Vincent Swicz

Born 20 August 1899 in Augustow, north-eastern Poland. He chose a military career, achieved the rank of captain in the Signals Corps of the Polish Army. Wartime found him in Scotland and England where he was given a counter-propaganda role educating the local populace about Poland's history and current plight. For four years he carried out an intensive programme of more than 500 lectures and publishes three books (in several editions). With the agreement of his superiors, in April 1945 he founded the British-Polish Correspondence Club (BPCC). It first was intended to develop Polish-English friendship, but later opened itself to people from other countries and changes its name to Friendship & Exchange Club. V.S. managed the club very efficiently, corresponded with members himself, issued regular club bulletins (103 in tiotal), facilitated contacts between members and enduring bonds of friendship. The club comprised members from about 70 countries. After 60 years of existence, and 18 years after the death of the founder, the club ceased to exist in 2005 managed by Mrs.Kathleen S.Richardson. Vincent Swicz returned to Poland 1978 and died 14 November 1987 in Kostrzyn near Poznań.