Sikorski Polish Club

Polish connections in Glasgow

Many Polish people found themselves in Britain at the end of the second world war. With Poland under the rule of a Soviet government at that time, many of them decided to stay in this country a build a new life. In Glasgow, these Poles and their direct decendants number around 1000. Polish social, cultural and educational activites are promoted through two Polish Clubs both sited in the north of the city. Visitors to these clubs are very welcome (use the link to find out more). Polish services are held in St Simons RC church (Partick) every Sunday at 11am and 6:30pm.

Connections with Scotland throughout history

Bonnie Prince Charlie was half Polish, being the son of James Edward Stewart and Clementina Sobieska, granddaughter of Jan Sobieski King of Poland. Chopin (one of Poland's greatest composers) visited Scotland shortly before his death in 1849 and his brief stay in Edinburgh is marked by a plaque on the wall of a house in Warriston Street.

Marie Curie, the Polish discoverer of radium, was given the Cameron Prize by Edinburgh University in 1931. Alexander Chalmers (known as Czamer) was a Scot who was elected mayor of Warsaw four times before he died in 1703. His tomb is in the Cathedral of St John in Warsaw. Many Polish football players continue to come and play for Scottish football clubs. In recent years, Darius Dziekanowski (Glasgow Celtic), Dariusz Wdowczyk (Glasgow Celtic), Dariusz Adamczuk (Dundee and Glasgow Rangers), Kevin Rutkiewicz (Aberdeen -whose father was born in Warsaw), Artur Boruc (Glasgow Celtic), Maciej Zurawski (Glasgow Celtic) and Zbigniew Malkowski (Hibernian).

Andrew Elliot