A Liverpool man who brought a group of Ukrainians to Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest has reflected on an "extremely moving" experience.
The ECHO has charted the efforts of Tim Johnson to bring six Ukrainians and six Poles over to the city for a week of fun around the famous song contest. The group have all worked tirelessly to help people affected by the Russian invasion since it began over a year ago.
Tim and his Polish fiancé met the group while volunteering in Poland and have remained friends. When Liverpool was announced as the host city for Eurovision last autumn, he made it his mission to bring them over for the event.
READ MORE: Mum 'proud to be scouse' after response to son's bullying
The ECHO met with the group last week who enjoyed a huge range of activities and experiences in Liverpool and London. They spoke of their time in the "beautiful" city of Liverpool, which they said had taken to them with "open hearts".
The group enjoyed a tour of Anfield stadium, a trip on the Mersey Ferry and city sightseeing tour bus and even had an audience with the Lord Mayor. They travelled to the capital for a trip on the London Eye and a thrilling speedboat ride on the Thames.
Speaking to the PA news agency after the Eurovision grand final, Tim said he was “tired but very, very happy and overwhelmed” by the support the Ukrainian and Polish aid workers had received in Liverpool and their joy during the trip.
He said: “Although I knew it would be significant and a big deal for them, I never could have imagined the huge impact it’s had on them.”
The group watched the Eurovision grand final in Liverpool’s fan village, with Mr Johnson saying the volunteers “had high hopes for Ukraine but unfortunately it didn’t turn out that way in the end”.
The group found Finland’s song, Cha Cha Cha, the most memorable of the night but, Mr Johnson said, the group had a “very serious moment” amid the euphoria.
One of the volunteers received a message during the show that her Ukrainian home of Ternopil had been attacked shortly before the Ukrainian band, Tvorchi, was to perform. Mr Johnson said the news of the missile strike on Ternopil – which is also the hometown of the Ukrainian act – was a “moment of sheer fear and panic”.
“I had to get her very quickly out of a maintenance gate and try to make a call to check if everyone was alright and luckily her family were, but it’s just another example of what they’re going through.”
The volunteers also attended the rehearsals for the first semi-final and the Eurovision grand final and Mr Johnson said they were “absolutely blown away” by the experience. He said: “They couldn’t quite believe that they were stood there.”
In the run-up to the grand final, the group draped Ukrainian flags on the statue of The Beatles on Liverpool’s waterfront and held up a giant Ukrainian flag embellished with the painted handprints of children from the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
Mr Johnson said the large Ukrainian flag attracted the attention of passers-by, saying: “Literally hundreds of people gathered around taking photos and nobody said a word but you could just feel the huge outpouring of support there.”
“It was one of those lump-in-the-throat moments. It’s hard not to be moved by so many people gathering around like that and the silent support.”
He added: “They’ve been dealing with some really serious stuff and to see them arrive at the airport, very nervous at the start and then you know, come to be smiling, relaxed, happy, joking. I couldn’t wish for more from the trip than to see that.”
Olivia Pratt-Korbel murderer Thomas Cashman's jail sentence will not be extended
Netflix airs film on Liverpool gangsters, guns, drugs and ear biting
Mum 'proud to be scouse' after response to son's bullying
Good Morning Britain's Richard Arnold makes 'difficult' claim after he leaves Liverpool
