Barbara Storey
Polish patriot, promoter of Polish culture, traditions, great and reliable friend of Poles imigrating to Great Britain. She has always cared about the Polish language, as a mother, as a reporter for Radio Free Europe, later as an interpreter, translator and in her social work.
She always and everywhere promoted Polish culture – music, literature, artists.
She was the founder of Polish sports clubs, for adults and for children, and she also founded an artistic group.
In 2004, she founded SOS POLONIA, a charity with a mission to support Polish immigrants in the process of settling in their new country and integrating them into the local community. Last year marked the 18th anniversary of SOS POLONIA.
She personally devoted her time by engaging in interventions in cases where human lives were often at stake. Until this day she continues to stand up for the abused.
Thanks to the English lessons she has funded, many of our compatriots have been able to find better jobs and become more independent in their life abroad.
The regular consular duty held by SOS POLONIA has enabled many Poles to apply for passports and complete important formalities in Southampton.
SOS POLONIA sponsored more than a dozen cultural events, such as Chopin concerts, performances by Polish Gypsies at the Mela Festival in Eastleigh and Southampton, theatres, concerts by Śląsk, celebrations of the anniversaries of the November Insurgents in Porthsmouth, a meeting with a Polish-American director and a screening of his film about a Polish soldier, screenings of well-known Polish films, Mrożek’s ‘TANGO’ and a performance by the band Karpaty.
Over the years, Pani Basia – as she is affectionately known – has gathered a team of colleagues around her, including many volunteers who, thanks to the experience and knowledge they have gained at SOS POLONIA, are helping others by making a contribution to the local community. This contribution amounts to thousands of letters, calls, phone calls, cooperation with many British and Polish institutions.
SOS POLONIA has appeared over twenty times in the British media (TV and press) building a positive image of the Polish diaspora in the UK.
Poland can be proud of Barbara Storey, especially now that she has been awarded the OFFICER’S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND.
We all thank her and congratulate her warmly.