United Kingdom

Hungarian Holocaust survivor living in London received honour!

Lily Ebert Hungary United Kingdom (2)

Lily Ebert, a 98-year-old Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust living in London, has been decorated with Hungary’s Order of Merit, Knight’s Cross, in recognition for her efforts in Holocaust education.

The award was given by President János Áder and handed over to Ebert by Hungarian ambassador to the UK Ferenc Kumin at a ceremony in London late on Tuesday.

Ebert was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Hungary in 1944, and worked as a forced labourer in Leipzig until April 1945. She lived in Israel after the war and moved to England in 1967.

At the ceremony, the awardee said she had made a vow back in Auschwitz that if she survived she would make all efforts to let the world know about her story and the story of those that perished.

“The world must not forget about the most heinous crime ever committed against humanity,” she said.

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Elizabeth II is 96 years old today: here is how she is 1/16 Hungarian – PHOTOS, VIDEO

queen elizabeth ii

The British monarch, Elizabeth II, is celebrating her 96th birthday today. On this occasion, we will go over the Hungarian ancestors of the British Royal Family.

As we reported before, the British Royal Family has Transylvanian Hungarian roots. Claudine (Klaudia) Rhédey, born and raised in Transylvania and baptised as Rhédey Claudia Susanna, is the great-great-grandmother of Elisabeth II. Claudine was born in Erdőszentgyörgy (Sângeorgiu de Pădure), a town in Mureș County, Transylvania, Romania.

Klaudia Rhédey

rhédey klaudia countess
Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde (1812-1841), Wife of Duke Alexander of Württemberg, Countess of Hohenstein. Painted around 1834. Source: Wikimedia Commons

On this basis, Elizabeth II is 1/16 Hungarian. Countess Klaudia Rédey was born on 20 September 1812 in Erdőszentgyörgy, to parents László Rhédey, a landowner and diplomat, and Ágnes Inczédy (1788-1856). She was her parents’ only child who lived to reach adulthood.

According to csamborgo.hu, at the age of eighteen, Klaudia was invited by Emperor Francis I, King of Hungary, to travel to Vienna for a ball season.

It was at the ball that Prince Louis Paul Alexander (1804-1885) of Württemberg and Countess Klaudia were said to have fallen in love at first sight.

Duke Alexander of Württemberg, husband of Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde, 1853. Source: Wikimedia Commons

When Alexander wanted to propose to Klaudia, her father said no, as Alexander did not speak Hungarian. But after 5 years, the lovers were able to marry, as the man learned Hungarian.

Tragedy

Unfortunately, their fairytale story ended in tragedy all too soon. Klaudia followed her husband to Pettau (today’s Ptuj, Slovenia) in September 1841 where Prince Alexander, then a major-general of the Austrian Empire, was in command of the local division. A few kilometres before Graz, the horse-drawn carriage overturned in a roadside ditch where the Countess, pregnant with her fourth child, suffered a severe blow to her side.

She continued the journey, but this time, on horseback. On October 1, 1841, after eight days of suffering, she died of an internal haemorrhage, and with her died her foetus.

Burial

In accordance with her last wishes, her coffin was transported home to Erdőszentgyörgy. The journey of nearly 900 kilometres took a week and a half. The Countess was buried on 12 October 1841 in the church where she had been baptised nearly 30 years earlier.

According to csamborgo.hu, interestingly, Claudia’s embalmed heart was later laid to rest in her husband’s coffin. Charles, Prince of Wales, visited Erdőszentgyörgy on 8 May 2008 to pay his last respects at her resting place. During his visits to Transylvania and Hungary, Charles said that he has Hungarian blood in him.

In this video, you can check out Prince Charles’s Transylvanian guesthouse:

In this video, you can hear Prince Charles talking about Transylvania:

Read alsoYou Rang, M’Lord? star Jeffrey Holland is fascinated that Hungarians worship him! – PHOTOS, VIDEO

You Rang, M’Lord? star Jeffrey Holland is fascinated that Hungarians worship him! – PHOTOS, VIDEO

Even though the series You Rang, M’Lord? is 32 years old, its leading character, Jeffrey Holland, is still worshipped as a megastar in Hungary. Read below why.

Jeffrey Holland is like Elvis Presley for Hungarians

“Jeffrey Holland found fame in Hi-de-Hi back in the 1980s” – Daily Star Sunday reported. However, he became a megastar in Hungary for a later sitcom, You Rank, M’Lord? Mr Holland told the British daily that Hungarians watch the series every day. “For some reason, it has become part of their national culture and they adore the show” – he added.

