Brian Douglas: ‘Brexit’ The Polish case for consideration

                                        ‘Brexit’ The Polish case for consideration

Polish pilots and ground crew at RAF Leconfield July 1940

 In the midst of the Brexit negotiations I wonder what the feelings of the Polish community in the UK is because their Country Poland and the UK has since the 15^th Century had strong ties. Furthermore in the early 16^th Century diplomatic relations were further developed as was trade between the 2 Countries. Merchants brought and sold products and some settled in the UK opening business interests. Moving on to the 1920s and the first Polish embassy was opened in London and when Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany in September 1939 just a week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact the UK declared war on Germany along with France starting World War 2.

It is ironic that only a few miles from where I was brought up as a child in Beverley in East Yorkshire was the Leconfield air force base were Polish pilots in World War 2.  Arriving in December 1939 it was here that many Polish airmen who were already battle hardened at that time after fighting the Nazi’s in the skies over Europe came to help and flew many sorties in 302 and 303 squadron in the 1940s gaining many victories over the German invaders including Polish pilots who flew UK aircraft in the battle of Britain. The Polish pilot learned quickly the British aircraft which meant pulling the throttle forward rather than in the Polish aircraft they knew back home where the throttle was pulled backwards to accelerate and learning to read miles per hour rather than km per hour for example. They performed brilliantly and were the pride of many squadrons in the UK in World war 2.

ZDZISLAW HENNEBERG, FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JOHN KENT AND FLYING OFFICER MARIAN PISAREK, ALL FROM NO. 3030 FIGHTER SQUADRON, AT RAF LECONFIELD ON 24 OCTOBER 1940.

After the war many pilots stayed on British soil, married local ladies and formed families, other started businesses and became a part of the community. Before I came to Romania I remember a woman who lived near me having a problem with her garden gate and offered to help. It was simply rusty hinges and a spot of oil cured the problem and she invited me in for a cup of tea and introduced me to her Husband. They were a couple of senior citizens and I noticed he spoke with an accent but didnt dare ask, however in polite conversation his Wife said proudly that he was Polish! A wonderful calm and polite man who was so happy to sit and talk with me I remember, yet one who many years ago put his life at risk helping a nation that now only sees the Polish people as immigrants!

We have all heard the latest jokes I note about the Polish plumber, but the fact is he is well liked by his clients as does a professional job at at the correct price. He also does this job that many British tradesmen doesn’t want for various reasons so in reality the joke is not on the Polish plumber but the ones who are ignorant of such tradesmen when they do excellent work.

There is a huge Polish community in the UK that under freedom of movement rules accepted by the UK until the Brexit vote were accepted in the large part as are a people who are respected, work hard and their community has a low crime rate overall in the UK. Many who have been in the UK for years have families there and children, even grand children, yet with all the scaremongering and press releases over Brexit now feel unwelcome and some have even left taking their families back home.

The UK I note first applied to join the EU in 1961 in an attempt to avoid the danger of political isolation in Europe and though it wasn’t until in the 1970s that the UK joined the EU it had seen the advantages of being a club member. The main is not in my opinion about trade or immigration as within the EU Countries since the end of World war 2 there has been peace and that is the unique part of the EU membership I feel. Yes nowadays we don’t like as Russia did in the cold war send in the tanks at night time to force a point but rather sit and negotiate our differences around the table. Yes it costs a huge amount to be an EU member and one might say as I do well this is worth it as is the cost of real peace. We can all in each Country have differences, but can and have learned to resolve these problems around the table and correctly so as the cost of the other option war is far higher in monetary terms on any nation let alone human cost!

Trade with the UK and Poland has flourished in the EU years with both Countries gaining and also becoming closer friends, that was until Brexit hit the table. Do we really want to loose all we have gained and turn our backs on the brave Polish pilots that helped the UK including win the battle of Britain in World War 2. If so then the UK will be the looser I feel as will lose not only in trade and diplomatic relationships, long friendships but more importantly in generations of trust that will easily be wiped away at the stoke of a pen!

Author Brian Douglas

23 September 2018.

Brian Douglas is a British born Humanitarian aid worker with over 24 years experience of working hands on with marginalized in Eastern Europe. Brian was awarded in 2016 a Gala Top 10 Award in Romania and in 2017 was awarded the British News Agency News247WorldPress ,,Person of the Year Award.”