Volunteer thanks royal family for ‘believing' in Ukraine after receiving honour
A volunteer who gave up her job to help the humanitarian response to the invasion of Ukraine has thanked the royal family for 'believing' in the war-torn country.
Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Ukrainian community in Scotland by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, who lives in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, said: 'It's very special because the last three years with the Ukrainian community has been quite a challenge.
'And to be recognised is the best thing ever because it's for the Ukrainian community.'
Asked about the current situation, she went on: 'I would say in amongst the community, the people that are already here, it's very like it was in those first days.
'They're very unsettled because of the visa extension and it's only for 18 months.
'There's a few arriving now because things are so dangerous in Ukraine and things aren't getting any better.'
Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, who said her outfit was a 'nod to Ukraine', added that Anne was 'really interested' in her work.
She went on: 'I just wanted to say thank you to the royal family for believing in Ukraine and supporting us.'
Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk took time off from work when the fighting broke out and she became holova (chairwoman) of Edinburgh's Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) nine days after Russian President Vladimur Putin's invasion.
She later told her boss at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh that she would not be going back, and has dedicated her life to helping with the humanitarian efforts in Edinburgh.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Volunteer thanks royal family for ‘believing' in Ukraine after receiving honour
A volunteer who gave up her job to help the humanitarian response to the invasion of Ukraine has thanked the royal family for 'believing' in the war-torn country. Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Ukrainian community in Scotland by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, who lives in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, said: 'It's very special because the last three years with the Ukrainian community has been quite a challenge. 'And to be recognised is the best thing ever because it's for the Ukrainian community.' Asked about the current situation, she went on: 'I would say in amongst the community, the people that are already here, it's very like it was in those first days. 'They're very unsettled because of the visa extension and it's only for 18 months. 'There's a few arriving now because things are so dangerous in Ukraine and things aren't getting any better.' Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, who said her outfit was a 'nod to Ukraine', added that Anne was 'really interested' in her work. She went on: 'I just wanted to say thank you to the royal family for believing in Ukraine and supporting us.' Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk took time off from work when the fighting broke out and she became holova (chairwoman) of Edinburgh's Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) nine days after Russian President Vladimur Putin's invasion. She later told her boss at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh that she would not be going back, and has dedicated her life to helping with the humanitarian efforts in Edinburgh.
Leader Live
6 hours ago
- Leader Live
Battle of Arnhem veteran becomes MBE days before 100th birthday
Geoffrey Roberts, from Peterborough, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and to charity by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Mr Roberts, who turns 100 on Saturday told the PA news agency: 'I'm surprised actually, I don't know what I got it for, I didn't do anything. 'When I saw the letter I thought someone was kidding me, I didn't have a clue, it was the last thing on my mind. I was very shocked and very overwhelmed.' Asked how important it is that veterans continue to be recognised, he said: 'It's very important, there's not many of us left, so it's very important especially for the ones who didn't come home. 'The heroes are lying in a cemetery, I was lucky, I turned left when I should have turned right so I'm still here.' Mr Roberts, who was born in the Chelsea Barracks in London in 1925, signed up in 1942. On September 17 1944, he flew into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden – depicted in the 1977 Hollywood film A Bridge Too Far – which saw 35,000 British, American and Polish troops parachute or glide behind German lines. Mr Roberts was captured on September 26, with a German officer giving him some cigarettes and telling him, 'for you, the war is over'. He was sent to a prisoner of war camp and put to work in a coal mine until the end of the war.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Peterborough WW2 veteran gets MBE days before 100th birthday
A World War Two veteran who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) said "the heroes are lying in a cemetery, I was lucky".Geoffrey Roberts, 99, from Peterborough, was appointed for his charity work and his services to the commemoration of the Battle of was captured during the battle in September 1944, in which more than 8,000 British soldiers were killed, missing or taken Roberts, who turns 100 on Saturday, received his MBE from the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. "I'm surprised actually, I don't know what I got it for, I didn't do anything," he said."When I saw the letter, I thought someone was kidding me. I didn't have a clue; it was the last thing on my mind. I was very shocked and very overwhelmed." Mr Roberts was born in the Chelsea Barracks in London in 1925 and signed up in 17 September 1944, he flew into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden - depicted in the 1977 Hollywood film A Bridge Too Far. It saw 35,000 British, American and Polish troops parachute or glide behind German was captured on September 26, with a German officer giving him some cigarettes and telling him, "for you, the war is over".He was sent to a prisoner of war camp and put to work in a coal mine until the end of the war. When asked how important it was that veterans continued to be recognised, he said: "It's very important, there's not many of us left, so it's very important, especially for the ones who didn't come home."The heroes are lying in a cemetery, I was lucky. I turned left when I should have turned right, so I'm still here." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
