FAMILY - A Czech Centenary Gift Presents A Worldwide Legacy

An international feel good project aimed at cementing ties between the UK and the Czech Republic is taking place in Stoke-on-Trent this Summer.

October 28th 2018 marks the centenary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. 

The project, called "FAMILY", works with local schools on the production of a commemorative mosaic with the renowned ceramicist Philip Hardaker to acknowledge the multitude of communities and individuals around the world who share an inspirational association with the former Czech mining village of Lidice.

As a reprisal for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, Lidice was totally obliterated at the hands of the Gestapo on the orders of Adolf Hitler on the 10th June 1942. A promotional film was to be made of the event and Hitler infamously proclaimed that Lidice would "Die Forever". But unlike hundreds of other villages "wiped off the face of the earth" Lidice represents an example of victory of hope over despair. 

In the UK Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Nottingham, and other mining communities the reaction was the Lidice Shall Live campaign launched in and led from Stoke-on-Trent by Dr Barnett Stross.

In North and South America scores of towns, villages, streets, squares, parades, memorial sculptures were named or commissioned to remember whilst the name was increasingly chosen for baby girls in Latin and South America 

For Stoke-on-Trent, in particular, President Benes, the Czechoslovakian President in exile, said at the launch of the Lidice Shall Live campaign on Sunday 6th September 1942 at the Victoria Hall..."it is clear that Lidice has not died: it lives on in the hearts of the people of Stoke-on-Trent at least. From now on, Stoke-on-Trent will forever live in the heart of every Czech citizen"

It certainly seems to be true: last year Stoke-on-Trent received the following symbolically important gifts from the people of Lidice:

*The "Key to Lidice", presented in Lidice by the Czech President Zeman to the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Jan Thompson; then subsequently presented to the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent by the Czech Ambassador to the UK at the Bet365 stadium.

*A "Messenger of Hope" in the form of a pear tree (a graft from the only thing left standing after the Nazi's brutal blotting out of the village from the 10th June - Summer 1943) planted outside the Victoria Hall - the launchpad of the campaign.

It is hoped that successful installation in Lidice of this impressive statement of peace and harmony will offer a significant message of friendship to Czech people everywhere and raise awareness of the historical role played by UK workers in rebuilding a village a thousand miles away.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/stoke-on-trent-and-the-czech-centenary-mosaic

This is a Crowdfunding campaign and we very much welcome your interest in raising awareness of this project. For more information please contact the following:

Alan and Cheryl Gerrard

Lidice Lives

07809505244 / 07809505245