He receives emails from Hungarian fans every day, and when he made a public appearance in Hungary, the audience went wild.

He told Daily Star that he was amazed by the Hungarians’ reaction. “I’d never heard anything like it. It was like I was Elvis Presley. It was so moving” – he highlighted. “When I came off, I burst into tears because I was so overwhelmed by the love in the room. We were treated like royalty. Then, when I did a show in the West End, about 40 fans from Hungary flew over to see it. They loved every moment” – he said.

Jeffrey Holland in Budapest
Photo: PrtScr/YT

Here is how the Hungarian audience welcomed Jeffrey Holland in 2018:

The star said that he made many Hungarian friends after the show.

He considers himself lucky and proud to have been part of that era of the TV comedy. “I often get asked if I get sick of people saying ‘Hi-de-Hi’ to me. But I don’t. I’d be sick if they didn’t! People only say it because they love the show” – the former James Twelvetrees said.

You Rang, M’Lord? was a famous sitcom in the early 90s following the antics of the posh Meldrum family and their servants. The background was London in the 1920s. “It starred Jeffrey Holland, Paul Shane and Su Pollard, and the cast also included Donald Hewlett, Mavis Pugh and Perry Benson. Scripts were penned by the genius writers who brought us Dad’s Army – David Croft and Jimmy Perry” – Daily Star reported.

Jeffrey Holland in Budapest
Photo: PrtScr/YT

Why is that sitcom so popular in Hungary?

The Guardian wrote in 2018 that Britain forgot the series, but Hungarian kids still name their pets after the cast. Not surprisingly, in 2018, the show celebrated its 30th anniversary in Budapest instead of London. Even the hotel’s chef, Áron Barka, said he was a fan. “I know it by heart” – he admitted.

Regarding Western series, Enikő Marton, a film director, said that the first arrivals to the Hungarian telly were Brazilian romcoms. Then Dallas came followed by You Rang, M’Lord?, but only the latter stayed.

The You Rang, M’Lord? fan club has 27k followers.

But why is this sitcom so popular in Hungary?

Radio journalist Adrienn Csepelyi believes that the reason is the Communist regime. “From the 50s, we were taught that aristocracy is something we should forget, that good Hungarians work hard all through their lives to build our great socialist country. After the regime change in 1990, most Hungarian people didn’t have any connection with the aristocracy. As we have to work hard to earn a living, we are longing to have such English traditions as sipping five o’clock tea from beautiful china in beautiful houses. But as we just don’t have the chance, we can at least relate to the humour of Mabel [the elderly charlady, played by Barbara New] and Mr Stokes [Paul Shane’s crooked butler]. So we like both sides but for different reasons, I guess.”

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Hungarian Wizz Air continues to expand in the UK!

wizz air plane

The ultra low-cost airline will increase frequencies on six routes from the airport in time for the summer season

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most sustainable airline*, today announces it has successfully acquired an additional two daily slot pairs from Vueling at London Luton Airport. The deal means Wizz Air will increase frequencies on six existing routes from the airport – to Bacau, Craiova, Iasi, Sibiu and Timisoara in Romania, as well as to Wroclaw in Poland from 11 May 2022.

This expansion will see the airline increase its slot portfolio by 167,000 seats, cementing its position as the largest operator at London Luton Airport with over 5.6 million seats in total for the summer season. Tickets for the routes are on sale now on wizzair.com and on the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from just £8.99**.

Passengers travelling with Wizz Air from London Luton will now have the choice of ultra-low fare routes to 75 destinations from the airport. Since its first flight in May 2004, and the opening of its base at London Luton Airport in June 2017, Wizz Air has flown passengers from London and the Southeast of England to an exciting array of well-known and off the beaten track destinations. The successful bid for more slots demonstrates Wizz Air’s long-term commitment to both the airport and surrounding region, providing an extra boost to the local economy and creating more local jobs.

Wizz Air is recruiting for ambitious cabin and flight crew at London Luton Airport, and welcomes applications from experienced cabin crew, as well as those with no previous experience. The airline also recently announced the biggest ever pay rise for its UK base cabin crew. Open recruitment days will be held on 12, 19 and 26 April 2022 at the Courtyard by Marriott Luton Airport. For more information, visit: careers.wizzair.com/content/EventsCabinCrew/.

Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said: “This announcement highlights

our continued commitment to London Luton Airport,

which was our first ever base in the UK. Acquiring two additional daily slots will allow us to provide customers with even more ultra low-fare travel opportunities. 2022 is off to a great start, especially with the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers. We look forward to a busy summer season, and passengers being able to enjoy our excellent service onboard one of the greenest aircraft available on the market today.”

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Former British ambassador in Budapest recited Endre Ady on the Day of Hungarian Poetry! – VIDEO

Iain Lindsay former British ambassador to Hungary

It is not the first time Iain Lindsay surprised Hungarians on the Day of Hungarian Culture or the Day of Hungarian Poetry. The former British ambassador to Hungary, who was beloved by many for his countless gestures towards Hungarians, recited famous Hungarian poet and journalist Endre Ady yesterday. Lindsay currently serves in Bahrain, but it seems he did not forget Hungary.

11 April is the Day of Hungarian Culture, the birthday of Attila József, one of the greatest Hungarian poets of the 20th century. Iain Lindsay surprised us with an Attila József poem on 22 January 2020, before he had left Hungary in February.

He served as the ambassador of the United Kingdom in Budapest between 2016 and 2020 and successfully mastered the language. He recited Hungarian poets many times, and it became a tradition by now that he recites a poem on the Day of Hungarian Poetry – szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reported. 

Interestingly, after he left Hungary, he quit his diplomatic career. Currently, he is living in Bahrain, but he did not forget about Hungary, even in the middle of the Persian Gulf. He recited Endre Ady’s Őrizem a szemed (I guard your eyes), and he did not forget to pin a red-white-green ribbon on his suit yesterday.

Here is the poem in English from babelmatrix.org: 

Endre Ady: I guard your eyes

With my old man’s wrinkled hand,

with my old man’s squinting eyes,

let me hold your lovely hand,

let me guard your lovely eyes.

 

Worlds have tumbled, through their fall

like a wild beast chased by fright

I came, and I on you did call

scared, I wait with you inside.

 

With my old man’s wrinkled hand,

with my old man’s squinting eyes,

let me hold your lovely hand,

let me guard your lovely eyes.

 

I do not know why, how long

can I thus remain for you –

but I hold your lovely hand

and I guard your lovely eyes.

Ádám Makkai
 
Endre Ady (1877 – 1919) was a turn-of-the-century Hungarian poet and journalist. Regarded by many as the greatest Hungarian poet of the 20th century, he was noted for his steadfast belief in social progress and development and for his poetry’s exploration of fundamental questions of the modern European experience: love, temporality, faith, individuality, and patriotism, Wikipedia says.

 

 
 
 
 
 
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lindsay Nagykövet (@ambassadorlindsay) által megosztott bejegyzés

british_embassy_budapest
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Weird – Wizz Air grants free flights to Ukrainian refugees but charges them for their luggage!

wizz air plane

Wizz Air grants free flights but charges Ukrainian refugees for their extra luggage.

Flights are free, extra luggage is charged

A British woman is outraged because the Hungarian airline did not grant free luggage along with free tickets for Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Agnese Edmonds says she was “gobsmacked” to find out that a Ukrainian family of four who she had welcomed into her home had to pay £108 (HUF ~50,000, EUR ~130) to transport their two suitcases.

As the Mirror reported, Wizz Air offered the flight for free but asked the refugees fleeing the Russian invasion to pay for their bags. The low-cost airline announced earlier that it would provide 100,000 free seats for refugees coming from Ukraine. However, everyone will be charged for extra baggage.

What do penniless people do?

According to the Mirror, Edmonds, who lives in Essex, said she was “gobsmacked” to find out about the fee for the two suitcases and said that the charge felt “unfair and strange”. As we can read in szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu’s article, Edmonds said that the family who arrived at her home had very few belongings, but they still had to pay. She cannot even imagine what it feels like for those penniless people who somehow make it to the airport but cannot get on the flights that will give them a new life because of money.

As the Mirror reported, speaking to LBC, Agnese Edmonds said:

“Although they didn’t have too much luggage… the adults had one suitcase each, so they had to pay for that. So I’m not sure for those people who didn’t have any money, you know, how would they get through? Who would pay for them?”

Wizz Air’s promotion

To the outraged English host, it was obvious that in such a situation, the airline would not only provide the ticket but also the luggage free of charge. However, Wizz Air had previously explained everything precisely in the description of the promotion:

“The indicated number of tickets (100,000) at 0 EUR price applies until availability lasts for selected flights departing until 10 April 2022. One carry-on bag (max: 40x30x20cm) is included. Trolley bags, each piece of checked-in baggage, and additional services are subject to additional fees.”

