Poland in the UK

The Ambassador met with the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Rod McKerlich and Cardiff Council officials before having a bilateral meeting with the First Minister of Wales Rt Hon Prof Mark Drakeford MS as well as the Economy Minister Vaughan Gething MS.

The new Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland was inaugurated at Cardiff Castle, with Prof Singhal becoming the Honorary Consul. The ceremony took place in the presence of members of the Polish diaspora, civic society as well as the First Minister, the Lord Mayor, the Lord Lieutenant, and the High Sheriff.

The Ambassador also laid a wreath at the memorial to Polish soldiers, airmen and sailors of the Second World War at the City Hall.

The Ambassador then visited the Porthcawl Museum to see an exhibit built around a propeller from a crashed Avro Ansen which was flown by a Polish pilot Piotr Olgierd Strycharek. He then travelled to the Nottage Cemetery to pay homage to the five Polish airmen who were part of the 53-strong multinational crew from Stormy Down and are buried at Nottage Cemetery. The Mayor of Bridgend County Council Cllr John Spanswick and the Lady Mayoress Susan Spanswick hosted the Ambassadorial visit, which was organised by the Royal Air Force.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “As a confident, outward-looking nation, we are keen to strengthen our global relationships and I warmly welcome the establishment of the Polish Consulate in Wales and the appointment of Professor Singhal.

“Wales and Poland have many shared connections, with the Polish community in Wales making a positive and valued contribution to our society.”

Speaking about the opening of the new consulate, Ambassador Rzegocki said: ”It is so important that an Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland is being opened in Cardiff because it is the only constituent country of the United Kingdom where we do not yet have an honorary consulate or a consulate general of Poland. This new office will bring help to Polish citizens who for some reason are unable to reach directly the consulate general in Manchester or the consular section in London and will strengthen Polish-Welsh relations. It is also a recognition of the considerable presence of Poles in Wales and of the activities of Prof Keshav Singhal aimed at promoting Poland in that part of the UK. I am very grateful to Prof Singhal for his work, for taking up this significant role and I wish him all the best. I would also like to thank everyone who has made this inauguration possible.”

Prof Singhal said that he was honoured to be appointed as the First Honorary Consul of Poland to Wales and said he would aim to further Welsh and Polish relations, including trade, investment, and further education. He would also hope to be of help to the Polish diaspora settled in Wales, who are highly regarded for their work ethic. "I have a number of Polish colleagues in my hospital with whom I work very closely and have nothing but admiration for the great work they do," said Prof Singhal.

Polish Embassy UK Press Office