Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
THE King had a special message for the Windrush generation and their descendants who have given so much to the NHS – saying “their contribution has been beyond measure.”
His Majesty King Charles sent a letter to congratulate the winners of this year’s Christina Newbury Award, which was read out this evening by Sir Trevor McDonald.
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In it, the monarch praised the “selfless duty” of the workers who arrived on the HMT Windrush 75 years ago to work in the health service.
He wrote: “It was those first volunteers who left their homes and families to cross the world that made the creation of the NHS possible.
“It is the commitment of all who followed in their footsteps that has helped sustain it for 75 years.
“And today it is the boundless compassion, professionalism and good humour so exemplified by the Windrush Generation – now joined by that of NHS colleagues from over 200 nations – that continue to support patients and their families at their time of greatest need and anxiety.”
Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee in the UK, Paulette Simpson CBE, who accepted the award, said she was “honoured and delighted” to receive the gong, which is named in honour of The Sun’s late health editor Chrisina Newbury, who was instrumental in setting up Who Cares Wins.
She was joined on stage by three generations of the Bateman family who have all dedicated their careers to the NHS.
Grandmother Victoria, 79, arrived from Jamaica in 1963 to train as a nurse and her daughter Michelle, 58, and grandson Liam, 28, have followed her into the health service.
Victoria said: “I was a long way from home, but soon made the most amazing NHS family.
“Nursing is about caring, and everyone around me cared for me, like I cared for them.”