“This wasn’t just an event. It was a movement.”
On a golden stretch of Studland Bay, 500 Windrush families gathered for a cultural celebration like no other. Reggae on the Bay, commemorating 77 years since the arrival of the Windrush generation, became more than a festival – it was a powerful moment of reclamation, joy, and community connection.
Months in the Making
Bringing hundreds of people from across the country to a coastal site wasn’t easy. Coaches took up to six hours to reach the location. Sand meant infrastructure had to be rethought from the ground up – literally. From toilets and accessibility ramps to power and stage design, every detail required meticulous planning.
Reclaiming Space Through Culture
What unfolded on the bay wasn’t just about music. It was about presence. It was about creating space for Windrush descendants to not only attend, but shape the experience. Reggae on the Bay was real inclusion: not just welcoming people through the gates, but co-creating what happened inside them.
The Power of Partnership
This unforgettable event was only possible thanks to incredible collaboration and shared vision:
National Trust Studland Bay – for believing in the purpose, offering the venue, and holding space for Windrush heritage. A special thank you to Tom Clarke and Emma Wright for their unwavering support.
Turtle Bay – who infused the celebration with rhythm, flavour, and cultural authenticity.
Southern Entertainment Services LTD – for flawless event production and sound that moved the soul.
Land & Wave Ltd – for your on-ground energy and crucial logistical support.
Dorset Police, Coast Guard, Poole Harbour Master, and @RDHS Ltd – for safeguarding our people and helping the day run smoothly.
This is Just the Beginning
To everyone who helped make this possible – planners, volunteers, artists, families, elders, and children – thank you. You showed what legacy in action looks like.
Let’s keep building. Let’s keep reclaiming space, telling our stories, and celebrating our roots – together.
#Windrush77 #ReggaeOnTheBay #CommunityCelebration #LegacyInAction #InclusionMatters #BlackBritishCulture #TogetherWeBuild
