Scribble and smudge is delighted to contribute to the exhibition We are here. The exhibition is photographic, portraits of those who came to live in Waltham Forest and tells of their tales, from travel, their work, to settling in Waltham forest. See the website: https://weareherewf.org/.

Pack up your bag is an activity for families that can be adapted for any age. The Windrush was a time after 1948 in which migrants came from The British Empire’s colonies to help rebuild Britain. People came by boat, or, plane from the West Indies leaving behind their families and way of life to live in Britain. Nobody knew how long for and one could only imagine how they would live in their ‘Mother’ land. Imagine you have to go on a long journey to live in a different country. What would you pack if you knew you were going to live abroad for at least a few years?

This is what Nella packed in her flight case to come from Grenada to study Nursing in Newcastle. She was 17 years old. Bata shoes a Czech make of leather shoes popular in the Caribbean, a passport, boarding pass, a cotton pillow ( picked and stuffed by her grandmother), a raffia hat, she wore a belted flared skirt and jacket suit with gloves, brought food, sweets and a copy of the journal Royal Reader.

What are the most precious things to you? What would you choose to pack. Create your own 3d suitcase and fill it with things that you think you’ll need. Remember many persons travelling as migrants were not permitted to take more than could fit in their trunk/case.

Make your own case:

You will need:
a cereal box, glue, a pencil and coloured pencils/felt tips, scissors and paper. A Printer, but it’s not essential, you can draw your own passport and tickets. Download the pdf for instructions.