Ukraine – In everyone’s heart
WITH the continuing onslaught of barbarity currently taking place in Ukraine and millions trying to flee, it seems wrong to be thinking about events, fiestas and celebrations.
Last Saturday evening was the Benidorm half marathon but before the start competitors and spectators took a few moments to think of those caught up in this simply unimaginable horror.
Earlier in the day, I took part in a solidarity march in Benidorm with a very dear friend, who is currently en-route to Poland with a van full of medical supplies, purchased with money donated predominantly by friends.
We arrived on time, which means early by Spanish standards, to just a handful of participants and a few police. Then within 15 minutes the crowd started to swell with a mix of Ukrainians and Spaniards, all equally appalled at what they are seeing broadcast.
My friend spotted two gents, holding the Ukrainian flag, one decorated with a ‘Tryzub’ - a blue shield with a gold trident which is the Ukrainian coat of arms and wanted a photograph with them. We were standing next to the pair, they heard us chatting in English and so she stood between them. I then asked them if it was ok to take a picture and they either didn’t hear or possibly didn’t understand, so I repeated it in Ukrainian.
Well, you’d have thought I’d parted the Red Sea by the expression on their faces and they asked where I’d learnt to speak it. I told them that I was Ukrainian but born in the UK and apologised as my grammar was a tad rusty.
Ukrainian was my first language, as it would have been for many of my friends at the time. I went to school at five years of age, not speaking a word of English but I don’t recall ever really having any problems.
We all went to school Monday to Friday; on Friday evening we went to ‘CYM’ - basically a cross of brownies/cubs, girl guides/ scouts at our cultural centre in Holland Park which is still there and was visited by William and Kate this week to meet Ukrainians who were packing aid to send over.
On Saturdays, I attended Ukrainian school (yes school 6 days a week) where we were taught grammar, history, geography, literature, religion... I think that’s it.
I always remember rushing back home to be in time to watch Dr Who – at the time it was in black and white and Jon Pertwee was the doctor. The daleks absolutely terrified me but looking back now, with today’s sophisticated special effects, it looks almost comical.
Sunday was church – no ifs or buts and living in London, we attended the Ukrainian Catholic cathedral in Mayfair… just off Oxford Street and where Prince Charles and Camilla visited this week.
Summer holidays were the best – I was shipped off to Burton on Trent (near Derby) where we went to Ukrainian summer camp for 6 weeks, I believe the place used to be an ex-army camp! It was fabulous – fresh air, acres of fields to explore. The first year I went was ‘the’ summer of 76 – yes that summer! I think there must have been several hundred attending, from all across the UK. The younger ones – such as me, slept in barracks and the older ones were allowed in six bed tents. We’d still have lessons in the morning, but afternoons were fun activities – there was an outdoor swimming pool and lots of sport. Meal times were interesting – you took your own plate – I had a white enamel one, mug and cutlery and afterwards had to wash it. There was no choice, you ate what was served or went hungry. There was no hot running water so you showered in cold water.
We even had a ‘midnight alarm’. A siren went off and we had to role-play that the Russians were invading. No lights were allowed and you’d have to get dressed in the dark and escape – not on your own but the entire barrack together, so around 20-odd with the two supervisors.
I remember one year we got lost and ended up in a cul-de-sac, some 40 children at what would have been 02.00 or 03.00.
A neighbour happened to get up, spotted us and called the police, totally terrified. I bet it took some explaining that we were playing a game at that time of the night!
Goes to show that even back in the 70s we were almost indoctrinated that the Russians were oppressive and would attack.
Over this last week it’s been truly humbling to witness the outpouring of love and support for the Ukrainian nation, with town halls holding solidarity vigils and monuments across the world lit up in the nation's flag colours - blue and yellow, blue representing the sky and yellow the wheat.