Ipswich pupils enjoyed a fully immersive experience of Caribbean culture as part of an ongoing history project. 

Year six pupils at Springfield Junior School have been learning about the Windrush generation in class explained head of year Iona Romer-Lee. 

However, she and her colleagues were determined that the children also learn about Caribbean culture as it is today, while also learning how so many British Caribbeans came to settle in the UK so many years ago. 

“We wanted to fully immerse ourselves in Caribbean culture,” explained Mrs Romer-Lee. 

She reached out to Rasheedi Jacob, the owner of Hardball Caribbean Smokehouse restaurant in Lloyds Avenue.

He invited the children to come to the restaurant on Monday afternoon, where they took part in traditional Caribbean games and tasted some delicious cuisine, including fried chicken, festival dumplings, jerk chicken and salted fritters. 

Ipswich Star: The children enjoyed some traditional Caribbean delicacies. Image: Charlotte BondThe children enjoyed some traditional Caribbean delicacies. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Many of the children said that the fried chicken was their favourite dish. Image: Charlotte BondMany of the children said that the fried chicken was their favourite dish. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Max Thomas of the Ipswich Windrush Society explained to the children what life would have been like for the Windrush generation when they arrived in Britain 75 years ago. Image: Charlotte BondMax Thomas of the Ipswich Windrush Society explained to the children what life would have been like for the Windrush generation when they arrived in Britain 75 years ago. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Also in attendance was Max Thomas of the Ipswich Windrush Society, who gave the children a talk about what life was like for those who settled in England all those years ago. 

Last year marked 75 years since the HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex. The passenger liner was full of British Caribbeans, who had all answered the UK’s plea for help with the country’s labour shortage in the wake of two world wars. 

“There were signs up everywhere, which said ‘Britain wants you,’” Mr Thomas told the assembled children. 

He explained that every passenger had to pay £28 and 10 shillings for the privilege of coming to work in Britain – over a thousand pounds in today’s money. 

“You also had something at the time called ‘Ten Pound Poms’, people who had paid £10 to go all the way to Australia,” he said. 

“When you think about the difference between £28 and £10, you can see that already, things were not quite right.” 

Ipswich Star: The children also enjoyed playing some traditional Caribbean games. Image: Charlotte BondThe children also enjoyed playing some traditional Caribbean games. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: The children also enjoyed playing some traditional Caribbean games. Image: Charlotte BondThe children also enjoyed playing some traditional Caribbean games. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Rasheedi Jacob is the owner of Hardball Caribbean Smokehouse. Image: Charlotte BondRasheedi Jacob is the owner of Hardball Caribbean Smokehouse. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Ipswich Star: Owner Rasheedi Jacob, left, with his colleague Carlos. Image: Charlotte BondOwner Rasheedi Jacob, left, with his colleague Carlos. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

The children all thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon of fun and learning. Mr Jacob said he was pleased to have played a part. 

“For me, it was important that everyone could be involved,” he said. “Being the largest Caribbean restaurant in Ipswich, it shows that we are here and happy to support the community.”