Something Polish about those Street Signs

2.25.15pm GMT Thu 2nd Mar 2006

Mayors past and present stand by Torun street sign

The four mayors who have been in office since Swindon forged its link with the Polish city of Torun gathered in Torun Way to celebrate the connection. The area near Torun Way, which is off Thamesdown Drive, now includes a number of streets with Polish-themed road names.

Former mayor Cllr Stan Pajak proposed the Polish names for the new housing estate being built by Bloor Homes.

His father moved to Swindon from Poland in 1945 and he accompanied current Swindon Mayor Ray Fisher to Poland last year.

He said: "I think it's good to see the Polish names, especially considering the high number of Polish people who have settled here.

"They have been here since the Second World War and this is a celebration of that as well as the new link with Torun."

Other names include Oberek Lane, Mazurek Road and Zakopane Road.

The group photo taken in Torun Way this week which also features former mayors Derek Benfield and Peter Stoddart will soon be winging its way to the offices of the President of Torun, as promised by Coun Fisher during a recent meeting in the ancient eastern European city.

And Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Coun Pajak now wants to develop the link still further.

He said: "We would like to create links between schools in Swindon and Torun, English being the foreign language most taught in Polish schools."

Any representatives of schools or colleges interested in getting involved should call Coun Pajak on 01793 642936.

• Oberek is the verb to spin... associated with folk dancing where partners spin and twirl across the dance floor.

• Mazurek is a traditional breakfast cake, but more significantly Mazurek Dabrowskiego is the Polish national anthem from 1797

• Zakopane is the premier skiing resort in Poland