The worthy winners were announced at the 5th Annual WINDRUSH 2003 ACHIEVEMENTAWARDS, a black tie event at the Inter-Continental on Saturday 21 June. The unique Awards recognise the vast wealth of talent among African Caribbean, Asian & Oriental communities (while paying nuff respect to White partners assistig their progress). Outstanding Merit Profile was won by Krishnan Guru Murthy of ITN. The positive print award went to the Observer, which narrowly beat the Guardian, winner of the past two years, while the Windrush Partnership Award for enhancing minority contribution through positive initiatives went to London Weekend Television.

Known as the People's Award for members of minority communities, and supported this year by Rudlph Walker, Gary Beadle, Cathy Tyson and the compere Felix Dexter, the event is deliberately low on celebrity and high on talent, hard work and achievements, as demonstrated by some remarkable winners. Patrick Vernon was the only double winner (Community Service, and Professional Achievement categories); Pirthipal Singh Kang won a Trophy for the Uniformed Services and a Certificate for professional Achievement and Lopa Patel (Redhotcurry.com) was an outstanding Windrush Champion for the Internet and Technology Section.

In her welcoming speech, Founder, Elaine Sihera, whose business celebrates 10 years this year of impacting on diverity management in the UK, spoke on the theme of achievement when she said, "Achievement comes in all shapes and forms. Yet the greatest obstacles to achieving are a lack of self belief, living in the past and a desire to be perfect. We spend our life in regret, in continuous wishing but no action, in reliving past events, past mistakes, past problems, while the present leaves us standing in darkness and disappointment. Richard Wilkins again, "Birds carry no baggage and they can fly."

We weigh down ourselves with so much baggage in our heads we remain constantly rooted to the spot of regret. Being perfect beings, we try to make-up for the past in a futile way which keeps us immobile and in a rut."......"This is because true achievement comes not just from the things we actually do, but how we feel about ourselves and the level of contentment we have. Nobody can make you happy. Only you. But happiness does not come from self obsession or with just what we want. It comes through the way we appreciate others, the time we make for them and how much we are prepared to put ourselves out for them."

"We talk about freedom a lot. But freedom isn't granted by others. It is granted by us in how we free ourselves from the barriers we erect in our thoughts, from the prisons we inhabit inside our minds and from the guilt-ridden, loveless and unforgiving way we live our lives. Freeing ourselves from such negativity is true freedom. It is the hallmark of personal power." (The full speech is on the website)
It was a wonderful, uplifting night, particularly for minorities who feel under-recognised by the mainstream, with a great atmosphere and many moving moments.

Sponsors of the evening were the Teacher Training Agency, the Department for Transport who were main sponsors; ACAS, decibel of the Arts council, England and Black Britain Online.

The FULL LIST OF WINNERS is available at www.anserhouse.co.uk/events/windrush

Page last modified:
© Copyright of Every Generation 2003. Privacy Policy