Honouring Windrush nurse Beverley Dowdel through film and poetry

A film created by Southampton Solent University TV Production students will be shown this October as a tribute to Southampton Windrush nurse Beverley Dowdel, who passed away this year.

The film will be screened as part of a Black Business Arts and Music (BBAAM) event on October 17 at MAST Mayflower Studios, celebrating the contributions of Black communities have made and continue to make to the UK.

Five years ago, television students from Solent University approached Stevina Southwell, an award-winning poetess from Southampton, and asked her to write a poem about Beverley as part of the university’s Black History Month project. The students went on to produce a film bringing the poem and Beverley’s story to life.

"It was an honour to tell Beverley’s story through poetry and to recognise the contribution she, and so many others from the Windrush generation, made to the NHS and to British society." Stevina said. "Sadly, Beverley passed away this year. It is therefore particularly meaningful to present this video as a tribute to her life, her service and her legacy."

Beverley’s journey from Jamaica to Britain and her work as a nurse are part of the wider Windrush story, reflecting the experiences of generations who came to Britain, built lives, served their communities and helped shape the country we know today.

Cameron Tait, one of the students who made the film, graduated from Solent with a first-class degree in 2021 and is now a video producer at Chelsea FC.

"Beverley was amazing to work with. She really took the time to help me develop my understanding of the Windrush generation. Her story was a powerful one, and it was something we really wanted to share with people," Cameron said.

"With the film now being shown in tribute to her, it feels like an honour to know that her story can continue to be shared and remembered. It was a great project to create with her, and hopefully, it will be a film that people can watch to remember her by. In terms of production, I think a lot of time went into listening to Beverley and her story, so we knew as much as possible."

Cameron credits the opportunity to work on real-world projects with external partners during his degree with helping prepare him for life after graduation, giving him experience that has continued to benefit his career in video production.

Kate O’Driscoll, Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) TV Production and BA (Hons) Post Production for Film and TV at Solent University, said:

“These real-world learning collaborations offer mutual benefits, giving students opportunities to apply their knowledge in practical settings beyond the classroom while enabling individuals and communities to share their stories. The professional skills and practical experience students gain is reflected in the many graduate success stories. Cameron is one example of what our graduates go on to achieve after leaving Solent.”

Stevina will share the work as part of her poetry contribution to the event, where she and fellow members of Activists SO, a small collective of Black poets from Southampton, will also be performing. “May her memory live on through the words, the stories and the people she inspired,” she said.