For the 75th anniversary of the Windrush crossing, a 96-year-old World War II veteran from Leeds has been painted into eternity.
Chloe Cox created a portrait of Alford Gardner after King Charles requested a series of 10 paintings.
The King remarked that Jamaican-born Mr. Gardner's portrait was "marvellous" to him when he returned to England in 1948 on HMT Empire Windrush.
It was "a dream come true," according to Ms. Cox, to receive a royal commission.
During World War II, Mr. Gardner worked as a motor mechanic for the RAF. After the British government passed a new law allowing Caribbean nationals to reside and work in Britain, he later arrived back in England on the renowned ship.
On June 22, 1948, Tilbury, Essex, welcomed the HMT Empire Windrush. In order to help the UK fill labor shortages following World War II, it brought 492 passengers from several Caribbean islands, including Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
At a reception held by Buckingham Palace on May 14 where the King received a special preview of the Windrush crossing anniversary artworks, Mr. Gardner had the opportunity to meet King Charles.
A "most wonderful record of a very special generation," he told Mr. Gardner, describing the collection. ".
The King declared that Mr. Gardner's portrait would "be an excellent addition to the Royal Collection and be shown in all different parts of the world.".
When he joined the RAF, Mr. Gardner left home and moved to England, where he now works as a factory engineer in Leeds. I found my home in England when I arrived.
"I promised to return when the war was over. It was like leaving one home and returning to another when The Windrush arrived. ".
He made the following statement when speaking about the racism he encountered in the UK during his formative years: "Couldn't get away from it, it was there staring me in the face. In the event that I enter a hostile environment, I must leave immediately. I never visited a place where I wasn't welcome. ".
Every artist dreams of having their work displayed in a gallery collection, according to Chloe Cox, and having it included in the Royal Collection is "a dream come true.". ".
Being a member of the Windrush generation herself, Ms. Cox claimed that the painting was her greatest artistic accomplishment.
She claimed that her first set of reference photos, which were taken in the evening, "lacked the wow factor" and that she had to meet Mr. Gardner a second time.
She said that when they reconnected in the daylight, the session had been "much more laid back," and her photos had captured Mr. Gardner's "playfulness and his smile.".
He was constantly beaming, she continued.
The King stated at the reception at Buckingham Palace that it was "critical" to honor the "pioneers who stepped off the Empire Windrush in June 1948" by seeing and hearing them, as well as their descendants and grandchildren, "to celebrate the immeasurable difference that they, their children, and their grandchildren have made to this country.".
Later on, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer will broadcast the documentary Windrush: Portraits Of A Generation with His Majesty The King about the artwork that King Charles commissioned.
