I want to start my story by talking about my meeting with Andy and Laura Jarvis. Me and my daughter Katrine (aged 6) and my sister Marina and her daughter Nastya (aged 10) escaped from the aggressive and horrible invasion by Russia on Ukraine.

Just before we escaped Ukraine, I wrote a short post about myself and my family on Facebook. Andy and Laura, who wanted to support Ukrainians in these troubling times, saw this post and sent me a message welcoming me and my family to their house together with many photos of their beautiful family. My sister would stay at another lovely home nearby with Miriam and her dog Ruby. When I saw the message and the photos of our future home, I just fell in love with Blewbury.

When we arrived in this beautiful small village, I was very surprised at how many kind and friendly people live here. Everyone was very happy to help us in every situation, including taking us to the bank and to the supermarket. Every person we have met has offered us something different, treating us to burgers at the Beer Festival, croissants and pain au chocolates, sweets for the children, candles, chairs, flowers, clothes for the children, English lessons and above all the possibility for us to feel safe and happy.

A week after we arrived in Blewbury, our children started in the school where they began to learn English and immediately felt more at home in their new environment. They have made many new friends and are beginning to enjoy their new lives in Blewbury.

Blewbury is beautiful, with many lovely old houses, delightful views of the countryside, wonderful people, horses, rabbits, red kites and squirrels! Everybody takes care of their gardens, this is one of the reasons why this village is so comfortable, cosy and welcoming.

In time, I think that Blewbury will become like a second home for me, my family and every Ukrainian refugee that comes here. I want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart, to everyone that has supported and continues to support Ukraine and our people.

From Hanna and my family, with love.

Blewbury A-level student Jordi Hart was selected to join the national team for the UCI Downhill World Cup at Fort William, Scotland, on 21st-22nd May, despite not living near any mountains!

Unfortunately, the event was something of a washout – literally! The weather went from very bad to cataclysmic, which left all the riders sitting in the wind and rain at the top of the mountain for about an hour. Many riders, including Jordi, also had to repeat their race following a big crash by a rider from the USA.  In the end, an exhausted Jordi finished 33rd out of 60. Still, this is what downhill mountain biking is all about! It is an extreme sport that requires immense skill and precision, as well as no fear.

Jordi has shown he has what it takes: he started racing bicycles at the age of 6 in the form of BMX racing. He was selected to race for Great Britain at the age of 7 at the World BMX Championships, and by the time he was 11 he had received financial support from Blewbury’s Tony Loy Trust to help develop his talent. At 13, he changed sports to Mountain Biking and quickly excelled. However, not all was straightforward for him: two years later, he suffered from Osgood Schlatter disease which affected his ability to train and ride bikes for long stints. But in 2022, with his knees getting better, he made a podium in his first race.

Next up in Jordi’s ring calendar: the British National in Llangollen, Wales, and then the UCI IXS European Downhill Cup in Austria. 

After attending Blewbury pre-school and primary school, Jordi now studies at the Downs School in Compton and has a keen interest in Aerospace Engineering. He is fully funded by his parents, therefore any support is welcome. Just call me on 07795 807243 or email me at ebaracing@gmail.com. Gareth Hart