Day of celebration for Melton's Polish community
They converged on The Polish Club, on Sandy Lane, to look at displays of photos and hear talks from residents, some of whom were among the first to come to Melton following the Second World War.
The town’s wartime air base became a Polish resettlement site, with many families living in freezing cold barrel-shaped Nissen huts.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Many of the original people were the families of Polish airmen who had been based at the town’s airfield.
One of the organisers of Sunday’s event, Sylwia Orzech, said: “The event was really to celebrate the Polish parish being set up in Melton in 1948.
“We had six ladies on the stage who had come here just after the war in 1946.
“They left Poland as young young children and went to Siberia, and then India and Africa, before ending up in England.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“It was very moving for many of the people who were there on Sunday because we didn’t know these stories.”
One of the highlights of the event was a dance performance by children dressed in traditional Polish clothing.
Around 200 people attended, including Mayor of Melton, Councillor Pru Chandler, and representatives of Melton Town Estate.
Guests enjoyed a range of different Polish dishes.
Sylwia said: “There are about 1,000 people from Polish families in Melton at the moment, and we had a very good turnout to this event.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“I was surprised by how people really engaged with the event, and it was nice for the children from our community to learn about the history of how their families came to be in Melton.
“We want to organise some more events like this because it went so well.”
The day began with a Mass at the Polish Church, in Sandy Lane, before activities began in The Polish Club at noon.
It went on until 5pm with guests also taking the oppostunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Poland gaining its independence.