Ostap Hladkiwskyj (15 May 1926 - 16 Mar 2019)

In loving memory of Ostap (Oscar) Hladkiwskyj who sadly passed away on 16th March 2019.

Dad was born in Ukraine on 15th May 1926 and grew up on a farm until the war came and changed everything.

After fighting against the Red Army, his unit of Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to the British and he became a Prisoner of War in Rimini, Italy.

The UK then allowed him to emigrate to the UK where he worked as a farm labourer in Lincolnshire and Cornwall. He then worked as a steel erector climbing radio masts and helping build the bright new future of Magnox nuclear power plants.

He met his wife, Margaret, in Exeter where she was working as a nurse and they married in June 1956. Ostap then began work in the Gloster aircraft factory in Gloucester and lived with Margaret in a caravan until they were able to afford their first house in Marlborough Road. Where they had their only child, John.

In 1964, Margaret and Ostap moved to Reading. Ostap continued to work in factories in the area and qualified as a machine tool operator. He worked at Vanderwall's, Ideal casements and then for British Rail. Once the workshops closed Ostap worked in Reading Station on the platform and then in the lost property office.

Ostap was an active member of the Ukrainian Community. He was branch secretary of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain while in Gloucester and also in Reading. In Reading he was also the headmaster of the Saturday Ukrainian School and introduced classes in English for children for whom Ukrainian was not their first language. He found the current Ukrainian Club premises for sale in Reading and encouraged the community to purchase the property which became the focus of the Ukrainian Community in Reading to this day.

He was always an encouraging father, a kind uncle and a doting grandfather. He always had a packet of Cherry Drops or Polo mints in his pocket for the kids.

Margaret died on 30th March 2012 and then Ostap moved to Rose Cottage in Broughton where he spent six and a half happy years, making many friends along the way. He then moved to Primrose Hill Care home in Huntingdon where he passed away in the most peaceful manner and with a smile on his face.

Ostap is survived by his son, John, his daughter in law, Pauline, and his two grandchildren Roman and Stefan. He will be missed, but will always be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

The funeral will be at St Olga's Ukrainian Catholic Church, New Road, Peterborough at 13:00 on 30 April with the burial (with Margaret in Godmanchester Town Cemetery). A wake will then be held at the Exhibition Pub in Godmanchester.