HUNDREDS gathered in the heart of Evesham town centre during the Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate Polish Heritage Day.
Several hundred people passed through Market Place on Sunday (May 5) which was full of stalls featuring typical Polish food served by vendors in national dress. A stage provided the location for music and speeches.
A greeting from the Polish Consul was delivered by Maria Łukowska the Vice Consul who paid tribute to Evesham’s Maria Kwiecen and Tomaz Stankiewicz who, with their group Mocni w Panu (Strong in the Lord) had organised the event, one of 150 similar celebrations in more than 50 British cities.
Mrs Lukowska said: “I am glad this project is permanently enrolled in the calendar of local events as the Polish Days in the United Kingdom and that more and more people are involved in its organisation.”
The theme of this year’s Polish Heritage Days is the 250th anniversary of the permanent diplomatic presence of Poland in the United Kingdom and the centenary of the renewal of Polish-British diplomatic relations.
“Our joint actions show the British and other communities living in the United Kingdom what is best in Polish culture and our common history,” she added.
“That’s how we can promote the Polish model of integration, based on friendly relations and pride of our national heritage.”
A speech from the Mayor of Evesham, Coun Mark Goodge took the opportunity to reflect on how such events would not have been considered possible, growing up in the Cold War era.
He celebrated cultural diversity and the contributions of the Polish community to the town.
