ORP Blyskawica
Cowes Town Council
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HISTORYMAPST MARY'S CHURCHCOWES DEAUVILLE TWINNINGORP BLYSKAWICAHELP CENTREFRIENDSHIP LINKSPARTNERSHIP LINKSCOWES CARNIVAL COWES YACHTING

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRIENDS OF THE ORP BLYSKAWICA SOCIETY


President Mr Michael Aiken
Vice President Cllr Geoff Banks
 Vice President Mr Otton Hulacki
LIST OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
Chairman
Vice Chairman / Editor
Secretary / Treasurer
Liaison in Poland
Hon. Auditor 		Mr.Ken Sinnicks
Cllr.Tim Gladdis
Mrs.Marie Gladdis
Mr.John Coueslant
Mr.David Walter

Cllr.Simon Walker Cllr.Margaret Prior Cllr.Denise Hill Mr.Nick Holligan Mr.Ray Stretch
Mrs.Diane Stretch
Mr.Billy Kulik

 

 

CHAIRMANS REPORT FOR THE 65th ANNIVERSARY

The events of the 4th 5th and 6th of May started on Friday with a small welcoming reception on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, chairman Cllr Roger Mazillius hosted a short reception at the Royal London Yacht Club to greet to the Island and Cowes Her Excellency Barbara Tuge-Erecinska Ambassador of the Republic of Poland for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Colonel Krzysztof Szymanski, Military Attache from the Polish Embassy.A presentation of gifts from IoW Council and the Society was made to our guests, this was followed with a walk through the High Street for the opening Ceremony for the weekend's events held at Francki Place out side the Painters Arms, were after speeches of introductions the Ambassador unveiled a plaque with the dedication of:


This is to commemorate the tragic loss of life sustained on the evening of 4th / 5th May 1942 during an enemy aerial attack by the Luftwaffe. Some seventy souls lost their lives as a result of the raids on the shipyards in Cowes and East Cowes. The defence of the towns by the Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica throughout the night with the valiant assistance of shore side fire and rescue services was instrumental in preventing a greater tragedy. The loss to this community and the sacrifices afforded at that time will remain with us.


After the opening Ceremony at Francki Place and retiring to the Painters Arms for food and refreshments, later our guests were privately entertained for the afternoon.
In the evening guests were treated to a rousing and emotive piano recital by Captain Francki's grand-daughter, renowned concert pianist Eva Maria Doroszkowska in the Royal Yacht Squadron Pavilion.


On Saturday, East Cowes Town Council gave Polish VIPs a historical tour of the River, White's ship yard east and west in connection with the ship, this was followed by a wreath- laying ceremony at Kingston Ceremony which was attended by military and civilian veterans at the communal grave of Island residents who died during the Second World War, this was followed with a tour of the Heritage Display on the ORP Blyskawica at East Cowes Heritage Centre and later our guests were privately entertained for the afternoon by East Cowes Town Council at Albert Cottage.

In the evening Isle of Wight Council held a Civic reception in the Royal London Yacht Club for Polish and IoW VIP's, Veterans of the Blitz, Military and Civilian, a presentation of gifts from IoW Council and the Society was made to Janus Wach, Consul General and Rear Admiral Adam Mazurek, later in the evening, a concert featuring The Ave Verum Polish choir was held at St Marys Church organized by The Friends of St Mary's Church, an outstanding performance ended Saturday evening.

On Sunday, there was a service of remembrance at the War Memorial, Northwood Park, and this was followed by a very special commemorative service that took place at St Mary's Church, this service was very moving in that all of the names of the loss of life sustained on the evening of 4th / 5th May 1942 were read out and a candle lit for each name.

To finish, a march to the bandstand at Cowes Parade, for final speeches, where the celebrations were brought to a close and to retire back to the Royal British Legion Club for light refreshments.

On behalf of The Friends of ORP Blyskawica Society, our very sincere thanks to the attendance of our invited guests :

Her Excellency Barbara Tuge-Erecinska Ambassador of the Republic of Poland.
Colonel Krzysztof Szymanski, Military Attache.
Janus Wach, Consul General Consulate General of The Republic of Poland
Rear Admiral Adam Mazurek, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Polish Senior National Officer,
Kmdr Hinc, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Kmdr Tadeusz Lesisz, Mr H Jack, Mr Pierre L'Hours
Kmdr Slawomir Kudela Kommander of the Muzeum, Marynarka Wojenna,
Kmdr. Jerzy Lubkowski Kommander of the ORP Blyskawica
Mrs J. Doroszkowska & Miss E. Doroszkowska
Martin White, Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.
David Langford, High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight
Mr Andrew Turner, Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight
Cllr Roger Mazillius, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council

The 65th Committee,
Cllr Tim Gladdis (Chairman), Cllr Geoff Banks (Vice President), Mr Ken Sinnicks (Vice Chairman), Otton Hulacki (Vice President), Reverend Richard Emblin (St Mary's church), Mrs Marie Gladdis (Treasurer), Mrs Diane Stretch (Minutes Secretary), Cllr Margeret Prior (Mayor of East Cowes), Cllr Simon Walker (Deputy Mayor of East Cowes), Cllr Peter Lloyd, Mr Bob Milner (Island Concerts), Mr Raymond Stretch, Cllr Charles Chapman (Chairman for the Isle of Wight Council 2006/07), Estelle Thomas (IW Rural Community Council)

The Friends ot the ORP Blyskawica Society gratefully acknowledges the additional help and support from; The Isle of Wight Council Cllr Roger Mazillius, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council 2007 (The Civic Office, Highways, Car parks, Wightbus, Media & Communications), Cowes Town Council, East Cowes Town Council, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal London Yacht Club, Mr Michael Aiken (President for the Society), G. J. Banks (I.W.)Ltd, The Friends of St Mary's Church, Mr John Power (First Chairman for the Society), Red Funnel Ferries, St Mary's Church, The Royal British Legion Club (Cowes), Island Concerts, The IW Rural Community Council, Cowes Carnival Committee, The Isle of Wight Charitable Trust, The Daisie Rich Trust, The Painters Arms, The Anchor Inn, Corries Cabin, Galsworthy Graphics Ltd, Badgemaster Ltd, East Cowes Heritage Group, Cowes Heritage Group, Shanklin Chine, Cowes Library, Albert Cottage, Isle of Wight County Press and TS Osborne Sea Cadets for all of your sponsorship, publicity, support, hospitality and financial support to truly make the weekend of 4th 5th 6th May a memorable event in respect for the Cowes and East Cowes Citizens that lost there lives and appreciation of the part played by the crew of the ORP Blyskawica, shore side fire and rescue services during the Blitz on the towns of Cowes in 1942, We do hope that you will feel that the support was respectfully utilised in remembrance of a very special occasion for the towns of Cowes and East Cowes.


As Chairman of the Society and the 65th Committee a personal thank you to my two main pillars of support, Cllr Geoff Banks of all his hard work on preparing and playing a prominent part at Francki Place, organising the Ave Verum Polish Choir event in St Mary's Church with The Friends of St Mary's Church and through out the entire weekend of events, and to my wife Mrs Marie Gladdis for all her work in the background on behalf of the society.