Clive Thompson
(Picture: Handout)The son of West Indian immigrants who came to London on the Windrush is to launch a range of “inclusive” products under the name of the celebrated ship that brought his parents to Britain.
Clive Thompson, 62, said he was inspired to create the brand by an iconic photograph of his tailor father Archibald at Victoria station that he saw in a book about the history of the Empire Windrush passenger liner that has given its name to an entire generation.
He has teamed up with the Mahiki nightclub entrepreneur Piers Adam and is revealing the first product bearing the Windrush name - a limited edition Jamaican rum - in London.
The venture is also in talks about a possible range of haircare and beauty products, as well as candles and fragrances, gyms, fashion, media and even financial services all under the Windrush umbrella.
Mr Thompson, who previously ran his own security company in Brixton, said he wanted to reclaim the Windrush name from the negative associations it gained through the political scandal of 2018. The furore over the wrongful deportation of members of the Windrush generation cost former Home Secretary Amber Rudd her job.
He said: “When people mention the Windrush it’s always about the bad things, but I look on Windrush as the entirely positive thing it should have been. It’s about togetherness and optimism.
“What people don’t know is that there were a lot of white people on boat, so the brand is about everybody. Everyone on that boat had a talent, they all came to London to build something - but many didn’t get a chance.”
Just 1,027 bottles of Windrush 1027 Rum - a blend of five Jamaican rums - are being produced initially, a nod to the official roll call of passengers on the first sailing from the Caribbean island, which arrived in Tilbury in June 1948. It later emerged there were also two stowaways on board.
Mr Adam said he hoped the brand would able to challenge the “all white owned” major drinks companies that dominate the sector.
Other members of the venture’s top team who are in talks about possible Windrush products include celebrity hairstylist Johnnie Sapong, whose clients have included Dakota Johnson, Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Cara Delevingne, Naomi Campbell, and John Boyega.
Mr Sapong, 49, who was born in London to Ghanaian parents and grew up on the South Acton estate, said the products would be made from sustainable and environmentally friendly ingredients. He added: “Windrush is about different people from all different walks of life. It’s an exciting time.”
Others involved include Franklin Asante, a director and private banker at the Queen’s bank Coutts, Dion Hamilton, chief executive of London “luxury essentials” fashion brand Blanks Factory, and British Vogue contributing editor Susan Bender Whitfield.
Mr Thompson will head a charitable foundation that will collect 10 per cent of profits from Windrush businesses and distribute them to good causes.
