More than 100 people celebrate Penley Polish Hospital’s reunion

More than 100 people attended a recent event to celebrate Penley’s Polish Hospital reunion.

The celebration at Wrexham Museum to reunite the ‘Penley Poles’, their families and members of the Polish Hospital community has been hailed as a “resounding success” with people traveling from across the UK to attend.

It was a chance for attendees to see some of the wonderful items which were salvaged from the hospital and are were on display as part of the exhibition. It was also an opportunity for people to share stories and meet old friends.

The event coincided with the recent ‘Penley Hospital: The Story of a Polish Community in Wales’ exhibition at Wrexham Museum.

Eighty years ago the Wehrmacht and the Red Army swept across the borders of Poland setting in motion a train of events that would lead to the establishment of three Polish hospitals in the Welsh countryside near Wrexham, in the village of Penley and the grounds of two country houses, Iscoyd Park and Llannerch Panna.

These hospitals were unique, being staffed by Polish medics and nurses whose job was to care for the thousands of Polish servicemen and service women displaced from their homes, battle worn and weary, and now living in post-war Britain. The hospitals became the focal point of a Polish community whose story is told in this new exhibition.

The original hospital closed in 2002 and some items were presented to Wrexham Museum for safekeeping.

The exhibition, which ended last week, saw many people have visit the museum to share their own fond memories and stories of the hospital community from years gone by.

Cllr Andy Williams, former mayor of Wrexham said: “I couldn’t believe how many people were there when I arrived.

“The exhibition tells the story of how, despite all the challenges people faced, through international politics and war, that they managed to come together and make a new community.”