Hello my lovely friends,
What a month it’s been! November is always a time of reflection, remembrance, and togetherness and this year I’ve been so lucky to share music, stories, and history with so many of you across Loughborough and Leicester. Let me tell you what we’ve been up to…
🎶 9th November – Remembrance Sunday
We gathered at the Loughborough Polish Church with Father Krzysztof Zalewski, and afterwards I sang a collection of Polish patriotic songs at the Polish Social Club. It was such a joy to sing to the audience, from tiny babies to grandparents, all joining in the spirit of remembrance and independence.
After the event, I also visited the Carillon Memorial in Loughborough to honour the part my English family played in WWI. My great uncle Fred Adcock is named on the monument, and my great‑grandfather Harry Adcock fought in both the Boer War and WWI as part of the Royal Leicestershire Tigers’ Regiment. He later served as the Mace Bearer of Loughborough for nearly 20 years.
To see all the military organisations and youth organisations gathered there was incredibly moving, especially in my hometown. And when the poppies were released from the Carillon, it was truly monumental. I even caught a few of the paper poppies as they floated down and I’m proudly carrying them in my wallet as a gesture of remembrance, a personal “lLest We Forget.
Below my Great Grandfather Harry Adcock’s Royal Leicestershire Regiment Chapel at Leicester Cathedral – I’m so proud of him RIP
🌍 11th November – Remembrance Day & Polish Independence Day
This was a very special day at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Burton on the Wolds. Together with the volunteers, we honoured the Polish survivors of Siberia who settled in the village after WWII. Standing there, surrounded by history and memory, was incredibly moving.
On Remembrance Day (11.11.2025) and Independence Day in Poland, I sang my song Motylek – Butterfly 🦋 at the cemetery in memory of our British 🇬🇧, Polish 🇵🇱, and Canadian 🇨🇦 sisters and brothers who fought for freedom and world peace.You can see a clip of the performance here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ6lObjjIi2/A special thank you goes to Dr Ivor for your moving words 🙏✍️, which gave the ceremony such dignity and depth.
📚 15th November – Polish Saturday School in Loughborough
This was such a meaningful day at the Polish Saturday School in Loughborough. The event commemorated Polish Independence Day and also marked the 85th Anniversary of the deportation of Poles to Siberia in 1940.
I am hugely grateful to Ania Rucka, the headmistress of the school, who was born in Bielsko-Biała a place that holds a special connection for me as it is also where my mother, Krystyna, was born. Ania’s incredible passion and commitment made this event truly special. She gave me a wonderful platform to perform for the students, and her energy ensured that the commemoration was both heartfelt and inspiring.
You can watch my interview with Ania Rucka here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRFEY27jBae/
🎤 16th November – Concert at the Guildhall Museum in Leicester
This was a highlight! At the Guildhall Museum in Leicester, I performed a concert with two Siberian Survivors present Pani Basia and Pani Janina who were only 1 year old when the Russians stole them and their families for slavery in Siberia in 1940. Their presence gave the evening such depth and meaning, it felt like history and music were woven together in one room.Below with Pani Janina who was only 1 year old when her family were stolen by Russian aggression from Poland to Siberia in 1940. It was such a special occasion to still be able to sing a concert with Polish survivors of the WWII Russian Slave Trade.
Below Katy Carr performs ‘Czerwone Maki Na Monte Cassino’ – The Red Poppies on Monte Cassino song in the Great Hall at the Guildhall Museum in Leicester – note the visuals of the Battle of Monte Cassino Polish Victory 18th May 1944
Watch concert link here :https://www.facebook.com/reel/1161821695655988
A huge thank you goes to Barbara Czyznikowska, Director of Project Polska, who was absolutely instrumental in helping to organise this event. Barbara’s dedication and energy made it possible for us to engage with both the British and Polish communities in Leicester. We thank her a million times over for her incredible effort and support, it truly wouldn’t have been the same without her!
🏰 A little history: The Guildhall is Leicester’s oldest civic building, with its Great Hall dating back to 1390. It was originally the meeting place of the Guild of Corpus Christi, a powerful group of merchants and gentry. Over the centuries, it has served as a town hall, library, police station, and even a theatre where Shakespeare is said to have performed.
👑 King Richard III connection: The Guildhall stands right next to Leicester Cathedral, where King Richard III was reburied in 2015. The nearby King Richard III Visitor Centre tells the incredible story of how his remains were discovered and identified by DNA testing.
👧👦 22nd November – Workshops for Children in Leicester
On this day I spent time at the Leicester Polish Saturday School (Polska Szkoła Sobotnia – W Leicester), running three lively workshops for different age groups. The children were full of energy and curiosity, and each group had its own special focus:
- Ages 4–6 (17 children) – We spent about 20 minutes together learning a simple song and then doing some drawing and colouring. Their little voices singing along were just adorable!
- Ages 6–9 (19 children) – This group had a 30–40 minute session with a short presentation and another song to learn. They were so enthusiastic and asked lots of questions.
- Ages 9–13 (27 children) – For the older group, we had a longer workshop (40–60 minutes) with a more detailed presentation. They really engaged with the history and showed such maturity in their reflections.
A big thank you goes to Malgorzata Wisniewska (pictured below in red) Director of the Polish Saturday School in Leicester, for her wonderful cooperation and for giving me the opportunity to perform these workshops for the children. Her support made the day truly special.I also want to thank Barbara Czyznikowska for introducing me to Malgorzata her kindness and connections made this collaboration possible, and I’m deeply grateful for her role in bringing us together.
