THE chairman of Black Heritage Southampton has spoken out about her sense of injustice over the Windrush scandal.

Windrush migrants, who came to the UK from the Caribbean up to 1973 have permission to stay in the UK but many are being told they have to prove this right, even though many have been here for more than 50 years.

The scandal particularly affects those who came to the UK as children, on their parents' passports.

It has emerged that landing cards recording their arrival dates were destroyed in 2010.

Last week Romsey and Southampton North Conservative MP Caroline Nokes appeared to confirm that residents have been wrongly deported.

Beverley Dowdell, who runs the charity Black Heritage Southampton, which promotes the welfare and social wellbeing of the members of the Caribbean community in Southampton, said that a lot of people who take part in the group were very upset by recent developments.

"Everyone is very unhappy about it," says the former nurse, who came to Southampton from Jamaica by invitation in 1971.

"We have had some very long discussions about it in the group. A lot of people feel very hard done by.

"There's a huge sense of injustice. People came to the UK, in a lot of cases by invitation, to help rebuild the country. I seriously hope that the powers that be can remedy the situation as soon as possible."

Beverley adds that she has concerns about the changes to attitudes to and laws regarding immigration over recent years.

"People have moved since time immemorial. When the powers that be are pulling up their borders, it will come and bite them on the bum.

"It's fit young people who migrate. The UK has an elderly population. These young people would make their contributions, both physically and financially.

"Most people who come here make a positive contribution. I did. I worked for 34 years as a nurse, both at Southampton General and in the community. I was never unemployed."

Beverley, who lives in Eastleigh, says that most people she knows have experienced racial discrimination.

"People are a lot more subtle about it now," she says.

"They don't use the 'n-word.'"

She adds that she feels concerned about her return when she goes overseas.

"It's always the fear that when you arrive back in the UK, someone is going to challenge you," she says, adding that she has twice been stopped without good reason.

Beverley had not intended to spend her life in the UK when she came as an intensive care nurse at the age of 24, but fell in love with and married a British man, and made her home here.

"It was quite daunting coming, but when you are young, you are naive, arrogant or fearless. I thought of it as a big adventure."

Beverley has been chair of the Black Heritage Association Southampton for a number of years.

The association, which this year celebrates its 30th birthday, was set up by a health visitor who was concerned that older members of the African Caribbean community didn't ask for much and therefore did not get much support and were particularly isolated.

However, Beverley is keen to stress that the organisation, which holds meetings at the Black Heritage Centre in Northumberland Road, Southampton, is open to anyone who feels isolated.

And she hopes the community will join members of the association at their St George's Day celebrations at the centre tomorrow.

The event will run from 2pm to 6pm at the centre at 53 Northumberland Road. Admission is £2.50, to cover the cost of food.

"West Indians have the highest rate of integration into the community of any migrant group," she says.

"We welcome people from all backgrounds, races and religions."