Published: Thursday, 25th August 2022
Wednesday’s celebration of Ukrainian independence was ‘a truly moving event’, in which there were prayers, stories and songs to mark the occasion.
Refugees, hosts and members of the local community gathered at King’s Staithe Square for an event organised by the borough council to bring people together and celebrate in a way that has been denied to them in their home country.
Council leader, Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, said: “It was a truly moving event. I don’t think there were many dry eyes at the end when everyone spontaneously stood and joined in the Ukrainian national anthem.
“I was honoured to be in a position to put on this event for the community and seeing their reaction showed it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Council leader, Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, said: “It was a truly moving event. I don’t think there were many dry eyes at the end when everyone spontaneously stood and joined in the Ukrainian national anthem.
“I was honoured to be in a position to put on this event for the community and seeing their reaction showed it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Earlier in the day the council had put on a family event with complimentary showings of Minions and Jurassic World that had been dubbed into Ukrainian.
In the evening, with the Custom House lit up in the colours of the Ukraine flag, the community gathered for an event of reflection.
The event was opened by the Mayor, Cllr Lesley Bambridge, and included reflections and prayers from the vicar of St Margaret’s, Canon Mark Dimond.
Cllr Stuart Dark told the people gathered: “We wanted to help our most welcome guests have some sort of ‘family event’ on this important day for them, demonstrating our great West Norfolk hospitality.
“Through this vigil and us coming together now, an established community and most welcome new members, it gives us an opportunity to say a huge public ‘thank you’ to all the great West Norfolk residents who have taken refugees in, given them support, donated etc. and those working tirelessly in our reception centre to help - put simply you are amazing and show our best side.
“We as a borough council have been welcoming and supporting refugees since just after the invasion. Our centre, staffed with partner agencies and two great charities, The Hanseatic Union and Access, currently assists 150 Ukrainian people who have come to West Norfolk, 40 of whom are children. Sadly the numbers are continuing to rise due to the ongoing conflict.
“We wanted, by this vigil and the lighting of our historic Corn Exchange, to say clearly and loudly to Ukrainians here and everywhere: you have our full support for however long it is needed.
“I look forward, like all here, to future years’ celebrations when there will be peace in a sovereign and independent Ukraine.”
One of the refugees who has found sanctuary in west Norfolk, Viktor*, spoke movingly in Ukrainian of the plight of his people but also of the welcome he had received in west Norfolk and his gratitude for the support given by the council and local charities. His words were translated into English by another refugee, Olena.
The event concluded with two songs sung by Tetiana, a refugee who is staying with hosts in Hunstanton. The first was a traditional Ukrainian folk song, ‘Oj, u luzi chervona kalyna!’ (Oh, there is a red viburnum in the meadow), a song about the desire of the Ukrainian people to be independent and which has become a symbol of the determination of Ukrainian people to repel the illegal invasion of their country.
The second was the national anthem of Ukraine. As Tetiana sang, the Ukrainians present joined in and everyone spontaneously stood as a mark of respect.