What is more, Wizz Air has also specified that a valid Ukrainian passport is required to travel. In the absence of such a passport, passengers will have to pay the full fare of the flight before boarding.

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Record-breaking: two Hungarians won the Oxford Schools debate competition again!

oxford schools teams

Two Hungarian students won one of the world’s most prestigious debate competitions in Oxford. They broke a record! What is more, the pair beat all participants for two years in a row.

Oxford Schools

oxford schools debate competition
Source: oxfordschools.net

Never before has the same team won one of the biggest and most prestigious debate competitions, the Oxford Schools, two years in a row. As eduline.hu reported, this year, two Hungarian high school students broke the record: Julianna Balázs and Lili Törőcsik beat hundreds of teams to win the world competition.

The Oxford Union is the organiser of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious debate competitions specifically for secondary school students, the Oxford Schools. The finals of the competition usually involve between one hundred and one hundred and twenty teams.

The competitor teams debate in English on topics including politics, international affairs, and law, among others.

Julianna Balázs and Lili Törőcsik entered the Oxford Schools as students of the Milestone Institute. Julianna is a student of Karinthy Frigyes High School, while Lili goes to the Fazekas Mihály High School, both in Budapest.

Breaking a record

This time, they won in the “ESL”, English as a Second Language, category. It was not their first year: last year, they came first in the “newcomer” category.

This means that they have already won first place in two of the three Oxford Schools categories.

This is unprecedented: never before in the history of the competition has the same team beaten the other competing teams in two different categories in two consecutive years.

Last year, Index.hu reported the following about the two girls’ victory:

“The defeated teams included the team of one of the oldest private schools in the UK, Harrow School. The success of the two Hungarian tenth-graders is made even greater by the fact that in Hungary, there are few educational institutions that have a debate club, unlike many European and Asian countries where it is practised as a school sport.”

Altogether 4 Hungarian teams took part in this year’s competition. The Milestone team was joined in Oxford by the American International School of Budapest (AISB) and two teams from Engame Academy.

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Wizz Air to launch 18 new routes from this airport! – here are the fares

wizz air summer

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most sustainable airline**, celebrated the launch of 18 new routes from its base at Gatwick Airport this Monday. Following the end of all COVID-19 travel measures, including the Passenger Locator Form and tests for all arrivals, now is the perfect time to book a hassle-free trip for the Easter holidays. Tickets are available on wizzair.com and on the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from just £8.99*.

Monday’s launch coincides with the reopening of Gatwick’s South Terminal, signifying a positive step in the recovery of the travel industry as passengers can once again benefit from a wide choice of destinations. With a mixture of year-round and seasonal routes to

Bari, Bourgas, Faro, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome, Palma de Mallorca, Larnaca, Varna, Venice, Vienna, Catania, Podgorica, Tel Aviv, Chania, Mykonos and Funchal, today’s expansion will see Wizz Air operate a total of 25 routes from Gatwick Airport.

Whether it’s hopping between the coffee houses of Vienna, soaking up the sun in Mykonos, or enjoying the best pizza Naples has to offer, the new routes present exciting travel opportunities for every type of traveller.

To celebrate the launch of new routes, Wizz Air is offering 20% off selected flights to and from Gatwick, booked today and departing before the 31 May 2022***.

Since the opening of its base at Gatwick Airport in October 2020, Wizz Air UK has offered an array of routes to both popular and off the beaten track destinations for its customers based in London and the South of England. Today’s launch will provide a further boost to the local economy by creating 210 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs in the area. Wizz Air’s successful bid for 15 daily slots pairs at Gatwick Airport in December last year means that the airline will be basing four additional Airbus A321neo aircraft at Gatwick, taking the airline’s total number of Gatwick based aircraft to five. These additional aircraft reflect the demand Wizz Air anticipates as travel rebounds, as well as its long-term commitment to both the airport and region.

Wizz Air is currently recruiting for cabin and flight crew at Gatwick Airport, and is hosting a series of open recruitment days at Gatwick in April. The airline welcomes applications from experienced cabin crew, as well as those with no previous experience at all, and

offers all employees a competitive salary, industry-leading training, a salary during the initial training period, free uniform, an unlimited number of employee tickets, free tickets and fantastic discounts for friends and family and a monthly roster schedule.

For more information about recruitment dates, please visit: careers.wizzair.com/content/EventsCabinCrew/.

Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said: “Today’s route launches signify the start of an exciting new chapter for Wizz Air UK at Gatwick Airport as we embark on the summer travel season. Through this significant expansion we are reaffirming our commitment to providing low-fare connectivity to our customers in London and the South of England – and we want them to know that WIZZ is here to stay.

“The lifting of all Covid-19 travel restrictions is an extremely positive development for the travel industry and passengers alike, with customers once again being able to travel hassle-free to their favourite destinations.

We look forward to welcoming customers old and new onboard our young, efficient and green aircraft to enjoy the excellent service WIZZ is known for, as they head off on their well-deserved trips abroad.”

Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport said: “We are delighted that Wizz is adding 18 new routes to its Gatwick offer, meaning passengers can now fly from Gatwick with Wizz to a total of 25 popular European destinations. Wizz’s expansion and commitment to Gatwick marks the start of an exciting time for the airport as well as the airline, coinciding with the reopening of Gatwick’s South Terminal.

“Wizz’s growing range of destinations is excellent news for passengers across London and the South East, providing more choice and competition to in-demand destinations. Importantly, it’s also fantastic news for the local economy, with more than 200 jobs created as a direct result of the new services.”

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Wizz Air to Gatwick, with both the airline and airport’s commitment to sustainability, customer choice, service and good value, it’s a natural partnership which represents the very best of our aviation sector’s recovery following Covid restrictions being lifted.

I look forward to stepping on board myself soon!”

For ultimate peace of mind, passengers can book tickets with the airline’s travel insurance package which includes Covid-19 cover**** and WIZZ Flex. With WIZZ Flex, passengers can cancel their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.

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Hungary’s Brexit adjustment reserve supports 63 companies with EUR 61.7m

brexit hungary companies

The government’s adjustment reserve for companies harmed by the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union is supporting 63 companies with a total of 23 billion forints (EUR 61.7m), Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Monday, when he handed the support certification to Rovitex Homedeco.

Winning support within the Brexit Adjustment Reserve was conditional on investments and preserving jobs, Szijjártó said. The government has pre-financed the tender, which opened in September and closed recently, as European Union funding will flow in between 2022 and 2025, he said.

“We have never allowed Hungarians to be made to pay for events in world politics and economy they had nothing to do with, and Brexit is one of them,” he said.

Szijjártó said Brexit was a “huge loss” for the EU which brought about grave strategic and economic challenges. The UK used to produce 15 percent of the EU’s GDP and gave 13 percent of its population, he said.

In the last decade marked by crises, the Hungarian government’s responses to the challenges consistently deviated from mainstream answers “but were also consistently successful”, he said.

In response to the financial crisis, the government introduced radical tax cuts and job creation policies, and it countered migration pressure by strengthening national security, he said.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the government focused on speeding up the vaccination drive and on saving jobs, which helped Hungary to “benefit from the status quo upheaval in global economy, and brought about economic records in 2021,” he said.

As we wrote last month, the number of Hungarian students studying in the UK has fallen dramatically since Brexit. The Hungarian Youth Association has launched a campaign across the EU: the SaveEUStudents initiative has been endorsed even by the European Parliament. Details: Hungarian students hit hardest by Brexit!

United opposition launches Hungarian-language billboard campaign in London

Péter Márki-Zay Prime Ministerial Candidate of the United Opposition

The parties of the united opposition and their candidate for prime minister, Péter Márki-Zay, have launched a Hungarian-language billboard campaign in London, the party alliance told MTI on Sunday.

The billboards, with the Hungarian message “To those who understand these words: Your country is counting on you!”, will be visible at King’s Cross station and in Borough High Street during the last two weeks of the campaign, the united opposition said.

The goal is to make Hungarians living abroad aware that their participation, too, is expected in the general elections on April 3, they added.

The united opposition said the votes of the several hundred thousand Hungarians living abroad could be a “decisive factor” in the election and called out the governing party for “intentionally trying to restrict the circumstances” of those Hungarians, with the consequence that they must “often travel for several hours and wait in line to vote”.

They added that this comes “as no surprise” because “four of five Hungarians living abroad want a change of government”, according to an analysis by research centre 21 Kutatóközpont.

The statement noted that Hungarians who want to vote at Hungarian diplomatic missions abroad must submit the requisite application by 4:00 in the afternoon on March 25. It added that fewer Hungarians have registered to vote, so far, in Munich and London, than two weeks before the 2018 elections, even though both cities are “important bases” for Hungarians living abroad.

