Polish-Scottish relations are not very well known, although they are really close and long-lived.These connections began as long time ago, as in 16th century, when the first major Scottish emigration started with big colonies in Poland, especially across the Vistula basin. Then it transformed to one of the greatest Scottish emigrations of the last several centuries, as there were at least 40 thousands Scots settled in Poland in 17th century. There was huge influence and great reception of the Scottish Enlightenment in Poland. One of the best example of influential Scottish man that time is John Baildon, who lived more than a half of his life in Prussian Silesia (which is part of Poland since 1945). He was involved in several pioneering industrial undertakings, some of them in Polish cities and towns: Gliwice, Chorzów, Lazany. A major steel work in Poland was named after him: Huta Baildon in Katowice.
Huta Baildon in Katowice, Poland
Another good example of Scottish impacts in Poland is Hassling Ketling of Elgin – this time fictional character. He is one of the most popular figure in Henryk Sienkiewicz's famous novel Pan Wolodyjowski, the third part of the award winning The Trilogy. Despite Ketling is fictional, his appearance in 19th century Polish novel proves significant reception of Scots in Poland during the centuries, the more that he was the positive character helping the king of Poland, John Casimir, fighting the Turks in 17th century.
Another example is famous Scottish Jacobite, Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was descendant of Polish kings. His mother was Maria Clementina Sobieska, granddaughter of the king of Poland, John III Sobieski.
Poles have influenced a lot of Scots too. There were big Polish armed forces in Scotland during the Second World War. Most of them stayed in Scotland after the war and lived there for years, making a liberating impact on popular memory. And the most recent huge Polish migration to Scotland, since 2004, stimulated Scottish economy as well as local culture. Poles are present and visible in Scotland not only as good workers and skilled experts, but as great artists, fresh and active animators of social and culture life and good companions too. More and more of Polish actors, musicians, painters and photographers became recognised in Scotland. They take part in local events, exhibitions and festivals, including famous Fringe Festival, Leith Festival and Edinburgh Festival. They even organize their own Polish festivals in Scotland, aimed not only to promote Polish culture, but also to support Polish-Sottish integration. One of the most recent and most valuable example is Polish Cultural Festival, which took place in Edinburgh in April this year. Its effects are, inter alia, photo exhibition and a mural on Leith Walk area. An official ceremony unveiling a mural accompanied by the opening of an exhibition will take place on the 3rd of October. These events will be held in conjunction with the big, international, two day conference entitled "Scotland and Poland, a historical relationship, 1500-2009."
The conference is organised by the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies at the University of Edinburgh, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh. It will start on the 1st of October at 6.30 pm. at the University of Edinburgh. It's free event, but advance booking is essential. More details about the conference are available on web sites of Polish Cultural Institute. Tickets are available for booking online from University of Edinburgh.
The conference starts with public lecture by Neal Ascherson: “Brothers and sisters for a 'That': Rediscovering the Polish-Scottish Relationship”. Archerson is distinguished Scottish journalist and commentator, specialist of East Europe including Poland. He witnessed and reported the most important events in the modern Polish history: Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Papal visit to Poland in 1979, the birth of Solidarity in 1980 and covered the decisive Polish Parliament elections. He was granted the Polish Order of Merit in 1992. Neal Ascherson knows Poland for sure, so it's worth to come to Edinburgh and take part in his exciting lecture and in all accompanied events.
Maciej Lewandowski
