As barbaric war rages in Ukraine, meet refugees who were given a safe haven in ... trends now
All they really wanted for Christmas was victory in the barbaric war started by Vladimir Putin, which forced them to flee their homeland, and a return to peace.
That may remain a distant prospect, but at least 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee Marc and his mother Yana Vuiev feel safe and secure – and managed to get into the festive spirit too – thanks to the warm welcome offered by their British hosts.
They are among 50 refugees from their besieged country given succour in North Moreton, Oxfordshire – dubbed ‘Britain’s kindest village’ and with a population of just 350 – after its generous residents opened their arms and homes to them in April.
Marc and Miss Vuiev, 41, wore traditional embroidered Ukrainian outfits as they posed for photographs ahead of Christmas Day with their hosts Kathy, 60, and Mike Howat, 64, both retired teachers, whose home is a former school building dating back to the 1850s.
Pictured: 12-year-old Ukrainian refugee Marc and his mother Yana Vuiev, 41, with their hosts Kathy, 60, and Mike Howat, 64, both retired teachers, and their children, Georgie, 27, and sons Will, 16 (red top), Bob, 23 (no glasses), and John, 25 (glasses) at their home in North Moreton, Oxfordhsire
Marc, who has been given a three-year bursary as a day pupil by £22,350-a-year independent Abingdon School, said: ‘I’m very excited to see a real English Christmas. I’ve only read about it in books before.’
The youngster, who also went on a summer camp for Ukrainian children earlier this year run by Mail Force – the charity set up by the Mail – added: ‘I like trying the things here: I’d read Paddington but never had marmalade. I’d only heard of crumpets from Tom Fletcher’s Christmasaurus book but love them now too.’
He and his mum spent a traditional Christmas Day with the Howats, their daughter Georgie, 27, and sons Will, 16, who is also an Abingdon pupil, Bob, 23, and John, 25, and the family’s pet, Boris the bolognese dog.
Miss Vuiev made kutia, a traditional Ukrainian festive dish of poppy seeds, nuts, wheat and honey served on Christmas Eve, for the Howats.
The family are among 50 refugees from their besieged country given succour in North Moreton, Oxfordshire, which has been dubbed ‘Britain’s kindest village’
She speaks good English and said she was ‘honoured’ to be asked to read a Bible lesson at the recent carol service in the village’s 13th-century church. The moving service also featured carols in Ukrainian sung by other refugees.
Miss Vuiev, who ran a marketing agency in Kyiv before the war and now combines two nights’ bar work a week in the village pub, The Bear, with comms work, said: ‘We have so much support here from the villagers, they’ve been so welcoming, and it’s nice to have other Ukrainians around us.
‘I’ve never lived in the countryside before and am enjoying learning about the way of life.
‘Working in the pub is fun. It’s a great experience, the customers are friendly and it’s helping me understand the different accents.’
Courageously, she and Marc are also planning a short visit to her sister in western Ukraine around January 7, the traditional Christmas celebration day in their country’s Orthodox church. A handful of other Ukrainian refugees in the village are considering
