‘The world has not forgotten them’: Ex-Cleckheaton councillor in aid convoy to Ukraine

John Lawson, the ex-leader of the Kirklees Liberal Democrat group, along with Jan Dobrucki from Huddersfield, was part of a seven-man convoy team which travelled to Lviv to hand over emergency supplies to the war-torn country at the end of June.

The mission, largely funded by the international rotarians and led by Alastair Rudd who has organised many such convoys, saw the selfless group travel to the western Ukrainian city via Dover, Calais, Antwerp, Berlin and eastern Poland.

Aid included children’s toys, mobility and medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches, generators, and uniforms donated by North Yorkshire Police to the force in Lviv.

Four vehicles the team travelled in - a Vauxhall Movano, a Land Rover Freelander, and two Isuzu Rodeos - were also provided to the Ukrainian authorities.

“It was all much-needed aid,” John, who lost his seat in the May local elections after serving Cleckheaton for 16 years, said. “From talking to the people who we liaised with at the Lviv side of the operation, it is very clear that there is a huge amount of attrition on all kinds of goods, like from everyday toiletries and necessities, right up to vehicles.

“And that’s why we took a whole range of stuff including vehicles. The four vehicles we took were left for the authorities to use as they saw fit. They go on to be used for things like casualty evacuation, and things like that, in cities where they have got civilian bombings.”

John was part of a team which travelled to Ukraine last September to deliver essential items - during which the group survived a missile attack.

On this year’s mission he described how he heard sirens from his hotel window and saw a funeral procession for a fallen soldier.

A day later, the funeral service was held at a Catholic church with the coffin greeted by a military band.

“It brought it all home,” said John.

Asked what emotions the trip stirred in him, the former councillor replied: “It is just humbling how grateful the people who we drop this aid off for are. What might seem like simple things to us, is all gratefully received.

“Even more than the aid, it is important to them that they feel like the world hasn’t forgotten them.

“We saw people helping from the UK and people from across Europe from Germany and Belgium, and it is important for the Ukrainian’s own morale that the rest of the world has not forgotten them.”