On the 24th May children from the Croydon Polish Saturday school, Hetmana Karola Chodkiewicza, visited Antokol and met with our resident Elizabeth Piekarski. Mrs Piekarski is 102 years old. She comes from Monte Cassino and was a Red Cross Sister in World War II.
Prior to their visit to Antokol, the children had taken part in an international competition in Warsaw with many other children from all over the world. The competition was all about Wojtek the Bear. Wojtek was an orphaned bear cub raised by a Lieutenant in the Polish army in World War II who became not only a mascot but also a hugely calming influence on his soldiers.
When they came back to the UK the children wanted to meet Mrs Piekarski as she had served with Wojtek the Bear in the Polish army and had known him when he was a little bear cub. The children asked lots of questions about Wojtek and found out a lot about his life, what he did in the war and how he helped the soldiers.
At the end of their visit, the children presented Mrs Piekarski with some beautiful flowers and a ‘Wojtek the Teddy Bear’ in his army uniform. The meeting meant a lot to all the children from Croydon school and Mrs Piekarski enjoyed meeting them.
Shortly after their visit we received this wonderful letter from the school...
Dear Ms Szluinska, Home Manager of Antokol,
Our visit to your establishment, - thanks to your kind invitation - has engraved itself deeply into our memories. We are very grateful to you for the opportunity to meet with the guardian of Wojtek the Bear. Not only are we honoured by this, but above all, we are extremely privileged to have spent some time with people with such interesting histories, which must not be forgotten!!!
After all, thanks to your invitation, our young people are learning about shaping human values in practice. For example, the importance of spending time with our compatriots in their advanced age. Your openness in inviting our students here not only helps them to learn about the incredible history of the heroine Lula Piekarska, but also teaches them some important reflections on life. At a time when only youth is promoted and not the charms of the “autumn of life…”
We need more such visits. That is why we are asking for another visit. You are doing a great and valuable job 👍🏻....
"Let us hasten to love people..."
With best regards,
Parents, educators and school children from “Soplicowa⛪🇵🇱” in Croydon.
