Widow thrilled by Polish honour

10:50am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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A CHAMPION of the Wyre Forest community who died last year has been posthumously awarded Poland's highest non-military honour.

Mike Oborski, who was half-Polish, has been recognised with the Insignia of Commander of The Order of Polonia Restituta by the Polish President.

Mr Oborski, who was 60 when he died, was a a long serving Wyre Forest district and Worcestershire county councillor, who worked tirelessly to help expatriates and their families.

The retired teacher was known to proudly display the Polish flag outside his Kidderminster home for many years before his death.

His widow, Fran Oborski, will collect the award at the Polish Embassy next Thursday, along with friends from the local and national Polish communities and her late husband's brother and nephew. Mrs Oborski said: "I am absolutely thrilled. It is an incredible honour.

"These days it is largely reserved for Polish nationals, either for their oustanding committment to arts and science or, as in Mike's case, for outsanding unpaid service to the nation."

Mr Oborski received many awards recognising his service to the Polish people but Mrs Oborski said this award was by far the most prestigious.

She added it was "particularly appropriate" so close to the No Barriers awards ceremony last Friday that her husband had been instrumental in starting up.

Nina Das Gupta, spokewoman for Wyre Forest District Council, said: "The awards will be a lasting tribute to his hard work and dedication to the district and the county over many years."

Mr Oborski was involved in the revolutionary Solidarity movement, holding the posts of Midlands office director and Wyre Forest campaigner.

He and his wife were awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for their work and Mr Oborski was later honoured with the Officers and Knights Crosses.

He helped raise thousands of pounds for disabled children in Silesia by helping to set up the Father Bernard's children's fund.

In 1996, he received the title of Honorary Polish Consul for the West Midlands and he was a past member of the Committee of the Federation of the Poles in the UK,.

Mr Oborski was described as a "pillar of strength" for the region's Poles by the priest at Kidderminster's Polish Catholic Church, Our Lady of Ostra Brama, Father Jan Gora.