“After April 3, we will build the kind of country from where one doesn’t have to leave, and where it’s worthwhile to come home.

We’ll ensure Hungarians who have emigrated abroad the same right to vote, so they will never feel discrimination by the government of their home country,” the united opposition said.

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This is how a Hungarian song sounded in Wales — VIDEO, PHOTOS

Wales Hungary

On the occasion of the commemoration of the 1848-49 revolution, the inhabitants of Montgomery made a touching tribute. The Welsh city, which is famous in Hungary as it is mentioned in János Arany’s ballad, also appears in the video.

Montgomery, the Hungarian city of Wales

Castle Wales
Photo: Castles for Battles.

People played János Bródy’s “Ha én rózsa volnék” (“If I were a rose”) at the Montgomery City Hall in Wales. The performance, which also features the city’s mayor, has been recorded. The local folk ensemble Monty Folk shared the recording on the morning of the 14th of March.

Montgomery is familiar to all Hungarians from János Arany ballad called “The bards of Wales”.

In the city of bards, you can often hear people singing or playing Hungarian melodies. The residents of the city are proud of their Hungarian connection and the work of János Arany, and even organised a Montgomery Hungarian Day which will be held on 14th May. Among the numerous all-day programs, the inauguration of the trilingual plaque of János Arany will be the highlight of the celebration. “We are proud that every Hungarian student comes across the name of our city during their studies,” said Jill Kibble, Mayor of Montgomery. This is due to János Arany, the famous late Hungarian poet’s work, who was also awarded the title Free Citizen of Montgomery a few years ago.

For the small town of 1,200 inhabitants, cherishing the Hungarian culture is important.

The event presents the rich cultural connections between Wales and Hungary. There will be a Hungarian Café, a school competition, and Hungarian and Welsh music performances at the first event to commemorate the 165-year old ballad.

Wales
Photo: Montgomery Town Council.

International competition for students

The organisers have also launched an international study competition and await the submitted works of primary and secondary school students from Great Britain, Hungary and all other countries. The ‘Rethinking of The bards of Wales’ competition aims to approach the history and message of the ballad from a different, unique perspective.

The winning work will be exhibited at the Montgomery Hungarian Day and in the János Arany Memorial Museum in Nagyszalonta.

The members of the jury include Boglárka Gali, director of the János Arany Memorial Museum, Josette Gresty, artist and Minier Márta, the drama professor of South-Welsh University.

PM Orbán told Johnson whether Hungary would forward troops and weapons to Ukraine

Viktor Orbán Boris Johnson

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made clear in London that Hungary will not send troops or weapons to Ukraine, nor will it allow transports of weapons to cross its territory “directly to the state attacked by Russia”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said late on Tuesday after attending talks alongside Orbán with Visegrád leaders and Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

On returning to Budapest, he said the talks, including a bilateral meeting between Orbán and Johnson, had focused “exclusively on issues around the Ukraine war and security challenges resulting from the conflict”, and he dismissed “fake news” reports regarding the talks.

Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland are all interested in creating peace and providing assistance to Ukraine but “each is doing so in its own way”,

Szijjártó said. The other three Visegrad countries have decided to allow the transit of lethal aid, while the Hungarian government is helping Ukraine “by way of

the largest humanitarian operation in its history”,

the minister said, adding that this assistance was exclusively humanitarian. Hungary should not get mixed up in the conflict, he said, adding that the government’s first duty was to protect the Hungarian people.

Also, the Hungarian government

“cannot support sanctions that could jeopardise the country’s energy supplies”,

Szijjártó said. Without gas from Russia, “there will be no heating” and industry would face serious difficulties, he said. Further, if the Paks nuclear upgrade project were halted, “public utility bills would increase fourfold”, he said.

Representatives of the government are scheduled to hold talks in Serbia on Wednesday, he said.

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Orbán holds talks with UK counterpart Boris Johnson in London

Orbán Johnson london

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held bilateral talks with UK counterpart Boris Johnson in London on Tuesday under the arrangements of a V4-Britain summit convened by Johnson concerning the war in Ukraine.

A Downing Street spokesman said the two prime ministers had reviewed the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and condemned Russia’s “abhorrent actions” in Ukraine, establishing that Russian President Vladimir Putin must stop the “barbaric campaign”.

Johnson presented to Orbán British plans to further increase sanctions against Russia and accelerate their introduction, the spokesman said. Cooperation between the UK and Hungary is key for finding ways to reduce dependence on Russian crude oil and natural gas supplies, Johnson said.