🏕️ 24th November – 1st Wolds Scouts Workshop
Finally, I joined the 1st Wolds Scout Group in Wymeswold. We talked about the history of Polish Scouts and the crimes of communism, marking the 85th Anniversary of the deportations to Siberia. The scouts were so attentive, it was wonderful to see them connect with this history. I was honoured to share my film Kazik and the Kommander’s Car watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwxzIArOIFc inspired by the Polish Boy Scout Kazimierz Piechowski’s legendary escape from Auschwitz concentration camp – below are some plates from my presentation to the scouts.
A big thank you also goes to Krystyna Małkowska, granddaughter of the founders of Polish Scouting, Andrzej and Olga Małkowski, who sent us a beautiful message about her family history.
Krystyna reminded us in her special message addressed to the Scouts at 1st Wolds that her grandparents were close friends of British Scouts from the very beginning in 1908, even though Scouting in Poland had to be practised underground in secret under occupation. In 1913, Andrzej Małkowski brought the first Polish Scout delegation of 70 boys to the World Jamboree in Birmingham, proudly flying the Polish flag despite German protests with Lord Baden-Powell himself insisting it should stay and awarding Andrzej a medal, now kept in the Kraków Museum of Scouting.
Krystyna also shared how her grandmother Olga bravely led Guides during WWII, protecting them during bombings, helping organise panicked train passengers, and later escaping occupied Poland to continue her service in London. For her courage, she was awarded the Guides Bronze Medal by the Queen, which she accepted “for the Guides of Poland.”Her message was a powerful reminder of the resilience, bravery, and deep friendship between British and Polish Scouting. Czuwaj!
Katy Carr presented and sang her song Kommander’s Car to the 1st Wolds Scouts group inspired by Polish Boy Scout Kazimierz Piechowski’s infamous escape from Auschwitz in June 1942. The scouts joined in with the singing.
Below Peter Blount MBE Scout Leader 1st Wolds presenting Katy Carr with an honorary 1st Wolds Scout ‘necker’ scarf – this is the best honour ever to be an honorary member of the global scouting community – CZUWAJ!!!
I also want to extend a special thank you to Peter Blount MBE (Scout Leader in Wymeswold), Jane Arnold (Scout Secretary), and Michael Windsor, who helped me present my film about Kazimierz Piechowski and his legendary escape from Auschwitz. His story showed how Scouting skills helped him survive WWII, and together we shared a presentation about the history and spirit of Polish Scouting.
We also commemorated one of Poland’s most valued Scouts and military leaders, Cavalry Officer Witold Pilecki, who volunteered to enter Auschwitz and produced the first report on its atrocities in 1943. Despite his extraordinary bravery, he was brutally murdered after the war under Soviet oppression. His legacy remains a powerful symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring values of Scouting.
🎄 Looking Ahead to December
And now… December! I can’t wait to share some festive cheer with you all. Expect:
- Christmas concerts filled with carols and Polish folk songs
- A special holiday release to bring warmth to your winter evenings
- Community gatherings where we’ll celebrate resilience, hope, and the joy of the season
✨ Special Announcement! On 7th December I’ll be joining the Daily Antidote of Song as the Song Leader, sharing a selection of my favourite Christmas songs from Great Britain and Poland.I’ll be singing winter & holiday songs this week… come sing-along with me at noon ET / 5pm GMT.
- Join in the room here: carpediemarts.org/daily-antidote-of-song
- Or watch the broadcast live (or anytime afterwards) here: YouTube – Daily Antidote of Song Streams
💌 A Little Note from Me
This month’s events have been held in association with Aktywny Dialog, Project Polska, and the Ribbon of Memory Foundation (Fundacja Wstęga Pamięci), Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester. I’m so grateful for their support and collaboration.
And once again, a very special thank you to Barbara Czyznikowska, Director of Project Polska, for her tireless work in helping us connect with both the British and Polish communities in Leicester. Barbara, we thank her a million times for her incredible effort!
I also want to express my gratitude to Ania Rucka, headmistress of the Polish Saturday School in Loughborough, whose passion and dedication made the Independence Day commemoration so meaningful. And to Malgorzata Wisniewska, Director of the Polish Saturday School in Leicester, for her cooperation and support in making the children’s workshops possible with thanks again to Barbara for introducing us.
And of course, my heartfelt thanks to Dr Ivor for leading the ceremony at Burton on the Wolds with such dignity and for his moving words. Big thanks to 1st Wolds Scout group and Scout Leader Peter Blount MBE for welcoming me into the Global Scouting community as an honorary 1st Wolds Scout member – I am so moved and honoured.
Thank you, truly, for being part of this journey. Every song, every workshop, every story feels richer because of your presence. November has been about remembrance, but December will be about joy, light, and looking forward together.
With love and music,Katy Carr
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❤️ STAY SAFE AND STRONG ❤️💕Thank you for your continuing support of my music💕❤️ KATY CARR’s previous newsletters 🙂 https://katycarr.com/category/newsletters/Keep in touch ! Lots of love to you and your family i pozdrawam serdecznie✸✸✸✸✸ Katy Carr and the Aviators ✸✸✸✸✸