Arthur Torrington CBE

Arthur Torrington CBE, a passionate community advocate born in Guyana, has dedicated his life to preserving the legacy of the Windrush Generation. In 1995, alongside the late Sam King, a Windrush passenger himself, Arthur co-founded the Windrush Foundation with a mission to save and celebrate the untold stories of Caribbean settlers who transformed Britain.

Their journey began with a shared passion for ensuring the 50th anniversary of the ship Empire Windrush's arrival was properly recognised—a moment that symbolised the incredible contributions of early Caribbean settlers in rebuilding post-war Britain. Arthur and Sam travelled across the UK, collecting the powerful narratives of the Windrush Generation to elevate the 'Empire Windrush' to an iconic status.

Though Sam has now passed away, Arthur remains dedicated to his work and continues to raise awareness of the Windrush Generation’s significance, striving to educate young people about the profound impact Caribbean people had during the war. Arthur’s commitment and work through the Foundation ensures the legacy of the Windrush Generation is remembered, inspiring future generations to appreciate and honour their history and contributions.

Arthur said: “The work of the Windrush Foundation is essential in raising awareness of the significance of the Windrush Generation. All the work I do with the Foundation, I do because of the stories of people like my co-founder, Sam King – arriving on that ship in 1948 is a story everyone should be reminded of. Our focus has been on helping young people, and especially young people who are of Caribbean background, to understand African and Caribbean peoples’ contributions to UK public services, the Arts, commerce, and other areas of socio-economic and cultural life in Britain and the Commonwealth."


“I, with Sam King, co-founded the Windrush Foundation because I think it’s essential these stories are remembered – and without National Lottery funding we couldn’t have made the impact that we have so far. It’s key that we continue promoting good community relations, endeavouring to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of race, encouraging equality of opportunity for all, and making the public aware of the contributions of Caribbean settlers and their descendants to Britain’s prosperity and heritage.”