Prince William gave the surprise of a lifetime to celebrate a Windrush pioneer who has helped generations of youngsters through the power of sport.
The Prince of Wales paid a visit to Alford Gardner, one of the two last surviving passengers who travelled on the HMT Empire Windrush arriving at Tilbury docks on June 21, 1948. As part of a new ITV documentary, Pride Of Britain: A Windrush Special, celebrating those pioneers who came to Britain to forge a new life, the heir stopped by Alford’s home in Leeds to talk about his incredible life since leaving Jamaica and his passion for cricket.
Such was his love for the sport, only three months after arriving, former RAF serviceman Alford set up Britain’s first Caribbean cricket club in Leeds, helping break down racial barriers and create a sporting and social hub for generations of youngsters. Members of the generation - who received a Special Recognition award at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, with TSB, this year - share their stories with figures including Sir Trevor McDonald, Alesha Dixon, Mel B and Judi Love, providing a vivid insight into the experiences of the community of more than 500,000 who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1971.
As part of the film, the Prince of Wales headed up a secret operation, turning up at Alford’s house and then taking him to Headingley cricket ground for a surprise involving four generations of his family alongside some of the world’s biggest cricketing legends of the last 50 years.
Alford bowls to Prince William (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)Pulling up to the home of Yorkshire Cricket, Alford told William how he had enjoyed seeing some of his favourite players gracing the arena - but little did he know, some of them would be to greet him. Gathered were a selection of his nine children, 16 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren, alongside cricketing royalty from England’s Darren Gough, Devon Malcolm, Adil Rachid and Ian Bell, to legendary West Indian fast bowler Joel ‘Big Bird’ Garner.
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Prince William said: “We are here because of one person, who changed the lives of so many, I bet seeing all these faces brings back some memories?” Quick as a flash, Alford, looking around, replied: “More than memories.” In 1948, he co-founded the Caribbean Cricket Club, which he describes as “absolutely necessary” to its eight original members and which has helped hundreds of youngsters gain confidence through their sport to achieve their potential.
Former Caribbean Cricket Club captain Claude Davis says: “When Alford set out to do this, that was impossible. The amount of red tape or we call racism, all sorts he would’ve had to go through. He’d have to be really mentally strong to overcome all those obstacles.”
William praised Alford for helping to change people's lives (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)Born in 1926 and one of 10 children growing up in Montego Bay and Springfield, Jamaica, Alford dreamed of following in the footsteps of his policeman father, who had fought in the First World War. So when a recruitment campaign for men to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) came to his village in 1943, he signed up aged 17.
After completing his training in Yorkshire his brother also joined the RAF and together they dreamed up ways of settling in England after hitchhiking a ride to see the VE Day celebrations in London, being swept up among the crowds to see the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Now a great-great-grandfather at the age of 97, Alford said: “I’ve always taken things in my stride, but I knew then that my journey wasn’t over.” Alford returned to Jamaica but a year later was given the money for the £28 ticket by his father to travel to Britain with his brother, joining 492 West Indians onboard the Empire Windrush.
William at the crease (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
Alford as a young man (Glen Minikin)The voyage took them nearly a month, arriving at Tilbury docks on June 22, 1948. He settled in Leeds and worked as an engineer using skills first learnt in the RAF that he had served in from 1944. Alford said: “When we arrived many had anticipated racism, we had read about the reaction many West Indians received in London, but initially we were met with open arms.
“Of course there were tough times, but I always took people how I saw them and so many people were good to me.” As Alford was embraced by his friends and family, former England fast bowler Darren Gough, now Yorkshire’s club director of cricket, took time to pay tribute to his legacy.
He said: “What Alford has done for this area is unbelievable. It’s hundreds of young lives he has directly affected and the legacy will only keep on going.” Sir Gordon Greenidge, who represented the West Indies over three decades from the 1970s and is recognised as one of the greatest players to play the game, said: “Alford has given the chance for young people to dream and be part of something.
“He is one in a million.”
Alford was one of many honoured at awards ceremonyThe surprise capped off a spectacular year for Alford where he dined at Buckingham Palace and sat for a historic portrait as part of a series commissioned by King Charles, to go on display at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. After being presented with a VIP invite to this year’s Pride of Britain awards, Alford even had time to bowl a ball or two down in the nets at William as the prince thanked him on behalf of all the Windrush generation.
William said: “I think hopefully you’ve seen how much you mean to everyone round here. They’ve all come out to say thank you. And I wanna say thank you as well to you and all the Windrush generation who started so many things off when you first arrived all those years ago.”
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Alford’s daughter Sharon Webster, 64, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of him. For everything he has achieved in his life to be recognised in such a special year has given our family a chance to come together and collectively say how proud we are of him. And for the younger ones in our family, who are only just coming to know what a special man he is, his legacy is there for all to see.” As he gazed around the room, surrounded by his loved ones and cricketing heroes, Alford had time for a rye smile, saying: “75 years, I’ve loved every minute of it, I’d live it all over again if I could.”
Windrush heroes feature on billboard campaign
The Mirror’s remarkable pictures of Prince William’s meeting with Alford feature on giant billboards across the country. They are part of a huge digital poster campaign in partnership with Ocean Outdoor to promote the programme, and celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation to Britain.
One of the billboards, in Glasgow (Reach plc)As well as Alford and William, the billboard images also include other members of the Windrush Generation whose amazing life stories are at the heart of the show. You can read more about them in our special Mirror pullout on Thursday.
* Pride Of Britain: A Windrush Special airs on ITV1 at 9pm on Thursday.
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