Chernobyl visit sparks rush to learn Russian
There's not normally much call for Russian speakers in the Ribble Valley, but 20 people in Chipping, near Preston, have signed up for classes.
Villagers are taking evening classes to learn the basics in time for the arrival of children from Chernobyl in May.
Families hope the 10-week course, run by Lancashire Adult Learning, will help them communicate during the month-long visit.
The group of 22 children and two interpreters will arrive in Lancashire for a four-week stay.
Olwyn Keogh, director of the charity Friends of Chernobyl's Children which organised the visit, said: "It's nice if we can make a bit of an effort and communicate with the children and have a lot of fun as well.
"The charity has been going 15 years but this is the first time we've had any serious learning.
"When the children go to school they learn English but it's very limited and so it's important they learn and it's surprising how much they learn."
Families who have signed up are learning conversational Russian so they can tell the children what their name is, ask how the child is, talk to them about food, work out if they are feeling ill and explain to them what activities they will be taking part in.
Grandmother Doreen Bailey, of Talbot Street, believes the classes will help families communicate with their visitors.
She said: "It will be so much easier if the hosts have a bit of knowledge of Russian.
"My son John is really keen and putting a lot of time into it. The first year we had a child, a family member bought me a CD and I did do that.
"But after the first year, it is more important for the children to learn English."
For 18 of the youngsters – who are as young as seven – it will be the first time they have visited Lancashire.
They all come from the Mogilev region of Belarus, an area which was badly affected by the nuclear power plant disaster in 1986.
During their stay in Lancashire, the children visit local schools and take part in activities including swimming lessons and trips to local tourist attractions.
Children will also be offered free healthcare from doctors, dentists and opticians.
Host families also plan evening and weekend entertainment for the children.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 29 July 2010
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 15 C to 17 C
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