Aldwyn Roberts – known to the world as calypsonian Lord Kitchener – and famously captured on Pathé newsreels singing London is the Place for Me as passengers disembarked the HMT Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948 at Tilbury Docks, was honoured with a prestigious blue plaque on Wednesday 21 June, a day before the 75th anniversary celebrations for Empire Windrush.
The plaque unveiling, organised by Trafford Council’s Local Studies Department and Nubian Jak Community Trust, took place outside 48 Brooks Road, Stretford, in Manchester. Lord Kitchener lived at the address with his first wife Elsie Lines (they married on 14 May 1953) from 1957 to 1962.
TS Eliot 2022 prize winner, Anthony Joseph, was among the speakers, as was Whit Stennett, who became Trafford’s first Black Lord Mayor (2003-2004) and educational psychologist and calypso fan Dr Ken McIntyre, who delivered a speech on Lord Kitchener’s life in England.
Councillor Tom Ross, leader of Trafford Council, said: “Lord Kitchener was a great entertainer who brought life to Manchester. He brought calypso music to the UK, as well as owning nightclubs. He is a great example of how the Windrush generation have contributed to the UK society, so it was fitting that we unveiled a blue plaque in his honour on the 75th anniversary of the Windrush’s arrival.
Cllr Ross added: “It was a privilege to be at the unveiling where we could honour a musical legend of Trafford and Trinidad.”
Born on 18 April 1922 in Arima, Trinidad, Lord Kitchener took with him the calypso rhythms of the West Indies to Britain and his calypso style depicted the Caribbean experience in Britain. He died on 11 February 2000.
