high in london. And then as we head towards the end of the week, we will see further Weather Systems working from west to east, further outbreaks of rain. This one at the start of the weekend could be particularly potent. And with Cold Air Being pulled down from the north, expect something wintry to mix in from time to time, so its a really unsettled outlook as we head through the rest of 2023. Welcome to newsday. Reporting live from singapore, im mariko oi. The headlines a Ukrainian Missile damages a russian warship docked in occupied crimea president zelensky praises his airforce for the attack. Israels army chief warns the war in gaza will continue for months, as the bombardment of the region intensifies. Meanwhile, in his first interview since the war began, the palestinian president calls for a full ceasefire in gaza. Translation everything has been wiped out houses, mosques, institutions, schools, everything. You cant recognise gaza any more. The us says it was retaliating after an attack on american bases as erratic criticises its actions. ,. ,. , actions. Live from our studio in singapore. Actions. Live from our studio in singapore, this actions. Live from our studio in singapore, this is actions. Live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc actions. Live from our studio l in singapore, this is bbc news its newsday. Thank you for being with us. Ukrainian president , volodymyr zelensky, has said he is grateful to his airforce for a Missile Attack that badly damaged a russian warship in the black sea. The novocherkassk was hit during an attack on the port of feodosiya, in russian occupied crimea