An exhibition documenting the journey of sugar from the Caribbean to Newham is launching in Stratford on Monday.

It is called “From Discovery to Independence: Highlighting the Journey of Sugar from The Caribbean to Newham” and will take place at the Stratford Library on The Grove from 6-8pm.

It tells a story of Newham’s connection with sugar and reflects on the colonial development of the British Caribbean from discovery to independence.

The exhibition is part of a community partnership between the Tony Cheeseman Foundation and the National Archives and images have been taken from a Foreign and Commonwealth Office collection.

The foundation was set up to continue the legacy of Tony Cheeseman, who came to Newham from Barbados in the 60s and founded Black Performing Arts and Visual Workshops in Forest Gate.

One of the aims of the foundation is to preserve the heritage of Caribbean communities in Newham.

The Mayor Sir Robin Wales and the acting High Commissioner of Barbados Donville Johnson will be at the launch on Monday.

Also attending is Windrush survivor Sam King MBE along with the Chair of the Windrush Foundation Arthur Torrington CBE.

Windrush refers to the ship which carried the first post war wave of Caribbean settlers to Tilbury Docks on June 21, 1948.

The organisation plays the leading role in preserving the history of the arrival of these immigrants and celebrates their contribution to the making of modern Britain.