Southend sends condolences to Poland
Published Monday 12th April 10 in Council - news and information releases news
Southend-on-Sea has sent a message of condolence to its twin town of Sopot following the air crash which claimed the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 96 others.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Brian Smith, has also sent a letter conveying the town's sympathies over the tragedy to the Polish Ambassador in London.
He said: "The hearts and thoughts of everyone at the Council go out to the people of Sopot and the Polish community of Southend at this tragic time.
"We at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council value the town's links with Sopot and the friendships which have arisen from our twinning partnership.
"We also recognise the great contribution Polish people living in Southend make to our society and economy.
"After English the most common language spoken by children attending schools in the borough is Polish.
"We want the people of Sopot and members of the Polish community living in our town to know that they are in our thoughts at this terrible time."
Ninety seven people died when a Tupolev TU154 carrying Mr Kaczynski and dozens of Polish dignitaries crashed in fog as it prepared to land at Smolensk in Russia on Saturday.
They were on their way to a memorial service marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre in which 22,000 Poles were executed by Russian troops on Stalin's orders.
For more information about this media release please call the Media and Communications Team on 01702-215000 ext 5939 or e-mail media@southend.gov.uk.