George Lee Returns to the UK After 27 Years in Exile.

After nearly three decades of forced exile due to bureaucratic failure and indifference, 72-year-old George Lee has returned to the UK. His story — marked by hardship, resilience, and injustice — sheds new light on the lasting human cost of the Windrush scandal.

George Lee arrives at Birmingham International Airport

He arrived in the UK during the late afternoon of Tuesday 22nd July, aboard The Flying Dutchman — one of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' fleet of Boeing 737 aircrafts.

Although Birmingham International Airport's Arrival Hall was bustling with people, George Lee's return to the UK was a relatively solemn affair.

He was met by just five people: Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE — Chair of the Windrush National Organisation; Charlie Williams — co-founder of the Windrush Movement; Shamaan Freeman-Powell — a Sky News reporter; a male confidant who wished to remain anonymous; and myself.

And this, after George had spent almost 27 years in exile.

It’s difficult to imagine anyone not taking an immediate liking to George Lee. Despite his ordeal, the 72-year-old’s chic attire added to a persona one could only describe as colourful. This was a man who, in the face of what many of us would have found mentally and physically intolerable, had refused to let his shoulders sag.

George is greeted by Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE

George is greeted by Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE

The Bishop greeted George with an embrace and a handshake.

“Finally, we meet. Welcome home,” he said.

“I’m back,” George replied.

His return is a triumph of sorts. The battle is won, but the war continues — and there are many bridges to cross before the campaign to restore his full entitlements as a UK citizen can be considered a success.

In truth, much of what George lost during the years he was forced to try to make a life for himself in Poland will never be recovered.

The exile, which began when he attempted to return to the UK after completing a two-year work contract, prevented him from visiting the graves of his mother and brother. He lost contact with his sisters and friends. And with no British embassy willing to even discuss his case — and refusing to issue the visa he needed to return — George had suddenly become a citizen of nowhere.

A hostile environment far from home

He would soon learn that the UK’s hostile environment was not a policy confined to Britain alone. In Poland, he suffered at the hands of landlords, employers, and — at times — outright criminals.

For nine years, he lived in bug-infested accommodation, often without basic facilities. The infestation was so bad that George made over a hundred reports to his landlord — none of which were acted upon.

And while baldness may be a fashion statement for some, for George it became a necessity — his only defence against the constant bites from bugs infesting his body, head, and hair.

George looks down at his newly acquired Windrush badge.

Exploited in Housing and Employment

On several occasions, the landlord — knowing George would struggle to find alternative accommodation — subjected him to illegal eviction tactics. These included changing the locks and sending thugs to vandalise and graffiti his living quarters.

But his housing rights were not the only rights denied to him.

On occasion, George would find work — only to find himself being exploited by employers who refused to pay. He wasn’t allowed to open a bank account. And he couldn’t access the UK state pension that should have been his entitlement.

Adding further to his difficulties, George told Sky News:

“The Polish authorities — because they knew of my situation — they took away my driving licence, and they've never given it back.”

Recognition, at last.

In the weeks following his arrival, George Lee's horrific experience has been covered by several media outlets, including The Mirror, The Jamaica Gleaner, Jam Radio UK and The Voice.

There’s no doubt their coverage will help raise further awareness of the scandal that has blighted the lives of so many of the Windrush Generation.

But it was the efforts of Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo MBE and the Windrush National Organisation — and the resilience of George Lee himself — that have produced the most significant results to date.

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Written by Mkuu Amani, a writer and photographer committed to amplifying the stories of those affected by injustice. With a focus on immigration, identity, and social change, Mkuu Amani explores the human cost of failed systems and forgotten histories.

Follow Mkuu: https://x.com/Mkuu_Amani

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