I attended an important tribute to a remarkable Buckie resident, Emil Wojcik, this past weekend, when local people came together at Buckie Thistle Victoria Lounge to remember Emil for his contribution to local community life here in the North-east.
Emil Wojcik was born in Poland in 1920 and was forced to give up his ambitions to become a dentist when war broke out in 1939 and Poland was invaded by the Russians and the Germans. Incredibly, he escaped being forced to work in the mines and thanks to help from the French Resistance and American troops, Emil found himself in England where he joined the Polish Armed Forces in the West, before being billeted at Gordon Castle in Fochabers. It was here that he met his future wife, Caterina, and they eventually married and settled in Buckie, where he went on to become an integral part of the local community. He was well known for his businesses such as ‘Emils’ snooker hall and his love of football, eventually becoming Vice President of Buckie Thistle Football Club in the 1960s. When he died in 2002, a requiem mass was held for him at St Peter’s Church in Buckie.
A memorial plaque has been erected at the Football Club in honour of Emil as part of this tribute event, which was opened with Banff musician Gerald Duncan singing ‘We Came Here for Shelter’. Gerald had written this song specially for ‘The Eagle and the Unicorn’ project at Duff House, which recounted the stories of Polish soldiers based there during the War. Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson, was also in attendance to give the address and memories were shared of man much loved and respected by the people of Buckie.
This celebration of Emil’s life, his sacrifices, his service and bravery during the War and his decision to settle in the North-east where he became a much-loved member of the Buckie community is testament to his character and the impact he had locally and in terms of the important connection forged between Poland and Scotland in the 20th century.
At this event, I was pleased to read out a letter from the Chairman of the Friends of Duff House, Ian Williams, who had co-ordinated ‘The Eagle and the Unicorn’ exhibition at Duff House last year which recounted the stories of Emil and his compatriots as they survived the hardships of the Nazi occupation of their homeland and their escape to Scotland. Ian Williams emphasised the important contribution Emil and his family had made within the community which benefited the local area and cemented a closeness between our nations that will endure.
I am proud of the continuation of these close connections, forged in a time of War but enduring in the hearts and minds of the local community. It is in marked contrast to the actions of the post-war Labour Government back in the late 1940s, when they did not invite Polish soldiers who had fought so courageously with the Allies to the Victory Parade in London. Fortunately, this historical wrong was righted in 2005, but I’m proud that in the North-east there was no such ambivalence on the Polish soldiers that sacrificed so much for peace. Now, this appreciation will continue thanks to this tribute and new memorial plaque to Buckie legend, Emil Wojcik.
