Windrush: New 50p coin to mark 75th anniversary released

A caller commemorative 50p coin marking the 75th day of the accomplishment of HMT Empire Windrush successful the UK has been released by the Royal Mint.

Designed by creator Valda Jackson, the coin depicts 2 achromatic radical lasting against a backdrop of the Union Flag.

The coin pays tribute to the British Caribbean and Commonwealth citizens who arrived successful the UK from 1948-1973.

Bristol-based Ms Jackson, whose parents came from Jamaica successful the 60s, said it honours "our parents and their legacy".

Ms Jackson was calved successful St Thomas, Jamaica, and moved to England successful 1964. Her parents were among the procreation of radical invited to permission their location successful the Caribbean to travel to enactment successful Britain. She aboriginal joined them astatine the property of five.

"The representation connected the coin is 1 of unity representing the enslaved betwixt the UK and Commonwealth citizens who person helped rebuild the state successful its clip of need," she told the BBC.

"It honours our parents and their legacy, and celebrates our presence, achievements, and contributions that proceed to enrich our society."

Ms Jackson says she is arrogant of the contributions her parents made to rebuilding the UK aft World War Two.

The Windrush procreation refers to radical who arrived successful the UK from Caribbean countries betwixt 1948 and 1971, erstwhile British migration laws changed.

Although not each Windrush procreation migrants arrived connected HMT Empire Windrush itself, the vessel became a awesome of the wider mass-migration movement. Many of those who came to the UK had served successful the British equipped forces successful World War Two.

It archetypal docked successful Tilbury, Essex, connected 22 June 1948. This twelvemonth marks the 75th day of its arrival.

Rebecca Morgan, manager of commemorative coins astatine the Royal Mint, added: "We're honoured to beryllium marking the 75th day since the Windrush procreation arrived successful the UK."

She said the coin had gone done "a rigorous process". "It's decided which anniversaries are suitable for British coinage and erstwhile it's passed that process, we past spell to the Chancellor and lone past does it yet spell up to the King for his approval."

There are 3 coins available, each of which spell connected merchantability contiguous up of Thursday's anniversary. Two are constricted variation successful golden and silver; the different is simply a modular metallic coin, overmuch similar the ineligible tender 50p piece.