A group of Chernobyl youngsters on a visit to Gosport were today (Tuesday 3 July) welcomed to the Town Hall by the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill.
Youngsters have been making these visits to the area for many years as coming to England for a short holiday can dramatically improve their health. Many of the children, although not born at the time of the radiation leak, still suffer with illnesses which are a result of the radiation pollution which took place all those years ago.
Whilst here they receive regular health checks including a visit to the dentist and the opticians, but it isn’t all medical appointments and, on the agenda for today was a visit to the Town Hall.
This too has become a regular thing in recent years. It gives the children a chance to come into the Town Hall, meet with the Mayor and Councillors, have a look round, learn a bit about our history and enjoy some welcome refreshment.
On arrival the group were shown into the Council Chamber where they were all made welcome and invited to leave their coats before donning the robes of Councillors, Honorary Alderman and even the Mayor for a tour of the Civic Wing.
After the tour and their refreshments the children joined the Mayor in his Parlour where they enjoyed looking at the many paintings and civic gifts donated to the Borough over many years.
Before leaving they all received a memento of their visit; a gift bag containing items such as pens, pencils, rulers, balloons, hats, CDs, T-shirts, pencil cases etc. all items donated by various staff and departments within the Town Hall.
“It was a pleasure to welcome them and see them dressing up in the robes, ringing the bell and enjoying some refreshments,” said the Mayor, Cllr Keith Gill. “Their eyes lit up, and when they were each allowed a gift bag to take home they were astounded. It was such a small thing to do but it was appreciated so much by these children, it was simply incredible.”
Organisers were so overwhelmed by the generosity they requested to be able to package up the remaining items to send to other Chernobyl schools for children unable to make the trip, so they too could benefit from the visit.
“Surprisingly the one thing they would have liked to receive was chalk as apparently it is very hard to come by in their country,” added Keith. “In my education days chalk was an everyday item. Unfortunately with wipe clean boards instead of blackboards, chalk has become almost redundant, but if anyone has some they would like to donate, then we would be delighted to accept it and forward it on.”
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