PW_2_2023

Article

Friendship Across the Iron Curtain Ken Laidler, Merseyside North Branch

In 1993, Ken Laidler saw a request in Police World, about hosting a Ukrainian member’s son. Ken and his wife Sue volunteered, and Andrei Hryschenko (aged about 13) stayed with them in Southport. W e had two older sons, and a daughter of Andrei’s age. Andrei spoke very good English, so he

soon, and if they were found we would bring them. Dave went to the room with hotel staff and retrieved the scarves and hats etc. In Moscow we phoned the supporter, who was overjoyed, agreeing to meet at Lenin’s Tomb. We arranged to meet at 11pm, with him wearing a Liverpool hat and I a green anorak. It snowed heavily and felt like a spy film. When we came to leave, we were given our passports back, but not the visas. This became important when airport security said, “No Visa, No Go”. After shouting something in Russian, we were marched off under armed guard. Another IPA member was seeing us off and came to our rescue, arranging for our visas to be collected by taxi. In 1995 Paul, Carol, Dave, Lynda, Sue and I visited Kiev. We were all hosted by IPA members and shown around. We were told off for whispering in Lenin’s Tomb. We also had a policeman blow his whistle at us when we stepped into the road. In 1996 a party of Ukrainian officers, with Anatoly and his son Andrei, as well as Alex Vowk from Moscow visited, staying with us and other IPA members. When we asked what they wanted to see, one of the things was, “to meet some simple policemen”. I explained that in English, “Simple” had more than one meaning, and asked Andrei to use the Ukrainian word for “Ordinary”. I did ask if Dave and Paul were “simple” enough for them. Included in this article are photos of two plaques that were presented to Clive Wood by David Stamp, at the NCM last year in Lincoln. The plaques were given to Ken Laidler, by his Ukrainian friends during their visit to Southport.

Nico and Gianna at the Jigger Inn

flew to London and caught a bus to Liverpool, where we collected him. Andrei settled in and we practiced English and Ukrainian. One day he said “I have read a very interesting book about the people in Southport, and you are not in it”. He then produced the telephone directory. When we explained why we were not listed, he replied “You should be, your country needs to know where you are”. Andrei attended our local school and enjoyed it. We took him to London, visiting 10 Downing St, and other sights. He was interested in everything and inquisitive to learn. After he went home, Sue and I visited Kiev, staying with Andrei’s parents Anatoly and Olga. They showed us round Kiev, and the surrounding area, including the Chernobyl Museum. We also had a visa for Russia, so we took a train to Moscow from Kiev. The train left at midnight and arrived at 8am. At the border, we were woken by guards who wanted to check our compartment for stow-aways. Sue had no clothes on and could not get out of bed, so we compromised by lifting the mattress up whilst my wife was still in bed. In Moscow we met Alexander Vowk, their IPA chairman. Alex showed us Red Square, the Kremlin, KGB HQ and the large Gummi department store, that still had the old-fashioned tubes for transporting money. Before our trip to Kiev and Moscow, a Moscow football team played Liverpool. A Russian supporter approached our friend Dave Graney, a police motorcyclist, saying that he had left his souvenirs in the hotel. Dave took the supporter’s details, saying he had friends visiting Moscow

Andy and Nico Swilken Bridge St. Andrews

POLICE WORLD Vol 68 No.2, 2023

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