In remembrance of Alford Gardner, one of the last survivors of the Empire Windrush and a champion of racial equality through sports, Prince William extended his sympathy to all who knew the great man.

Posting on Kensington Palace’s official accounts, the Prince of Wales expressed how sad he felt and highlighted Mr Gardner’s amazing work which ended earlier this month.

I felt extremely sad to learn that Alford Gardner, one of those on board the Empire Windrush, was no longer among us. I was happy to have a chance to talk to him last summer and learn about his life.

Because of his positive and courageous actions, he greatly influenced the lives of many members of the Caribbean community here in West Yorkshire. He will be remembered by everyone for his nice spirit, his bravery and for his undying passion for cricket.

Mr Gardner made a great difference by helping, standing strong and contributing to cultural change. As a Jamaican born in 1926, he joined Britain’s Royal Air Force when they needed volunteers during World War II, as thousands of others from the Caribbean had done.

Since Gardner was trained as a motor mechanic, he was posted at RAF Filey in North Yorkshire. Following the war, he visited Jamaica once more, but in the end, he traveled on the HMT Empire Windrush to Britain at the age of 22, together with his brother Gladstone.

The brothers came into Essex at Tilbury Docks on June 22, along with many others from the Caribbean. As a result of their voyage, thousands of Caribbean people came to the UK between 1948 and 1971, forming what is now known as the Windrush generation to assist with labour scarcity after the war.

Just after settling in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Mr Gardner co-founded the Caribbean Cricket Club in 1948. At that time, most black players were kept from playing in local leagues and clubs. Because it was led by black players, it was first for Caribbean people to compete with and soon became an important part of their life and culture in Britain.

His time on the cricket team was meaningful, as it reflected his desire to promote inclusion among different races. Because of him, cricket became a way to unite people and contribute to social changes.

His achievements were celebrated in an ITV documentary titled Pride Of Britain: A Windrush Special last year for the 75th anniversary of the Windrush arrival. As part of the programme, the prince went to

Gardner’s home in Leeds and later took him to Headingley Cricket Ground, where he was honored by not just his family and friends but also cricketing greats Doing so, Prince William surprised Gardner.

Gardner was involved in many community projects over the years. He grew up with two children and, as he got older, he continued advocating for more justice on racial, immigration and justice issues.

Mr. Lammy has recently criticized the Windrush scandal in which various Caribbean immigrants were unjustly detained or deported by the UK government,

although they had spent decades living in Britain. He believed the scandal brought shame and went against the people who helped restore the country after World War II.

There have been many high-level honors given to Gardner for his work. His picture was selected by King Charles for a Windrush exhibition held across the United Kingdom in 2022 and Leeds City Council gave him the top civic award for all the help he had given both locally and to families from the Caribbean.

After his passing, the England and Wales Cricket Board recognized his role in helping the black cricketing community and Baroness Floella Benjamin also recognized Gardner for inspiring many people.

Alford Gardner’s death was quiet, coming on October 1, 2024, after battling bowel cancer for only a short while. Seven of his nine children and their children and grandchildren have described him as being humble, courageous and devoted to his family.

On the eve of Windrush Day and with the memory of that 1948 arrival still vivid, the passing of Gardner leaves us without a living reference to that chapter in British history. Future generations will continue to be inspired by his achievements as a reminder of what the Windrush generation added to Britain.

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Life Insurance vs. Annuity: What’s the Difference?

Two financial products typically rise to the forefront of a newcomer’s “do I need this?” inquiry: life insurance and annuities. T…

hey might seem similar at first because they’re offered by insurance companies, charge premiums and sometimes offer a death benefit but these two products approach financial planning from rather different angles. Determining why you need what you’re buying will help you pick the best product for your needs.

Why Purpose Matters First

View life insurance and annuities as two sides to the same currency.

You’re building wealth versus protecting beneficiaries in risky scenarios.

Make sure loved ones can cover costs if you die prematurely Life insurance Provides a tax‑free payout to your beneficiaries upon your death

Ensure you’re able to access reliable income throughout your golden years Annuity Takes what you’re putting away and turns it into a steady income during your lifetime

Naming your goal upfront usually makes the solution pretty clear.

Life Insurance at a Glance

Main mission: Get money to your family when you die to cover living costs and handle your last expenses.

Payout: The money goes directly to your beneficiaries when you pass away.

Tax treatment: Death benefits are generally income‑tax‑free.

Core flavors:

Term life offers protection during specific years but is generally the least expensive type.

Whole life – long‑term coverage that also accumulates cash that you can tap.

Reality check: Your heirs may get less money depending on what you use your cash value for.

Annuities at a Glance

Main mission: Help ensure a steady stream of income you can use while you live—and can count on even after retiring.

Payout: You get monthly payments and any money your beneficiaries stand to receive is taxable.

Tax treatment: Taxes aren’t due on the earnings until you withdraw the money.

Core flavors:

Your money grows for a specified period then you begin receiving payments. Options are stable (fixed), tied to an interest index (fixed‑indexed) or connected to investment securities (variable).

Purchase an annuity now and after about a year you’ll start getting regular payments.

A longevity annuity turns its income payments on much later than usual—say, at age 80 or 85.

Reality check: Annuity payments consist of a portion of return from contributions as well as investment earnings, so only the earnings part is subject to taxation. This income is taxed as regular rather than capital gain income.

Choosing Between the Two
Start with “Why?”

Want to support loved ones if the unexpected happens or the business needs cash? Buying a life‑insurance policy provides that cushion.

Want reliable monthly payouts that you won’t exhaust before you die? Choose an annuity.

Layer if necessary.

Commonwealth strategy is to hold both types of policies: life insurance for surviving loved ones and an annuity for immediate and ongoing income.

Mind the taxes.

Most people don’t pay taxes on money paid out of life‑insurance policies. annuity payments don’t. When estimating your future retirement income, take into account your whole tax bracket.

Make sure the insurer you choose is firmly in the black and gives good customer service as well as offering the products that meet your needs.

Note both ratings from independent financial firms and ratings from customer‑satisfaction studies. A number of leading insurers offer a complete portfolio of life insurance and annuities so you can compare coverages and prices at once.

Common Misconceptions

Many people assume life insurance gets out of reach as they age.

It’s quite reasonable to buy term life even in your thirties or forties—and rates go even lower if you’re fit.

Many people worry that all the money they invest in an annuity is inaccessible for life.

Most deferred annuities give you the option to take controlled withdrawals or include emergency‑access add‑ons.

There’s an option to handle my savings myself and avoid an annuity.

So it’s if you’re confident about investing through the good and bad times for decades ahead. An annuity allows you to offload the lifelong investment needs to the insurance company.

The Bottom Line

Life insurance guarantees financial security for your family after you’re gone.

An annuity offers security during all the years ahead.

If you’re undecided, consult a qualified professional who sells both types of coverage and is able to illustrate the differences between them. You may choose one or the other or both products in a carefully designed mix that responds to your changing needs over time.

Tip: It’s a good idea to review your policy or contract regularly and after any major changes in your life.