John’s Latest Ukraine Diary

Just a year after their first expedition to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine, a big hearted duo from a Ruddington pub have recently returned from driving further donations into the war-torn country. After the partial Russian invasion there, early in 2022, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and fierce fighting from its military trying to defend their country from bombs and bullets ever since, there’s no sign of Vladimir Putin’s ambition to seize more of Ukraine waning just yet. Consequently, Dave Frankie and John Noble (pictured top), the manager and owner of The Frame Breakers…

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More Ruddington Aid for Ukraine

Organisers of a popular pre-Christmas concert in our village have revealed that it raised hundreds of pounds for humanitarian aid in war-torn Ukraine. ‘Handel’s Messiah’ is traditionally performed every two years by Ruddington & District Choral Society (RDCS) in St Peter’s Church. This time around, on Monday December 12th, its members chose the work of The British Red Cross in Ukraine as the good cause to support. Thanks to the generosity of the audience, following their performance a total of £500 was raised towards the aid effort. RDCS Secretary Maggie Bar…

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Ruddington Graffiti Artist’s Royal Tribute

A professional graffiti artist in our village is among many who have provided some wonderful extra colour for Ruddington’s celebrations of Her Majesty’s seventy years on the throne. The latest work from ‘Creed’ a.k.a. Ainsley Burton (pictured above with sons Harry and Isaac) can be found on the former changing room block at Sellors’ Playing Field – one of several he has been asked to do there over recent years. Originally the park’s custodians, Ruddington Parish Council (RPC), had proposed to demolish this building after it became a target for vandals and illegal graffiti.…

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Public Meeting: Helping Ukraine Refugees

If you’re interested in how Ruddington can help Ukrainian refugees then you’re invited to this Public Meeting this Sunday, 29th May, from 2.30pm in St Peter’s Church. Danielle and Tim Pickup from the village arranged this event because they are concerned about the plight of people fleeing from Ukraine. Danielle explains: “The aim for the meeting is to come together as a community to discuss how we can practically come together to help support hosting families and their Ukrainian guests. Post meeting we are hoping to create supportive networks to…

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Ruddington Supports the ‘Solidarity March for Ukraine’

Businesses and individuals from Ruddington are showing their solidarity with the people of Ukraine by supporting a local march at the end of this month. The procession through West Bridgford on Saturday 30th April is being co-ordinated by Sofia Lesuik (pictured above with Alex Preston of The Bottle Top). Sofia is well known in our village, having lived here for seven years until her recent move. She ran the Pre-school team at Ruddington Day Nursery for ten years and supported and organised many village events during this time; such as the…

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Ruddington Aid Reaches Ukraine

A big hearted duo from a Ruddington pub, who decided to collect together a van load of humanitarian aid and drive it to Ukraine themselves, have just returned home safely. As previously reported, John Noble and Dave Frankie, the owner and manager of The Frame Breakers on High Street, set off last Sunday morning (20th March) on their epic return journey to Przemysl in Poland, near the Ukraine border. Thanks to generous donations from Ruddington and beyond, their hire van was stacked to capacity with food, warm clothing, sleeping bags, nappies,…

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Ruddington Rallies for Ukraine

Day after day we are continuing to witness horrific images on television and online of Russia’s shocking and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Residential buildings and hospitals are among those being bombed in an apparent bid by The Kremlin to seize control of the independent, East European nation. The attempted invasion has already resulted in thousands of reported civilian deaths since it was launched on February 24th 2022, to the incredulity of most of the rest of the world. Whilst many thousands of Ukrainians have stayed behind to help their military, and try to…

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