Cheshire East Mayor to stage vigil for Ukraine

The Mayor of Cheshire East, Councillor Sarah Pochin, will hold a vigil in Crewe this Friday (11 March), in support of the people of Ukraine.

It will be an ecumenical event to be held at 5.30pm inside Crewe Market Hall, aimed at showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine, where thousands are leaving their homes to escape the conflict with Russian forces.

The Venerable Ian Bishop, Archdeacon of Macclesfield, will lead prayers and also taking part will be Catholic priest Father Artur Stelmach, from the Polish Roman Catholic Community of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, in Crewe, and the Rev David Edwards, of The Lighthouse Centre, Crewe.

Vice Consul Patryk Gowin, from the Polish Consulate in Manchester, will also speak as will  the Mayor, Cllr Pochin. The event is expected to last thirty minutes and will conclude with clapping in a show of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. 

Cheshire East Council has arranged for the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine to be flown outside the Municipal Buildings, in Crewe, and outside other council buildings in Sandbach and Macclesfield. The Municipal Building will also be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

The council is working in alignment with central government guidance to support Ukraine and is awaiting further details about support measures to bring Ukrainian refugees to this country. 

The leader of the council, Councillor Sam Corcoran and deputy leader, Councillor Craig Browne, have both expressed their support for the people of Ukraine and their hope for a swift solution to the events in the Eastern European country.

In a recent statement both said the borough will play its part in accepting Ukrainian refugees to the borough, which has a tradition of welcoming families from Eastern European countries.