A bank holiday weekend reception held at Barton Manor in support of people displaced from Ukraine has raised in excess of £6,000 for an East Cowes charity.
Hosted by Dawn (pictured right) and Alex Haig-Thomas and organized in association with Medina Publishing and Bookshop of Cowes, the event on Saturday 30th April was attended by more than 140 Islanders and visitors from the mainland.
Beautiful performances
The evening included a piano recital by classically trained Island musician Tom Nuckley who played two pieces composed by Kyiv-born composer Reinhold Gliere.
Volunteers including two Ukrainian pupils from Ryde School served canapes with a Ukrainian twist and award-winning wine from Moldova.
The first Moldovan to receive a medal from the Queen
Victoria Dunford (pictured centre), the founder and CEO of East Cowes based Medical Aid Delivered (MAD-Aid), explained the work of the charity, which she set up when she moved to the Island in 2006.
In 2017 she received the British Empire Medal, and was the first Moldovan to receive a medal from the Queen. Since the Russian invasion MAD-Aid has sent 13 trucks of medical equipment, food and bedding from the Isle of Wight to Moldova and into Ukraine across the border.
Isle and Empires: Romanov Russia, Britain and the Isle of Wight
Historian Stephan Roman (pictured left) the author of Isle and Empires: Romanov Russia, Britain and the Isle of Wight published by Medina Publishing addressed the guests. He told the story of his grandparents who 100 years previously had fled Ukraine into Moldova to escape the onslaught of Russian Bolsheviks and later settled in England.
He saluted the bravery of the Ukrainian people who are today fighting for their freedom and liberty adding that many Russians are also opposing Putin’s war in Ukraine and that their courage should not be overlooked.
1909 peace partnership sealed at Barton Manor
Roman recalled that Barton Manor had been the place where the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family had met with King Edward VII in 1909 and set the seal on a new era of partnership and peace between Britain and Russia which lasted until the revolution of 1917.
Stephan said,
“We must never forget that there is a more liberal Russia struggling to emerge and Barton Manor should stand as a symbol of a future based, not on war and violence, but on international cooperation and shared values.”
How the money will be used
MAD-Aid plans to use the funds raised at the event to buy fridges, microwaves and washing machines for the refugees now living in the MADI-aid Phoenix Centre in neighbouring Moldova.
During her recent visit to Moldova, Victoria Dunford saw 80 displaced Ukrainians sharing one fridge.
She said,
“With hotter conditions refrigeration is becoming more essential to keeping food donations fresh and these items will help Ukrainian displaced people get better living conditions.
“Once more the people of the Isle of Wight have demonstrated that kindness does not have any border.”
News shared by Hannah on behalf of Medina Publishing. Ed
Image: Stephan Roman CMG, Victoria Dunford, Dawn Haig-Thomas
