Children from a Polish Saturday school performed a folk dance to celebrate an elderly Timperley woman who fled the Nazis and ended up as a nurse in England.
The group of youngsters from Polska Szkola Jezykow Obcych in Manchester dressed in traditional folk costumes and visited Timperley Care Home on Main Road to perform for 93-year-old Edyta Jachimowicz on International Dance Day (April 29).
Edyta has lived in the UK for decades after fleeing from the Nazis when she was a child in Poland.
The performance was organised by Iwona Pawelczyk, Kingsley Healthcare Home's Polish activities coordinator, who was inspired by Edyta's life story.
Iwona said: "We were moved by Edyta's life story and decided to create a special event for her and the other residents.
"We wanted to do something that would celebrate Edyta's Polish heritage and the vibrant culture of her homeland and decided on a Polish dance display."
Edyta was born in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, in 1930, and was evacuated from her homeland with some of her family at the beginning of World War II.
Her father, Josef, refused to join the German army and went into hiding, until he was caught and sent to Auschwitz before being sent to Czechoslovakia to build railways.
He was caught sneaking food back into Auschwitz for his fellow inmates and was executed.
Edyta travelled with her mother and ended up meeting her husband in Italy, before they moved to Manchester, where she trained and worked at Eccles and Patricroft Hospital as a nurse, whilst also having two daughters and grandchildren.
The dance was organised to honour her life and remind her of her beloved homeland.
Iwona said: "The dance performance was a huge success, and the residents, including Edyta, were thrilled. They clapped and sang along, and the children's energy was contagious.
"The event was a fantastic opportunity for the young generation to learn about Polish culture and for the residents to relive some cherished memories."
One of the teachers, Magdalena Bartusiak, was a member of one of the UK's longest-standing Polish folk dance groups Polonez, which was started by expatriates in 1949.
The group has taken part in many events, such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth and the recent visit by King Charles and The Queen Consort Camila to Bolton Town Hall to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
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