<div><strong>You can remove a plaque, but you cannot erase our history</strong>
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<div><strong>Help us raise £4,000 to restore the Caribbean memorial at Portchester Castle.</strong>
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<div>On the 9th of October 2026, Caribbean communities, historians and campaigners gathered at Portchester Castle in Hampshire to unveil a historic memorial.
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<div>The plaque honoured approximately over <strong>2,500 African Caribbean men, women and children brought to Britain as prisoners of war in 1796, of whom were held at Portchester Castle.</strong>
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<div>For generations, their stories had received little recognition. This memorial was a long-overdue tribute to their lives, suffering, resilience and those who never returned home.
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<div><strong>Less than a week later, the plaque was gone.</strong>
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<div>On 14 October, staff discovered that the newly unveiled plaque had disappeared. The incident was reported to Hampshire Constabulary, and there are concerns that its removal may have been racially motivated.
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<div>For the communities who worked so hard to make this memorial possible, its disappearance has been deeply upsetting.
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<div><strong>But we will not allow this history to be forgotten.</strong>
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<div><strong>Why this matters</strong>
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<div>The plaque was commissioned by St Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation (SV2G), led by Dr Jacqueline Roberts, working alongside the University of Warwick, English Heritage and Caribbean communities.
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<div>Years of research, dedication and community effort went into bringing this forgotten chapter of British and Caribbean history into public view.
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<div>As Dr Jacqueline Roberts explained:
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<div><strong>"This loss is deeply upsetting for our community. The plaque was not merely a marker, it was a sacred symbol of remembrance, honouring our ancestors who endured captivity, displacement, and unimaginable hardship."</strong>
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<div>This is about more than replacing a plaque. It's about protecting our shared history and ensuring future generations know these stories.
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<div><strong>Help us restore the memorial</strong>
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<div>I was honoured to attend the original unveiling, and I'm now leading this appeal to help restore the memorial and support the work of SV2G.
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<div><strong>Our goal is to raise £4,000, which will help cover:</strong>
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<li>Replacing the commemorative plaque if the original isn't recovered.
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<li>Secure installation and restoration costs.
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<li>Related heritage protection and educational activities.
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<div>All donations will support SV2G, with restoration arrangements agreed with the relevant partners.
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<div>If the original plaque is recovered, donations will instead support its secure reinstatement and related heritage and educational work.
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<div><strong>Stand with us</strong>
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<div>We're asking everyone who believes in preserving our shared history to help us restore this important memorial.
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<div>Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our £4,000 goal.
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<div>If you can't donate, please share this fundraiser with your friends, family and wider community.
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<div>Together, we can ensure that the people remembered by this plaque receive the dignity and recognition they deserve.
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<div><strong>Our heritage matters. Our ancestors matter. Our history must not be erased.</strong>
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<div>Thank you for your generosity and solidarity.
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<div><strong>Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS</strong>
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<div><strong>Campaign lead</strong>
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Jude Haslam

Anonymous

Nicola Bennett

Steven Shaw

Dave Burn

Yvonne Field OBE

Ruth Hecht

Fanny Garvey

Liza Downie

ALISON DOW

Joanne Clarke

Cameron Pannell-Rae

Stacey Tanton

tony hales

Help restore the stolen Caribbean memorial plaque

Help restore the stolen Caribbean memorial plaque

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