It’s a freezing snowy night, and villagers are huddled outside around a Christmas tree as an old woman and a toddler – two victims of a bloody conflict – step forward to turn on its lights.
Angelina Retunskaia, 84, and three-year-old Kira Hvozd hit the switch – and the local ladies’ choir bursts into a rendition of We Wish You A Merry Christmas.
Then, as the carol ends, it is the turn of other war refugees that little Arnside, in Cumbria, has taken to its heart – and tears flow as a group of Ukrainian women in the gathering sing a folk song from their faraway devastated land.
As it ends Angelina, from the south-eastern city of Zaporizhia, says to us: “I hope spring 2023 will bring peace.” It is a poignant moment for everyone in this community who have welcomed dozens of Ukrainian refugees in the past six months – Angelina the eldest and Kira the youngest.
Villagers here have rallied to provide homes, support and English lessons for those who fled Vladimir Putin ’s war – and lifelong friendships have been forged along the way.
This chilly yet warming night is all about celebrating those bonds.
Despite the refugees’ worries for loved ones back home facing blackouts and continued attacks, the atmosphere is defiantly joyous.
Addressing the crowd on behalf of her fellow Ukrainians, Natalii Lemarka, 38 – who spoke no English when she arrived here in June – says: “Thank you for the opportunity we have to be safe, to be calm, free from explosives.
“Thank you for opening not only the doors of your homes, but your hearts. Thank you for showing us violence and genocide will never be accepted.”
The psychologist, from Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, adds: “We cherish the hope that a wonderful time of peace will come and we’ll have the opportunity to invite you to our country and show you our hospitality.”
Gifts are handed out to villagers as her speech is met with rapturous applause – and emotional tears.
Natalii, who is staying with 39-year-old Ben Waterhouse and his wife and two children, later tells us: “I am missing friends and family at home, but my second English family have become like a family for me too.”
In July, we told how Arnside had welcomed 28 refugees after local mum Anna Gorst helped with visas and rallied her neighbours to offer support.
Since then, around 22 more have arrived from Ukraine, while 14 moved elsewhere or returned to home as parts of their country became more stable.
Around 40 now remain.
Child psychologist Anna, 49, and partner Tony Henshaw, 54, have been hosting Angelina, her daughter Kseniia Skakun, 48, and granddaughter Katya Sheluntsova, 29, since June.
Anna, mum to Georgia, 14, spent last night prepping mince pies for the party with the women over glasses of Buck’s Fizz, while Kseniia baked a Ukrainian Napoleon cake. English teacher Katya tells us: “In Ukraine we celebrate in January. Last time, we had the whole family over and ate a lot of food.
“It will be hard without my mum’s partner and friends who are still in Ukraine. They are struggling because of power problems. But we are very excited for our British Christmas with our new family.”
They add their dishes – which include party snacks such as an apple cake called yabluchnyk and sausage rolls – to a buffet at the local sailing club.
The room is decorated in bunting showing British and Ukrainian flags and the kids meet Father Christmas, accompanied by Olga Kalashnikova, 36, dressed as an elf.
In March, English teacher Olga fled the city of Odessa with her 10-year-old son Ivan, leaving behind husband Viktor, a police officer.
They are staying with Linda, 59, and Ian Clark, 62.
Olga says: “I am very happy to be an elf at this party, and then to see what a real Christmas Day is like in England.” Retired dental nurse Linda said: “We have all four sons coming back home this Christmas so there will be a traditional dinner with Olga and Ivan there too. It’s been lovely – they have got to know the whole family.”
In summer Ian, a retired builder, took Ivan to see Everton play Dynamo Kyiv in a charity match at Goodison Park. Everton player Vitalii Mykolenko, who is from Ukraine, sent the lad a signed shirt. Ian and Linda also took Olga to see the Liverpool Pride parade – which the mum said was like “nothing I have ever seen, so many colours”.
Little Kira Hvozd was among the children meeting Father Christmas. Her mum, pre-school teacher Viktoriia, 27, came here after a missile hit her house in besieged Mariupol in June.
The mother and daughter were safe in Kharkiv at the time, but knew they could not go home.
They and Viktoriia’s mother-in-law Iryna, 56, arrived in Arnside in September and are staying with 75-year-old gran Margaret Buckley.
Viktoriia – whose husband works on Army vehicles in their homeland – said: “We are so happy to be in a safe place this Christmas, and I am so happy Kira has stopped talking about bombs.
“We have a very good relationship with Margaret.”
Retired teacher Margaret added: “I lost my husband four years ago and this has been good for me as well as them, we have lots of laughs.” Mum-of-three Larysa Kolousova, 42, is decked out in traditional Ukrainian dress for the bash.
The German teacher recalls spending Christmas last year with her husband. She hasn’t seen him for nine months as he is part of the territorial defence.
“We have a tradition where children sing carols on every street and are given money and sweets. A star is given to whoever is best, it is nice,” says Larysa, who is staying with host Gregory Tagney.
“It is not so easy to speak to my husband now because of the problems with electricity and internet in Ukraine. We miss that family connection, but we have also found it here in Britain.”
As the night progresses, some guests – including Elena Serbin, 60, and her husband Yurii, 63 – perform songs, including cult Ukrainian resistance pop hit Chervona Ruta. There is loud cheering from everyone.
The couple – who are staying with retired Neil and Jocelyn Punett – are unsure whether they will be able to speak to their son fighting in Ukraine this Christmas due to blackouts.
Speaking via a translator, Elena, from Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine says: “We will do our best to send him our love as we miss him very much.
“Neil and Jocelyn are wonderful. They have invited us to spend Christmas Day with them, and we will help them prepare the festive table and perhaps play some games.”
Later, Arnside’s “legend” DJ Bomber plays hits from both countries to a packed dance floor – the playlist featuring the likes of Queen and Ukrainian Eurovision winners the Kalush Orchestra.
Looking ahead to 2023, Anna is helping to facilitate longer-term housing options for guests – and called for clarity from the Government over its plans for supporting the war refugees.
About 51,000 people who came to the UK under the Homes For Ukraine scheme have now reached the end of their six-month sponsorship period.
Some councils – including in Cumbria – have increased the £350-a-month payment sponsors have received to help hosts with the cost of giving them shelter.
But it is not a national policy, and many hosts and their guests here aren’t certain what the plan is going to be moving forward.
Anna – who is fundraising to continue to support Arnside’s guests – explains: “For us, the next step is encouraging them to sign up to social housing and helping with that. The financial support has been upped a bit, but the lack of forward planning is ludicrous – nobody knows what’s happening.”
For tonight, though, she is keen to celebrate all that she and the community have achieved. She adds: “It’s lovely to look around and see the friendships formed here.”
