PAST EVENTS 2023
On 11 February 2023 at Łowiczanka, POSK King Street Hammersmith, London, UK, Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group and the former Ognisko Rodzin Osadników Kresowych commemorated the anniversary of the deportations to Siberia and the USSR which began on 10 February 1940 and continued until June 1941.
Guest Performer was Katy Carr – an award-winning British recording artist who has released 6 albums. Her recent albums Paszport (2012), ‘Polonia' (2015) and Providence (2020) are inspired by the Polish WWII experience. In 2016, Katy was awarded the Pro Patria medal for her humanitarian and musical work. Katy has previously performed at our annual commemoration and we were delighted to have her back.
Aleksander Smaga MSc. Dipl.-Ing. Arch. RIBA ARB - International architect, spoke about the Polish Air Force Memorial in Plumetot, Normandy he designed in honour of Poles (some of whom survived the deprivations of Siberian deportation) who went on to fight the Nazis to free Europe in the hope of returning to their homeland.
The event was attended by Konsul Anna Tarnawska-Waszak as well as Ryszard Grzybowski, one time chair of OROK, Ognisko Rodzin Osadników Kresowych, with his wife Czesia together with several other survivors including Jadwiga Zarzycka, Jerry Kubica, Marian Słomka (author). Also present were authors Richard Spyrka, Isabella Moore,
Guest speakers were Anna Kucewicz, MBE, MSc, - daughter of a Siberian deportation survivor and creator of the website Polish at Heart. The title says everything. A graduate in history, she knew little of her parents' history as a child, except for the snippets her grandmother shared. Since then and having finally got more details from her father, now in his 90s, she has made discoveries about which she spoke at the event.