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£22.99Alford Gardner, one of the last surviving Windrush pioneers, has passed away at the age of 98. The Jamaica-born veteran served as a motoring mechanic in the RAF during World War Two while stationed in North Yorkshire. After the war, Gardner returned to Britain in 1948 aboard the famous HMT Empire Windrush and settled in Leeds. There, he founded Britain’s first Caribbean cricket club and became an important figure in strengthening community relations in the city.
Gardner’s children have paid tribute to their father, stating that his humor and personality were both infectious. They expressed their pride in his achievements and the impact he made on the lives of many people in Leeds and across the country. As a WW2 veteran and Windrush passenger, Gardner was considered a true pioneer and a member of a generation of West Indian men and women to whom the UK owes so much.
Tributes have poured in for Gardner from various organizations and officials, including the Jamaica Society Leeds and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Last year, the Prince of Wales visited Gardner to honor him for his work in breaking down racial barriers, and Prince William later surprised him with a party attended by cricketing stars.
In recognition of his contribution to the city, Leeds Civic Hall inscribed Gardner’s name on its wall in 2020. He was also immortalized in a painting in 2023 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Windrush crossing. Gardner’s legacy as a trailblazer in British Caribbean community continues to be celebrated and honored by those he touched in life and those who recognize his lasting impact
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