Downing Street said

Johnson and Orbán were in agreement that efforts must be made to thwart Russia’s destabilisation activities in Europe, also by enhancing Hungarian-British relations that improve resistance to cyberattacks.

Johnson held talks with Visegrad Group prime ministers in London and met Orbán for bilateral talks after the plenary session.

In his opening statement Johnson said

the V4 were “at the frontline” of the crisis in Ukraine and had to face the risk of a major humanitarian crisis.

He thanked the V4 premiers for their leadership and said the UK was prepared to provide all the help it could to the four countries.

As we wrote before, A seven-storey building close to Trafalgar square was bought by the Hungarian government. The building will function as the Hungarian House in London. 

scotland
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Hungary to elevate Edinburgh foreign mission to consulate general

scotland

Hungary will elevate its foreign mission in Edinburgh to a consulate general and move its consulate in London to a new building, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in the British capital on Tuesday.

The move will make it easier for Hungarians living in Scotland to keep in contact with Hungary, Szijjarto said after a summit between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the 600 sqm consular office set to open in the heart of London will offer higher level services, the minister said.

Szijjártó said

Hungarians living in the UK will be able cast their votes in the April 3 general election in London, Manchester or Edinburgh,

adding that the polling places would operate with increased capacities this year so as to prevent long queues.

“We’ll have an increased presence in view of the number of Hungarians living, studying and working here as well as the increasingly active economic and trade relations,” he said.

Szijjártó emphasised the “strong strategic alliance and friendship” between Hungary and Britain, saying the two countries shared similar positions on a number of issues and valued national sovereignty.

Hungary has profited immensely from its ties with the UK in the recent period, the minister said. British businesses make up the sixth largest investor community in Hungary, employing roughly 60,000 people, he added.

Bilateral trade turnover came to around 5 billion euros last year, Szijjártó said, adding that

Hungary’s export growth to the UK had contributed to its record export performance.

Also, both countries rely heavily on nuclear energy for energy security, Szijjártó said.

As we wrote on February, Hungarian House to open in central London.

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Read alsoOne of the most wanted criminals in Hungary caught in Dublin

V4 countries stands for stopping the war in Ukraine, says FM Szijjártó in London

szijjártó

The Visegrad Group stands for peace and stopping the war in Ukraine as soon as possible to ensure security in central Europe, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in London on Tuesday.

Szijjártó spoke ahead of a summit between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

The region is bearing the brunt of the humanitarian burden of the war, he noted.

Poland, Slovakia and Hungary have already received “a great many” refugees, some of whom have travelled on to the Czech Republic, among other countries, he said.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic has yet to end, as “many countries are still battling that challenge and lack the requisite vaccines”, Szijjártó said. Hungary is donating another 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to Thailand to help raise the vaccination rate. With that shipment, Hungary’s vaccine donations to Thailand will have reached 500,000, he said.

In total, Hungary has so far donated 4.2 million doses to 17 countries, he said.

“Raising the vaccination rate worldwide will curb the risk of new variants, so we can leave at least that challenge behind us. Security challenges are plenty without a health-care and economic crisis before us, too,” he said.

Ukrainian Refugees at Nyugati Railway Station in Budapest 2
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One of the most wanted criminals in Hungary caught in Dublin

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The Hungarian police have been searching for a 36-year-old man named György K. and his wife for fraudulently extorting money as part of a criminal organisation. The wanted person, however, has managed to get away.

According to Telex, 36-year-old György K. has been on the list of TOP 50 most wanted criminals in Hungary. He has been engaged in illegal activities along with his 36-year-old wife Ildikó Cs..

Their methods

The criminal couple tries to extort money from elderly people by posing as their grandchildren. Other times, they call the elderly grandparents and tell them that their grandchildren suffered an accident or were stuck in a foreign country and need money to make it home safely.

The emotionally manipulated and concerned grandparents would fall for the trick and give the money to the criminals in order to help their grandchildren they probably have very little contact with. 

The escape

Szeretlekmagyarország reported that the two criminals escaped the police arrest and fleed the country.  

However, the Budapest Police Headquarters have issued an international and Europe-wide arrest warrant for György K. and his wife Ildikó Cs. for fraudulently extorting money from elderly citizens, as part of a criminal gang.

Police.hu reported that several branches of the Hungarian police worked jointly to find the hideaway of the criminals and then proceeded to request international cooperation.

