31/03/2026
With 87 years, Roy Wilks has a lot to reflect on. A proud member of the Windrush generation, Roy left Jamaica in 1959 at just nineteen to build a new life in England. From the shock of his first snowy winter to receiving a Windrush Award for public and community service during the Queenâs Golden Jubilee, Royâs life has been defined by hard work and a deep love for his family.
Today, Roy lives in Dagenham with his daughter, Cherry, and is a valued member of our Connections support group, run by our OrangeLine service.
With five generations of the Wilks family now thriving, Roy says: "They are the legacy that continues... there is nothing greater than life itself."
Learn more about Roy's story:
https://www.sfh.org.uk/news/from-jamaica-to-england-my-story