THE Polish people of Worcester took centre stage when they attended a huge London parade for the first time in their history as the spectacle drew in crowds in their thousands. 

The parade was described as a historic moment for  Worcester's Polish community by Tomasz Wisniewski, president of the Worcester Polish Association.

He said it was the first time the Polish community had been involved in the parade and also resulted in them being presented with London's New Year's Day Parade Award 2024.

Worcester News: CULTURE: The Worcester Polish community outside Big Ben during the New Year's Day Parade in London CULTURE: The Worcester Polish community outside Big Ben during the New Year's Day Parade in London (Image: Supplied by Tom Winsniewski)

The New Year's Day parade, which began at noon, headed through central London, passing through Piccadilly Circus, along Regent Street St James’s before it continued through to Trafalgar Square before finally arriving at Parliament Square.

The parade featured dance groups, pop star Chesney Hawkes, a Paddington Bear mascot, Boyzlife which combines the talents of Westlife (Brian McFadden) and Boyzone (Keith Duffy), Miss Poland UK and Ireland who also turned heads at the parade as well as many other dancers and performers. 

Worcester News: HONOUR: Tom Wisniewski, president of the Worcester Polish Association, took time to speak to British veterans gathered to watch the parade HONOUR: Tom Wisniewski, president of the Worcester Polish Association, took time to speak to British veterans gathered to watch the parade (Image: Supplied by Tom Wisniewski)

The achievements of people from Polish history were also celebrated, including those of Nicholas Copernicus, the Renaissance polymath, mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon and Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie (Marie Curie), the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.

Worcester News: COMMUNITY: Worcester's Polish community was well-represented at the parade in London COMMUNITY: Worcester's Polish community was well-represented at the parade in London (Image: Supplied by Tom Wisniewski)

Mr Wisniewski said: "The Polish people proudly took part in London's New Year's Day Parade for the first time in history, showcasing our rich heritage and culture. 

Worcester News: COMMUNITY: Tom Winsniewski (left) with members of the Polish community for the parade in the capital COMMUNITY: Tom Winsniewski (left) with members of the Polish community for the parade in the capital (Image: Supplied by Tom Wisniewski)

"We walked shoulder to shoulder with our British friends and great ally. Anglo-Polish relations date back as far as the 11th century, when the first tentative contacts were made during the reigns of King  Æthelred II the Unready and Bolesław I the Brave.

"We were honoured to represent Poland, Poles in Great Britain and our beloved city of Worcester where our 11-year-old daughter was born and where I have lived for almost 20 years.

"Thank you very much to the entire Worcester team who have worked very hard since 2018 to make this happen."

The idea of ​​​​Poles' participation in the event was born on the initiative of Sebastian Wopinski, director of the 303 Squadron School in London and Tomasz Wisniewski, president of the Worcester Polish Association, who have founded the "Poles in LNYDP" organization for this purpose in 2018.