Community reporter Diane Gardner celebrates the beginning of Black History month in what would have been her father – Windrush pioneer Alford Gardner’s – centennial year.
Today, 1 October 2026 marks the second anniversary of the death of the late Bramley resident Alford Gardner.
He had no regrets from his long life but he harboured two wishes, to meet the late Queen Elizabeth, and to reach his 100th birthday. Sadly he was denied both of these events.
He also was privileged to meet King Charles, when he was immortalised in paint and honoured with a commission of his portrait alongside other Windrush patrons.
He was also pleasantly surprised by the Queen’s grandson Prince Willian when he knocked on his Bramley door in October 2023 as part of the Pride of Britain Windrush programme and spent the day with him playing cricket at Headingley cricket ground.
Alford lived to the grand old age of 98 and had a long and eventful life after coming to Britain on the HMS Windrush in 1948.
He went on to marry local Bramley girl Norma McKenna.
“I came to the UK on the Windrush and I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said.
Alford died on the 1 October 2024, the first day of Black History Month and will be remembered fondly today by family, friends and neighbours in the local and wider community.
- Alford was one of Britain’s last surviving passengers of the Empire Windrush when he passed away aged 98. HMS Empire Windrush arrived in England nearly eight decades ago, bringing hundreds of people from the Caribbean who answered Britain’s call to help fill post-war labour shortages.
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Nice… and a special event, but I am not a big fan of black history month, when so many people in the UK try and destroy the British history. Not saying that anyone in the article does that. Black, White and any other colours, its British history. Similar with MOBO, its all music from around the world. Just saying…..