Mark pipes up to greet those fleeing Ukraine at border
The sound of Scotland has been welcoming refugees from Ukraine as they reach the border with Poland.
Mark Bushby from Comrie has been helping out with Siobhan’s Trust – the Perthshire charity currently providing food and essentials at Medyka, 30 miles from Lviv, for those displaced from their homes by Russia’s invasion.
The 21 year-old former Ardvreck pupil is in his third year at Bristol University studying for a masters degree in geography with innovation.
Mark has been playing the pipes since his Ardvreck days and has been attracting people to the stall with his tunes.
The field kitchen set up by David Fox-Pitt of Wild Fox Events and his team, including Crieff’s Chris McIntosh, was one of the first to provide tired refugees with aid as they arrived at the checkpoint.
Mark’s mum, Liz, told the Herald: “Mark jumped at the opportunity to go out to the Polish-Ukranian border to do what he could to help and took one of his flatmates with him.
“He cooks, scrubs pans and serves up food. On a daily basis he goes over the border into Ukraine taking food and water to refugees who can queue for 10 hours to get into Poland. It’s a humbling experience and he is so impressed by the Ukrainian people – they are so brave, so polite and so grateful.
“They initially turn down the offer of food because they think someone else must need it more than them, then they take just a very little because they assume it must be shared by so many people.”
Liz said the team is working long hours.
She continued:“Mark’s shift is from 3am to 8pm but he doesn’t mind because it’s all so worthwhile.
“This week he befriended a 95 year-old who fought the Russians in the Second World War, was captured and forced to work in the mines in Siberia and is now fleeing Ukraine with his grandson.
“When he was offered food he wouldn’t take it because he couldn’t understand the concept of anything being free.
“There are also dogs coming across the border – some with owners and others which have been rescued and are looking for homes. Mark enjoys engaging with them too.
“There seems to be a great team spirit amongst the volunteers with everyone wanting to do all they can to help.”
Anyone wishing to support the team’s effort can donate online at https:// siobhanstrust.uk/