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Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak, led a delegation fresh from lengthy talks with the British government on Ukraine to Newark where they laid wreaths and paid respects to General Wladyslaw Sikorski




Top ministers and members of the Poish military privately paid their respects to that country’s wartime leader in Newark Cemetery last night before attending a reception at the town hall.

Amid tight security, Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak led a delegation fresh from lengthy talks with the British government’s highest echelons on Ukraine to Newark where they laid wreaths and paid respects to General Wladyslaw Sikorski.

A statue had been unveiled to General Sikorski a day prior, but the Defence Minister and his party were unable to break away from their talks in time to be there.

Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak right in Newark Town Hall.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak right in Newark Town Hall.
Firm friends: Newark Mayor Pamela Ball and Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Firm friends: Newark Mayor Pamela Ball and Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.
The Minister of Defence meets the Mayor of Newark, Pamela Ball.
The Minister of Defence meets the Mayor of Newark, Pamela Ball.

Still wanting to be a part of the unveiling of the bronze life-size statue of General Sikorski, wartime prime minister in exile and commander-in-chief of Polish forces, they travelled to Newark the following day.

Defence Minister Blaszczak was accompanied by Director of the Department of International Security, Piotr Pacholski, Director of the Department of Military Foreign Cooperation, Brigadier General Bogdan Pidanty, Director of Armament Agency Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, Defence Attache Colonel Michal Sprengel, Deputy Director Operational Center of Minister of National Defence Lukasz Ramatowski, Operational Center of Minister of National Defence, Lieutenant Commander Kacper Zarychta and others.

The medals presented last night.
The medals presented last night.
The Defence Minister presents Andy Hardy, of Newark and Sherwood District Council, with his medal.
The Defence Minister presents Andy Hardy, of Newark and Sherwood District Council, with his medal.

The Defence Minister warmly introduced himself to small crowd of Newark and Sherwood notables, some of whom were to receive medals for the assistance they have provided to the Polish military, either in facilitating the statue of General Sikorski, their role in safeguarding and tending to the burial plots of the 440 Polish servicemen, in Newark Cemetery, the largest Polish forces’ graveyard in the UK, or for endeavours that have furthered or enhanced Anglo-Polish relations or kept memories alive.

Gold medals were accepted by the Mayor of Newark, Pamela Ball, on behalf of the town of Newark, and former mayor Laurence Goff for his role in the repatriations of three Polish presidents in exile back to their homeland last year and as a member of the Friends of Newark Cemetery.

Colonel Tomasz Ferfecki announces those receiving medals.
Colonel Tomasz Ferfecki announces those receiving medals.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.

Those receiving silver medals were the Newark RAF and Polish Air Force hostorian Paul Trickett, Geoff Burton and Brendan Pritchard, directors of the RAF Museum in Ingham, Andy Hardy, community manager at Newark and Sherwood District Council, whose team have led on the statue project and others with a Polish influence, Tomasz Wisniewski, founder and president of the Worcestershire Polish Association, and Tomasz Muskus, entrepreneur and historian.

A bronze medal was presented to Shaun Noble, researcher and member of the Friends of Newark Cemetery.

Polish ministerial visit to Newark
Polish ministerial visit to Newark
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak, Newark Mayor Pamela Ball and chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council Celia Brooks with those that received medals.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak, Newark Mayor Pamela Ball and chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council Celia Brooks with those that received medals.

He also met Polish Scouts and delivered a speech in which he spoke of a unique Polish/British bond and said that Britons and Poles, through the unveiling of the statue, had the chance to learn about the second world war cintributions of both nations all over again.

He thanked Newark for its continued commitment in caring for the Polish fallen.

Newark Mayor Pamela Ball oaid tribute to the defiance that the Poles had shown, firstly towards the Nazis and then the Soviets, and added that it was an honour and a privilege to honour the memories and the graves of dead Polish servicemen these past decades and would remain so forever.

Senior military and political figures at Newark Town Hall.
Senior military and political figures at Newark Town Hall.

She also refered to the legacy of the second world war that saw many Poles remain behind in Newark and the strength of the bond that had created and would also exist in perpetuity.

Hundreds of people attended the unveiling of a statue of Polish wartime Prime Minister and armed forces commander, General Wladyslaw Sikorski in Newark Cemetery on Tuesday, the 80th anniversary of his death in a plane crash in Gibraltar on take-off, and the 30th year since the repatriation of his body to a hero’s welcome.

Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak meets Polish Scouts.
Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Blaszczak meets Polish Scouts.

General Sikorski's body was brought to Newark and laid to rest in the Polish plot, which the general himself opened, and beneath the Polish Memorial Cross he unveiled.



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