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PAUL MCCARTNEY KINDERGARTEN, CRACOW, POLAND
Of all the honours Paul McCartney has received, surely the strangest was to have a school named after him. A Liverpool street, yes; a school, well... For, as Paul told Terry Wogan (see CS47/48), he cut short a promising academic career to go to Hamburg with the Beatles.
Yet, as Agnieszka Czarniecka of the Cracow kindergarten says, Paul is a teacher in a wider sense, spreading his own warmth and compassion through the words and music of his songs. Here are some extracts from the correspondence between Agnieszka andMPL's Shelagh Jones, starting with Agnieszka's first letter in the summer of last year.
PrzedszkoleNr 82
Ul Glowackiego 2
Krakow
Poland
Dear Uncle Paul,
On the occasion of your birthday, teachers and children from our kindergarten wish you much happiness, good health and new excellent musical ideas. Give our regards to your family , (Aunt Linda, and your children -Heather, Mary, Stella and James). We love your music, children know your songs and they sing and play them with great pleasure all days.. .for instance 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' - it's really beautiful. Your music can be heard in all places in our kindergarten, so all teachers decided to give our kindergarten your name. We all want Paul McCartney kindergarten -the first in Poland.
But do you allow to do it? All teachers and kids are waiting for your answer.
Agnieszka Czarniecka
Not surprisingly, Paul was flattered to bits and gave his permission, asking Agnieszka to thank everyone in the school for asking him. He was also happy to send them some books and records.
Przedszkole im Paula McCartney'a
Ul Glowackiego 2
Krakow
Poland
Dear Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda!
"What a splendid Uncle!" exclaimed cheerful children when I showed them the letter from you. I had to translate it to them many, many times.
They leaped for joy when your gift reached their little hands. At the end of the day the children put all books and records on the shelf in a special room. Little boy told me as a secret that your records are more important than our toys.
We'll use these records and books in our work with children, in our band and in English lessons. Now our kindergarten gains popularity. There will be a special programme on TV about you and our children. We'll have to say why we wish to give your name to our school. Much mail from you will help us in it.
We want to know if you would like to come to Poland, to Cracow to the celebration of giving your name to the school. Please, give us your answer!
Aunt Linda, could you send us a big picture of your husband, which we have to hang on the front wall in the kindergarten?
All teachers from our school decided to propagate (as you) peace, love and anti-racism. And this is why we chose 'Pipes Of Peace' as our hymn.
There is Polish seat of International Organisation for Children in our kindergarten. We want to do an exhibition of photos of children from different places in the world. Can we use your pictures in it? Can you send us something else on this subject?
When our children saw your gifts they decided to send you something, too. So Dear Aunt and Uncle - WAIT FOR THEIR SURPRISE.
Kindest regards all teachers
and your children!
Agnieszka Czarniecka
The surprise was a beautiful little doll in traditional dress and photos of all the children. Naturally, Paula and Linda were thrilled.
Although he and Linda were too busy to fit in a trip to Poland, Paul told Agnieszka he would like very much to visit the school one day. In the meantime, as you can see from Agnieszka's letterhead, the authorities have allowed the school to use its new name.
A large photo of Paul and Linda, signed and framed, was sent for display on the kindergarten wall. Linda OK'd the use of her pictures in the exhibition and sent some more for the school to keep.
Cracow
Dear Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda,
I don't know if I can explain it to you, but after your first letter you became real persons for us. Before it you were only our favourite musicians and artists. Now you really exist in our school - lovely Uncle and Aunt. Everything is done with the intention of you in our kindergarten. We want our school to be also yours -your little place in the heart of Poland, in Cracow - the place full of children's laughter and happiness.
It was quite a surprise to us to hear that you informed your country about our school. We are happy of it because before many people don't believe us that you really know something about our kindergarten.
Your new song 'Once Upon A Long Ago' was dedicated to our kids. It's wonderful! I turned the radio on and the speaker said: "Paul McCartney's new song." In a second all kids sat around the radio set. Nobody said any word during all the song. I can't conceal from you that we will be so happy if you send us your new record, because we haven't any chance to buy it in Poland.
The special television programme was made in our kindergarten a month ago, because all Poland is interested in our correspondence with you. We were asked to show all things we received from you. They showed also our exhibition and they made an interview with our children and teachers. Our children's band sang some of your songs.
At the end of this programme the children exclaimed together that they love Uncle Paul and Aunt Linda very much and they waved the photographs they received from you. I think you may be proud of your little Cracow-fans. Producers of TV music-programmes also phone us nearly everyday, they want to do another programme about you and us.
We are waiting for your new longplay, and new musical ideas. We are not allowed to do celebration of giving the name without you, but we have the most important thing - the Act of Giving the Name!
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