It was 21 years ago next month, when I landed at Stansted. I remember, as it almost happened yesterday. I didn’t think too much about it. My wife and I had a plan, stay a few months and go back to Croatia, where I had a job waiting for me. We came not for any employment reasons, but initially to visit our friend, who is a Catholic Priest.
21 years later, we are still here! We packed 26 years of our lives in a rucksack and we tried, like many, to build our lives in the UK. We have never lived anywhere else, always here in a fantastic Welwyn Garden City. We made it our home. We’ve had ups and downs, moments when we doubted whether it was a good decision to stay in the UK. We struggled to enjoy mince pies at the beginning and I am still struggling to accept that many Brits drink tea with milk. Yes, it is drunk with lemon! However, we always tried to do our best; to integrate, but most importantly to contribute in a number of different ways. This hasn’t changed.
Although I am politically minded, my decision to stand in the Local Elections wasn’t necessarily driven by politics as much. As a keen activist, I was keen to demonstrate that we all have a unique set of skills, often different, but we all have a lot to give. Throughout my years in the UK, but also previously in Poland, Croatia and Italy, I felt a sense of service and desire to, collectively, build bridges not walls, always seek opportunities to make a difference, empower, inspire and motivate others to do the same. We have achieved so much. I also wanted to challenge stereotypes and assumptions. Guess what? I might be Polish but I have no manual skills.
One of my many objectives for this year is to ensure my role as the Mayor helps this Chamber to become even more open and accessible to residents. I will use every opportunity to help our community realise how they can effectively take part in the decision making process, which is at the heart of democracy. I will do my best to visit every school in the Borough. Civic empowerment and being at the service for others will be at the heart of my agenda. I will try to listen more to better understand the needs of our community. I have selected 3 charities that I will support this year. They are: Recover, Add-vance and Hertfordshire Welcomes Refugees (Welwyn Hatfield branch).
Am I proud? Yes. Does it really matter that I wear a chain? Probably not. Am I determined even more to motivate others to build bridges of dialogues rather than walls of division? Yes. In the polarised world, we must become light and a beacon of hope.
* Michal Siewniak is a Lib Dem activist and councillor for Handside ward, Welwyn Hatfield.
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10 Comments
Congratulations Michal. Quite a journey! I applaud your mission to make the chamber more accessible. I think wearing the chains does matter. It’s a symbol of office that connects you to the past and the institution itself. And people think it’s cool so they’re doubly pleased to see you and will listen when you speak. Good luck in your coming year.
Congratulations.
By moving to Britain, you made it a better place.
Great piece Michal – and excellent choice of our brilliant local charities!
Welcome to the chain gang!
I found the most important thing during the year was very simple – thanking people for what they do in the community. By turning up in regalia you are endorsing and amplifying what they do. Posting pics on social media enhances it even further.
Have a great year.
Lovely post Michael. Enjoy your term of office. I was the Bedford Borough equivalent 2019-23. I wore the chain, but refused to wear robes and furs. I recognise the chain is an important symbol of the office, but find robes and especially furs flummery and archaic.
Love that. It really resonates with me, as I had very similar feelings during my own journey to the UK (including the ongoing belief that tea should really be drunk with lemon, not milk 🙂 )
Growing up in Poland, still shaped by the post-communist transition teaches that you not to take democracy, openness or stability for granted and the importance of local communities, civic participation and people willing to build bridges rather than walls.
A really thoughtful piece and an inspiring journey. Congratulations, Michal, and good luck for the year ahead and for the work you are doing in the community.
I think I’d like to assure Michal and Pawel, being an Englishman who doesn’t like tea, that they can enjoy it with milk, lemon, neither, or indeed both if they’ve a mind to – we are liberals after all!
Congratulations Michal, it has been an absolute pleasure getting to work with you over the last 6 months. I hope your tenure as Mayor is extremely successful and rewarding.
Alex
Lovely. I endorse Mary Reid’s comment
Lovely. I endorse Mary Reid’s comment