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The Westcarrs reunion in Churchdown

It was a very special weekend for the Westcarrs when five generations gathered at Churchdown Community Centre - some of them from as far afield as Jamaica and the States - for the biggest reunion the family had ever seen.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire caught up with Bernard ahead of the big celebration to find out why he decided to organise it all - and discovered a fascinating story of migration across the Atlantic and back again.

Bernard's father, Austin Westcarr, came to Gloucester with his wife from Jamaica in the 1950s.

He was very much a 'founding father' of the West Indian community in the city and became affectionately known as 'Daddy West'.

The family tree on display

Celebrate

Bernard said of the reunion: "We want to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on, like my Dad and uncles, to celebrate the life and achievements of present-day Westcarrs.

"And, equally as important, is for young Westcarrs to meet and get to know one another.

"We hope this socialising and communication will continue so the name Westcarr lives in finitum."

There are slavery connections in both branches of Bernard's ancestry.

His maternal ancestors came from the East Coast of Africa and were transported as slaves to the West Indies. And his father's ancestors arrived in Filey, North Yorkshire via the slave trade and later generations moved to Jamaica.

Uncle Whitney

'Family unity'

Bernard said "It's extremely important when you know your family history, and over three hundred years, the product is what you see here today in me, my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"Slavery played a great part in the early years of my ancestors and it's important to recognise that too."

One interesting aspect of the family reunion was that the oldest Westcarr present, Bernard's Uncle Whitney, now lives in a nursing home in Leeds - less than 70 miles from Filey where one side of the family has its earliest British roots. 

"We have come full circle," said Bernard. "We feel proud of our family unity over the years, we are very family orientated and we believe it's very, very important, to meet at least every 25 years or so to keep the family ties going.

"We must endeavour to maintain those links."