The Hungarian branch of KR NNI’s headhunters has worked together with the authorities of United Kingdom to locate the two wanted criminals. Upon locating them in Belfast, the authorities launched a raid on 7 February. However, the couple managed to escape the law once again.

Judgement comes

Thanks to the tireless work of headhunters, they have managed to find out that the couple fled to Ireland. The Hungarian KR NNI contacted the Irish authorities through ENFAST (European Network Fugitive Active Search Teams).

Finally, the Irish police have caught György K. and Ildikó Cs. In Dublin on 18 February at night. Their extradition will be decided by the Irish authorities at a later date.

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Hungarian House to open in central London

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A seven-storey building close to Trafalgar square was bought by the Hungarian government. The building will function as the Hungarian House in London.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Péter Szijjártó said that the building will be home to a Hungarian weekend school, and a theater room, where exhibitions and plays will take place. There are many Hungarians working or studying in London or the neighbouring areas, but as the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, they did not have a place to nurture their Hungarian heritage, culture and identity. – writes 24.hu.

The house will be a meeting point for Hungarians living in England. „In order that the house would be worthy and able to welcome Hungarian people, now it will be renovated, and as soon as the renovation ends, after a few months the Hungarians living in London and the area can take possession of it.” – the minister said.

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The house is the work of Sir Aston Webb, an architect whose name can be linked to the Buckingham Palace, and the main building of Victoria and Albert Museum. The building was later bought by the Canadian National Railway Company. In 1970, the building got Grade II type protection, which means that maintaining the original look of the building is important.

The building was eventually bought from an investor. The 1862 square meters building was put up for sale in 2017 by Hanover Green for 25 million pounds.  This could be the price that the Hungarian government paid for the building, however, the information has not been officially confirmed.

Telex reached a realtor, who said that the price cannot be indicated, but the 25 million pounds sounds realistic. The news site also found out from the realtor that the contract was signed about nine or ten days ago. 

Some parts of the building will probably welcome visitors in March this year. Liszt Institution will hold its events in the house starting next month. – 24.hu also wrote. The house will be a hub for Hungarians working and living in the London area. As for how long the full renovation will take, there has been no information published.

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Hungarian students hit hardest by Brexit!

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The number of Hungarian students studying in the UK has fallen dramatically since Brexit. The Hungarian Youth Association has launched a campaign across the EU: the SaveEUStudents initiative has been endorsed even by the European Parliament.

Brexit: changing rules and fees

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 1 January 2021, and since then, EU citizens have lost a number of benefits. Workers now have to comply with stricter residency rules, and they face a heavier administrative burden, which affects around 160,000 Hungarian citizens.

Young people were also affected by the exit: while the UK was a member of the EU, the maximum university tuition fee was £9250 (EUR 11,095), there was also a reduced student loan and no need for separate health insurance or a visa.

Since Brexit, however, they have either been discontinued or their costs are significantly higher. According to an older article on 444.hu, if a Hungarian student wants to study at a British university after Brexit, the tuition fees can range from 25,000 to 40,000 pounds (EUR 29,990-47,985). Another 348 pounds (EUR 417) for a visa is required, and one also has to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is an extra 470 pounds (EUR 564) compared to pre-Brexit time. Previously, the tuition fees could be covered in total by a student loan, which is now not available. On top of the already mentioned heavy expenditure, there are also the living costs.

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Fewer Hungarian students in the UK

Soma Pirityi, co-director of the Hungarian Youth Association Ltd., told Napi.hu about the situation:

“There has been a dramatic fall in the number of students studying in the UK. While in the year 2020-2021, around 705 students were accepted out of around 1,100 applicants, in the 2021-2022 academic year only 450 students applied out of which 190 have been accepted, but eventually only 60 began their studies.”

As we can read in Napi.hu’s article, according to Bálint Karagich, co-director of the Hungarian Youth Association Ltd., this does not stop Hungarian students from looking for universities abroad:

instead of British universities, most students are now looking for opportunities in the Netherlands.

This is also due to the fact that the Dutch system was the quickest to respond to the situation with foreign language courses. Austrian, French and German universities are also on the frontline.

Initiative

In response to the problem, the Hungarian Youth Association and the Federation of Polish Societies in the UK have launched a petition called SaveEUStudents. The campaign calls for the creation of a comprehensive EU-UK student mobility scheme to cover the tuition fees and living expenses of EU students, contribute to visa and travel costs, and provide an immigration health supplement. If implemented, this could help more than 170,000 European students.

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