Besses o’ th’ Barn Band’s, 18 year old, assistant principal cornet Dovid Friedlander, recently played an important role in helping improve diplomatic relations between the Republic of Poland, Jewish communities in the UK, and the State of Israel.

Diplomatic function

Dovid performed the Polish national anthem and a minuet by Ignacy Paderewski, the renowned Polish pianist, composer and statesman, at a recent diplomatic function in Prestwich.

Lukasz Lutostanski, the Polish Consul-General in Manchester, had arranged a private dinner to help improve relations between Poland and the Anglo-Jewish communities following the official opening of the Museum of Polish-Jewish history in Warsaw.

Ambassador

The guest of honour was Ambassador Piotr Puchta, Director of African & Middle Eastern Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, who gave an insight into new Polish-Israeli trade and technology agreements.

Lukasz Lutostanski, the Polish Consul-General in Manchester, had arranged a private dinner to help improve relations between Poland and the Anglo-Jewish communities4BR

Tribute

In reply, renowned Jewish historian Dr Yaakov Wise, a Besses o’ th’ Barn committee member himself, recalled the 800 year history of the Jews in Poland before the Holocaust and paid tribute to Pope John Paul II, who did much to establish good relations with Jewish communities and helped to defeat communism in eastern Europe.