Sue Ryder’s first connection with Poland was during the Second World War when she served in the Polish section of Special Operations Executive. There she met the young men and women of extraordinary courage and determination who were prepared to be dropped back into occupied Europe. She learned at first hand from them the extent of the human suffering being inflicted on occupied Europe by the Nazis. This began her long association with and love for Poland and the Polish nation. Subsequently she wrote “I feel I belong to Poland”. When she was made a Life Peer in Britain, it was unusual for peers to take titles from outside Britain, but she asked to take the title of “Warsaw” in recognition of her beloved Poland. In the last year of her life she founded the Bouverie Foundation (now The Lady Ryder of Warsaw Memorial Trust) to continue the work she had started, particularly in Poland, Lourdes and Italy. This work continues today.
