Polish Association Becomes Focuse for Grieving Community

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Poles from West London gather to mourn victims

The Polish Social and Cultural Association in King Street has become a focus for West London's Polish community as they try to come to terms with Saturday's tragic plane crash

This week tha flag has flown at half mast outside the centre, and hundreds of people have gathered there to lay flowers and candles in memory of the victims, and to sign a book of condolence.

The plane was carrying 96 people including Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, and many of the country's top statesmen and officials. The victims also included two men who were well known in West London, a much loved local parish priest, Rev Canon Bronislaw Gostomski of St Andrew Bobola Church Shepherds Bush, and 90 year-old Ryszard Kaczorowski, the country's president in exile during the Communist years who was a frequent visitor to the centre.

Father Gostomski's funeral mass is being held at St Andrew Bobola Church on Thursday, April 15 at 7pm.

The party had been on their way to a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre of thousands of Poles by Soviet forces during World War II when the plane come down in thick fog as it approached Smolensk Airport.

Monika Skowronska, vice chairman of the centre, told the BBC she had been close to tears on hearing the news, and too upset to drive to work. "Everyone is in complete and utter shock. People are just speechless and lost," she said. " I keep seeing the same individuals pass me by. They want to talk to each other and share similar memories."

April 13, 2010