My father-in-law, Tadeusz Lesisz, celebrates his 90th birthday today. He was born nine months before the modern state of Poland came into existence, in Kozienice, Mazowsze (50 miles south of Warsaw). He fought in WW2 from the first day to the last, seeing action in the Battle of the Atlantic, on the Russian Convoys and on D-Day. As artillery officer on board the ORP Błyskawica, his actions coordinating anti-aircraft fire from the destroyer while in dock for a refit on the Isle of Wight in May 1942 saved the town of Cowes from Luftwaffe bombs. For this, Tadeusz Lesisz was made a Freeman of Cowes in 2002. After the war, he studied architecture in Oxford, practiced as an architect in north-west England, retiring at the age of 70. He chaired the Manchester branch of the Federation of Poles in Great Britain and the Polish Navy Association. We're all very proud of him and I'm delighted that my children share his genes.STO LAT!
photo by Szymon Kobusiński
photo by Szymon Kobusiński
Happy birthday to your father-in-law from me, too! No wonder you're proud of him, he must be an amazing person!
ReplyDeleteGolden felicitations to your father-in-law upon his most special achievement of 90 years. I shall raise a glass {albeit briar water tinged with berries} in the warmth of my study in the Manor house, to quietly reflect upon what is clearly a remarkable life so far. Well done that man!
ReplyDeleteAs you say, good genes to have in the family. Quite a man, quite a history. I hope he goes on to actually achieve the 100 years everyone has been singing about!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a guy I'd like to have a chat with. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear his views on the Britain-betrayed-Poland debate that raged on Scatts' blog recently.