On Saturday 9 July the MAFCSV were finally able to hold the postponed 80th Anniversary event to mark the arrival of the Czechoslovak Forces to the UK in 1940.
The Cholmondeley Estate was bathed in glorious sunshine as the event began with a parade organised by Phil Read and the Parade Marshall Mr Timmins. The Nantwich Detachment, Army Cadet Force and 100 (Nantwich) Squadron RAF Air Cadets were extremely smart and carried out all their duties throughout the day in an exemplary way. The memorial was led by the Chair, Mrs Gerry Manolas, and the commemorative service was given by the Reverend Richard Diggle, who is the vicar of Cholmondeley and Bickley Parish.
We were hosted by Lord and Lady Cholmondeley and their family. Many local dignitaries attended including Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, Lady Redmond, M.B.E., Her Excellency the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Mrs. Marie Chatardová, His Excellency the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Mr Róbert Ondrejcsák , and The Member of Parliament for Eddisbury, Mr. Edward Timpson, C.B.E., M.P. The Army was represented by Colonel Lindsey Forbes, T.D., V.R. and the Royal Air Force was represented by Group Captain John Booth.
We were delighted to have with us The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Faisal Hussain and the MAFCSV look forward to working with him and the Council to further links with them and Lidice.
Wreaths were also laid at the event by Mr John Dwyer the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, Mr. Christopher Hopley the Chairman of Cholmondeley and Chorley Parish Council, Mr. Michael Bagshaw, the County Chairman of the Royal British Legion Cheshire, and Mr. Michael Revell the Chairman of the Royal Air Force Association Market Drayton.
Mrs. Sheila Novak represented all the veterans’ families as the widow of veteran Joe Novak, who was a regular attendee of the Cholmondeley memorial events.
The Lady Grenfell-Baines, M.B.E. on behalf of all those Czechoslovak children that escaped on the Kindertransport trains to Great Britain before the war.
The Czechoslovak Embassy in the UK was also represented by The Defence Attaché of the Czech Republic, Brigadier-General Vratislav Beran and The Czech Consul General, Manchester, Mr Ivo Losman.
The Slovak Embassy was also represented by the Defence Attaché of the Slovak Republic, Colonel Vladimír Stolárik.
To mark the 80th anniversary Lord Cholmondeley unveiled two new information panel created by the MAFCSV, which will be housed in the Chapel. They tell the history of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces time at the estate, and capture what life was like for them during the summer and autumn of 1940, through a selection of photographs. We hope that visitors to the estate will learn about the valuable role the Czechoslovak Forces played alongside the Allies, in WWII.
The afternoon was rounded off with a fabulous Tea at the Cholmondeley café, which was organised by Belinda and her team, along with Helen Partington, who created some very tasty Czechoslovak biscuits to go along with it.
Huge thanks go to all those who helped us deliver this event but in particular the Estate Team who have tirelessly worked with us on every detail and the Cholmondeley Castle staff who provide a marvellous lunch for the Official Party. Thank you to Lady Cholmondeley for the beautiful flower arrangements on each of the tables.
Finally, we must mention Lt. Colonel Nick Southward who prepped every step of the event to ensure it was a worthy commemoration, the first where there were no Czechoslovak WWII veterans in attendance.
Looking back on the day I am sure the veterans would have been more than delighted to know that 80+ years after they arrived here, we are still honouring them, and will continue to do so in the future.
