Former Pembroke Dock teacher Joan Lewis’ latest novel, Because You Were There, tells the story of two elderly British women who first met when Tina, a member of the Windrush Generation, was a student at a school for ‘Educationally Subnormal’ pupils, where Felicity worked as a young teacher. With their paths crossing again in 2017, can Tina ever forgive her adopted country for the wrongs she has suffered?

Before retiring, Joan worked as a teacher in the Pembroke Dock area which inspired her to write this tale of a teacher and her student.

Because You Were There is a poignant and semi-autobiographical novel with female friendship and the feeling of belonging at its heart.

Based on the realities and injustices suffered in the Windrush Deportation Scandal, the author of this eloquently crafted narrative takes much care with her subject matter as she immerses the reader in the details and consequences of the false judgements and gross racial prejudices experienced by Windrush victims.

A standout work of fiction chronicling dark and shameful times in our recent social history, Because You Were There is a novel that will not only prompt incredulity in the reader but will also ensure the stories of real people like Tina and Felicity are never forgotten.

Author Joan Lewis said: “I wish to wake people up to some of the injustices that have happened under our watch by creating empathy for its victims through this piece of semi-autobiographical fiction. As a young teacher in an ESN school in seventies Britain, where immigrant Caribbean children were wrongly classified, I witnessed prejudice and the beginnings of this scandal first hand, but like most of us do, I turned away.”

“I dream that my novel will help to increase understanding and diversity within our society, and combat prejudice,” she added.

Published by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, Because You Were There (ISBN:978-1-80378-112-9) is published on April 25, 2023 and is available in paperback and Kindle format.