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Introducing
The Institute
of Polish
Military History
A message from our President, General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank
'I am delighted to be associated with the work of the Polish Heritage Society and very honoured to serve as its President. The Society's work highlights the enormous contribution which generations of Poles have made to their adopted country. Preserving and celebrating that heritage will only further strengthen the ties between Poland and the United Kingdom.
I worked closely with the Society on the project to build a memorial to the Polish Forces at the National Memorial Arboretum and saw at first hand the energy and dedication of those involved.
I encourage you to explore this website and learn about the many other projects the Society has sponsored. Do please contact us if you would like to be involved in any way'.
General The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB LVO OBE
A Debt of Dishonour is a unique documentary film dedicated Major General Sosabowski and all ranks who served in the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade Group and to their Comrades-in-Arms of the 1st British Airborne Division that fought in the ill-fated “Operation Market Garden” at Arnhem and Driel during September 1944.
Sto Lat-Albert Hall
The Polish Heritage Society
“Monumental effort” for Chopin statue in UK, media coverage
The unveiling of the statue of Fryderyk Chopin at the Royal Festival Hall on 18 May received widespread coverage in the UK and Polish media. The Duke of Gloucester’s presence was announced in the official Court Circular from Kensington Palace, reprinted in the major UK newspapers.
“Search ends on a high note”, wrote The Times on the eve of the ceremony, describing the role of the Polish Heritage Society in tracking down and restoring the statue and featuring a photo of PHS Chairman Marek Stella-Sawicki with the statue. The Daily Telegraph also ran a short diary item in advance of the ceremony.
The London Evening Standard had an item on its website early on 18 May, saying “Historic statue gifted to Britain for liberating Poland found in vaults on South Bank”, and headlined its story in the print edition later that day: “Monumental effort finds statue”.
Meanwhile the London SE1 Community website ran a detailed account of the event with a link to an audio recording of the speeches and music. Even the Times of India posted a link to the item on its site.
There was more coverage on the English service of Polish National Radio and on the official website of BBC Music magazine.
The report of the Polish news agency PAP was republished in by the most influential Polish media, including the daily Gazeta Wyborcza and its sister website Gazeta.pl. The Polish-language website Londynek.net provided a detailed account on the website, including an excellent gallery of photos of the ceremony.
