My latest regional visit took me outside of the North West Federal District to the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, a 2.5 hour flight from St Petersburg. I had always wanted to visit Rostov-on-Don, a city that is twinned with my home city of Glasgow in Scotland.
I was delighted therefore when I was asked to represent our Ambassador at an event to unveil a new memorial plaque to commemorate the visit by Clementine Churchill to Rostov-on-Don in April 1945. The event, which marked the 71st anniversary to the day of Clementine Churchill’s visit, was organised by the Russian Military Historical Society.
Clementine Churchill had been invited to visit Russia in April/May 1945 in her capacity of Chairman of the British Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund. In her book about the visit, Clementine Churchill says that ‘Rostov-on-Don was, of course, the highlight of the whole visit, for it is there that the Aid to Russia Fund is re-equipping two great hospitals.’ The ceremony was held at a building (now a polyclinic) where Clementine Churchill stayed in Rostov-on-Don on 22 April 1945.
I joined the President of the Russian Military Historical Society and the acting Governor of Rostov region at the ceremony. They both spoke warmly about Clementine Churchill’s visit and the valuable contribution of the British Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund. I said that remembering our shared history and people to people contact remained just as important today. I referred to the twinning relationship between Glasgow and Rostov-on-Don, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The plaque was a very visible reminder of our shared history as we prepared to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the end of World War Two. I also offered my condolences for the tragic air crash in Rostov-on-Don on 19 March, noting the Foreign Secretary’s message that ‘our thoughts are with those who have lost family and friends’. We then unveiled the plaque, which is fixed to the outside wall of the polyclinic on the main street of the city.
I presented the President of the Russian Military Historical Society with my personal copy of the first edition of Clementine Churchill’s book, ‘My Visit to Russia’. He hoped to have the book translated into Russian.
It was a pleasure to finally visit Rostov-on-Don. Spring comes much earlier in this part of Russia, so the city was already green and people were busy preparing boats for trips on the River Don and riverside cafes for those who preferred to enjoy the river from the embankment. Glasgow does of course also have a great river, the River Clyde. Both the Don and Clyde have been key to the development of these two great cities, and remain central today to life in these two modern, innovative and exciting cities.
