Heartbeat: VIP visitor celebrates Black History Month and exhibition with colleagues

October 16, 2018

The Mayor of Sandwell joined the celebrations to mark the launch of a poignant photo exhibition which captures some of the West Midlands’ Windrush generation nurses.

Councillor Joy Edis attended the event at the Education Centre, Sandwell Hospital, where the pictures of 25 members of staff – past and present – were displayed throughout October.

The exhibition has been organised to coincide with Black History Month, which is also being celebrated by our organisation.

Councillor Edis, who worked at Sandwell Hospital as a domestic supervisor before retiring in 2012, said: “I think the exhibition is fabulous – it’s great to think how the Windrush generation helped to build our country and the NHS after the Second World War.

“I even recognise one of the members of staff featured in the photographs.”

Janice Barrett, aged 40, works as a senior sister in A&E and was photographed for the exhibition.

“I feel quite privileged to have been asked to take part in this exhibition,” she said. “I have directly benefited from what the Windrush generation have done, and I truly recognise that.

“They opened up opportunities for me working in this country and I appreciate that.”

Janice’s picture is on the stairway within the Education Centre, next to other colleagues.

She added: “It is quite strange seeing my photograph up there.”

Donna Mighty, Co-Chair of the BME Staff Network, has helped to organise the event and the exhibition.

She said: “It was a really successful event, with many of those featured in the photographs coming along.

“We were very grateful that the Mayor of Sandwell Councillor Joy Edis also attended, showing her support for the Trust and our BME colleagues, but also recognising what the Windrush generation have done for the NHS.”