Paulette Wilson
“She Spoke Truth, She Fought for Justice, She Inspired a Nation."
Paulette Wilson 19562020 was a Wolverhampton resident whose courage brought national attention to one of the greatest injustices in modern British history the Windrush scandal Born in Jamaica she moved to the UK at the age of 10 in the late 1960s joining her grandparents who had settled in Britain Like many children of the Windrush generation she grew up in this country attended school here and contributed fully to British life Wolverhampton became her lifelong home where she raised her family worked and lived as a valued member of the community For decades Paulette worked in catering and hospitality including as a cook in the House of Commons serving MPs in the very institution that would later debate her rights She also worked in local community centres and supported family life in Wolverhampton embodying the Windrush generations tradition of hard work and resilience
Her life changed dramatically in 2015 when she received a letter from the Home Office declaring that she was in the UK illegally Despite having lived in Britain for more than half a century she was suddenly told she had no right to remain She was detained in Yarls Wood Immigration Removal Centre and threatened with deportation to Jamaica a country she had not set foot in since childhood and where she had no family ties The trauma of this experience marked a turning point not just for Paulette but for Britain as a whole
With the support of Wolverhamptons Refugee and Migrant Centre and campaigners Paulettes case gained national media attention She bravely shared her story with journalists campaigners and politicians quickly becoming one of the most prominent faces of the Windrush scandal In 2017 she handed a petition to Downing Street demanding justice for the Windrush generation and spoke at protests and demonstrations outside Parliament Her campaigning highlighted the deep injustice faced by thousands of Caribbeanborn Britons who despite decades of lawful residence had been denied work housing pensions and healthcare
Paulettes voice gave strength to others who were too fearful to come forward Her courage helped expose the failures of the governments immigration system forcing apologies from ministers and leading to the creation of the Windrush Compensation Scheme While the scheme has been widely criticised as slow and inadequate Paulettes campaigning ensured that the scandal could not be ignored She became a symbol of resilience not only for Wolverhampton but for the entire Windrush generation
Tragically Paulette Wilson passed away in July 2020 at the age of 64 just as she was still fighting for justice Her funeral at the New Testament Church of God in Wolverhampton was attended by many and tributes poured in from across the UK Campaigners politicians and community members remembered her as a woman of immense bravery who turned her personal suffering into a powerful campaign for change
In October 2021 Paulette Wilson was posthumously honoured with a blue plaque at the Heritage Centre in Whitmore Reans Wolverhampton The plaque was unveiled to mark her contribution as a campaigner for the Windrush generation ensuring her story and courage will be remembered by future generations The Heritage Centre itself a hub for Wolverhamptons Caribbean community was chosen as the location to reflect both her roots and her role in the wider struggle for recognition and justice
The unveiling ceremony was attended by her daughter Leanne and granddaughter who spoke about continuing Paulettes fight to ensure that no one else suffers in the way she did Local leaders community activists and members of the public gathered to pay tribute celebrating both her life and her lasting impact on Britains understanding of race migration and justice
Paulette Wilsons legacy continues to resonate in Wolverhampton and beyond Her story is now taught in schools and featured in exhibitions about Black British history The blue plaque at the Heritage Centre ensures that her name is permanently associated with a place of community remembrance and celebration of Caribbean heritage
For Wolverhampton Paulette Wilson is not just a victim of injustice but a heroine of resistance She turned personal pain into a national movement giving voice to the voiceless and reminding the country of its debt to the Windrush generation
