The Reflection Room is a time capsule exhibition located in the Sailmakers Shopping Centre, Ipswich, and showcases the stories of the Windrush Generation via a unique collection of memorabilia and a memorial wall honouring the local community. Please contact us to arrange a viewing.
We're urgently looking for a new home for the Reflection Room display after being asked to leave our space at Sailmakers Shopping Centre before the end of 2024.
If you can help, please contact us.
Visit us at our new (temporary) location: First floor, Sailmakers Shopping Centre, opposite River Island.
April 19 2024
“The IWS is about protecting and sharing stories with everyone, and truly, everyone is welcome,” said Mr Thomas. “We are committed to inclusivity and engage with schools and visitors to our micro museum in the Sailmakers shopping centre to weave the vibrant tapestry of the Windrush generation's narrative into the fabric of Ipswich's collective heritage.”
February 26 2024
Mr Thomas was disappointed to be told in January that he would need to dismantle his installation and vacate the premises. Mr Thomas has now moved into a new space, also in the Sailmakers, and will be ready to receive visitors from the end of this week. His new 'Reflection Room' can be found on the ground floor beside the new Ed Sheeran Mural, opposite the old back entrance to River Island. However, this is a temporary solution, and the display will only be here until the end of May, just three months away.
“Thank you for showing me this wonderful exhibition, a collection of heritage and stories which still resonates today. We have to keep these stories and memories alive.”
“This is an important monument to an important part of Ipswich's history. A fantastic achievement that Max brings to life. This is storytelling made real, made tangible and has so much potential. I look forward to seeing this grow and develop.”
“Fantastic and hugely unique. It needs a permanent home and legacy.”
“In time for the Windrush celebration, a small but poignant exhibition from the Windrush era was held in the Reading Room of the Town Hall.”
“This little exhibition with its artefacts, furnishing, and pictures took so many people back to days gone by, fond memories of a generation lost but not forgotten. Those that stood and looked in at the Exhibition during its 3-week display spoke fondly of items their grandparents and parents had in their homes, the clock, television, carpet. Overhead conversations made by parents to children on what a gramophone was or how a typewriter worked. It made people smile remembering times gone by.”
“Today's society is filled with throw away items, a sad reflection of how times have changed over the years, our grandparents worked hard and valued the items in their homes, things passed down to sons and daughters. Reflection comes in many ways – reflecting about the past but also the future, what treasures will today's society leave for future sons and daughters and how will we be remembered.”
Very impressed by the quality and care which went into the mounting of this exhibition.
Lovely to visit and see bits that reminded me of my grandparents’ house growing up!
Fantastic place and history. My dad was a GI baby and our history stops with him unfortunately.
Thanks for having me here. It is a privilege to have a look around this room and to be able to be part of your ancestors’ history and of course your history as well. I like seeing belongings from people past and it is a privilege that they choose to share all these with the community. Every little thing from this room is part of someone’s soul. The fact that the families accepted to share their relatives’ identity with us is also a privilege. These should decide to give us the opportunity to be part of their journey. I always believed nothing just happened. I got in this room to ask Max if he knows where I can find an InPast shop. It was meant to be here, for this reason I stepped into this room. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Congratulations to you Max, that you had this brilliant idea to keep your Caribbean community alive. It is the best history lesson for the young generation.
Thank you for sharing your history with me. Wishing you blessings and prosperity from the U.S.A.
Thank you for a blast from the past with all these memories. Proud to be a child of a Windrush survivor.
By chance, as I passed, I was drawn to visit. This memory room opened my eyes, my heart and my understanding. I was met with warmth, kindness and shared knowledge. Thank you.
Well worth a visit. Brought back loads of memories.
This is a great place to think about the past and to remember its many issues.
Very good, brought back lots of lovely memories.
Room just like as a child. Good to see it live on.
Lovely step back in time. Important heritage for not only Ipswich but the whole of the UK.
