Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE has been awarded a knighthood in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours for services to racial equality and social justice.
The honour recognises more than 30 years of campaigning and leadership across Britain’s voluntary, public and community sectors. It also celebrates a lifetime of work dedicated to challenging inequality, protecting the legacy of the Windrush Generation and ensuring that Black British history is recognised as an essential part of the national story.
Our dear friend Sir Patrick is perhaps best known as the architect of the successful campaign to establish Windrush Day, now marked nationally each year on 22 June. He also played an important role in exposing the Windrush Scandal and bringing the injustices experienced by members of the Windrush Generation to national attention.
His work has included convening the Windrush 75 Network and leading the campaign for the recovery of the anchor from the Empire Windrush as a national memorial. He also founded the influential 100 Great Black Britons campaign and co-authored the accompanying book with Dr Angelina Osborne, helping schools, families and communities discover the achievements of Black people throughout British history.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sir Patrick co-founded the Majonzi Fund to support Black and racialised communities disproportionately affected by bereavement.
Responding to the knighthood, Sir Patrick said: “For me, it is a great honour to be recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to racial equality and social justice, reflecting more than 30 years of contribution across a range of sectors and issues.
“I see this recognition not simply as a personal achievement, but as an opportunity to further tackle inequality and promote greater dialogue and engagement across the UK around the ongoing injustices faced by the Windrush Generation and migrant communities.”
Continuing the Campaign for Windrush Justice
Sir Patrick said the honour would strengthen his determination to preserve the history and legacy of the Windrush Generation ahead of the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 2028.
“As we approach the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 2028, I remain committed to promoting and preserving the history and legacy of Windrush and migrant communities, including the campaign for the recovery of the anchor from the Empire Windrush ship,” he said.
“This campaign represents an important shared history between the Jewish community and the Windrush Generation, reflecting how Britain has evolved since the Second World War.”
Sir Patrick has served in numerous national and regional leadership positions. These have included Chair of NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, Walsall Together Partnership and the ARÉ Windrush Justice Programme, as well as being a founder member of the Windrush Justice Clinic.
He was formerly a councillor in the London Borough of Hackney, Specialist Adviser for Communities at the Centre for Ageing Better and Independent Adviser for Equality and Inclusion at the Crown Prosecution Service.
His current positions include Pro-Chancellor for Health at the University of Wolverhampton and Chair of Hackney Thinking Spaces. His wider career has encompassed public health, mental health, heritage, community development, racial justice and leadership.
The knighthood will not mark the end of his campaigning. Sir Patrick has pledged to continue advocating for an Older People’s Commissioner, improved health and social care, better housing and a change in public attitudes towards ageing.
He also remains committed to campaigning for national prostate cancer screening, particularly for Black men, alongside improved mental health and bereavement support for Black and racialised communities.
“I also remain committed to supporting leadership development and unlocking the potential of Black and minority ethnic communities, so that we are represented in boardrooms shaping policy and decisions, not simply cleaning them,” he said.
Sir Patrick will also continue supporting the family of Clinton McCurbin, who died in Wolverhampton in 1987, including calls for a commemorative blue plaque and for the case surrounding his death to be reopened as its 40th anniversary approaches in 2027.
Throughout his response to the honour, Sir Patrick returned to the importance of collective action and the communities that have supported his campaigning over the past three decades.
“This honour belongs to all the communities, colleagues and campaigners I have worked alongside over many years,” he said.
Black History Month UK warmly congratulates our dear friend Professor Sir Patrick Vernon on this richly deserved recognition and looks forward to continuing to support his work for justice, remembrance and lasting social change.