Iwona Golinska, The Executive Consultant and Founder of Sue Ryder Polska in Great Britain , said: ‘It was a great event – over 100 people both Poles and Brits from across the social and business scenes in Warsaw had turned up to to see us at the British Embassy to celebrate Sue Ryder. They are our friends and supporters, people who care and we are extremely grateful for their support’.

The focal point of the meeting was exhibition „Sue Ryder. Life lived for others ” prepared by Museum Sue Ryder. During the meeting we also screened a film by Piotr Zbroziński ‘Lady Ryder of Warsaw’ in which Sue Ryder was featured and talked about by the people who personally met her and witnessed her great work in Poland.

Who was Sue Ryder and why we celebrate her life and work ?

Sue Ryder was a British charity activist leading a wide-ranging charity work around the world. It all began in 1923 when Sue Ryder was born in Scarcroft, Yorkshire, England. Her parents were rather wealthy, though from her early years she not only saw poverty, as her house stood beside the slums, but also observed her parents constantly helping the less fortunate. Her home was always open for everyone. Sue and her siblings were playing with the kids from their neighbourhood without any prejudice or division. Her mother’s approach especially shaped and prepared Sue for her future, grown-up life. Sue inherited the frank interest in other people’s needs, no matter where they came from. She always accompanied her mother with her volunteer work and worked at the family farm. Sue was a girl of many interests, but was mostly focused on what was the most important issue in her life: the feeling of community, which is so necessary to make life worth living.

Her all life was dedicated to helping others.

During the 2nd World War her main duty was to take care of „Cichociemni” (Silent Unseen) – the representatives of the Polish underground forces fighting with German Nazis. Their missions were always at the highest risk and many of them never came back to their headquarters. During her service, she met around three hundred underground soldiers. Each meeting she named „the good-bye.” As a young girl, she said „good-bye” three hundred times, though each time she was filled with an exceptional feeling of unique friendship, loyalty and courage. It was the first time when Sue Ryder thought that, when the war was finally over, they all deserved a monument – live monument, which meant carrying on her mission to help others.

Sue didn’t stop helping people when the war was over. Right after the great terror, she organised humanitarian relief for Poland, primarily for the former prisoners of the German camps. She was also involved in rescuing people condemned to death in the Allies’ prisons. Later in life she focused on helping disabled and sick.

She founded the International Foundation in honour of the victims of World War II. As Lady Ryder of Warsaw sat in the British House of Lords. She was a great friend of Poland and Polish people. In Poland, she founded  30 localities nursing homes, hospitals and hospices.

‘Today we remain our modern and wealthy society about that mission, we invite all to supporting the old , disabled and disadvantaged’ said Iwona Golinska. ‘We are very grateful to the British Embassy in Warsaw for hosting the event and gathering under it’s roof all the people who like to make better life for others.’

Author and pictures: Iwona Golinska, Executive Consultant of Fundacja Sue Ryder Polska w Wielkiej Brytanii