Knaresborough man launches crowdfunder to send fire engine to Ukraine

A retired lorry driver who has taken seven truckloads of aid to Ukraine from Knaresborough has set himself a new challenge.

Bob Frendt, who is in his 70s, made his final trip to eastern Europe earlier this month and has said he will not complete another aid journey.

However, he is hoping to help in another way.

While visiting Volodymyr in western Ukraine over the last year, he discovered the town’s fire engines had been commandeered by the army.

During his last visit, he was told about the impact of this. He said:

“We heard there had been people killed in a fire four weeks earlier because they don’t have a fire engine.

“I said, ‘I promise I will buy you a fire engine. I don’t know how, I don’t know where I’m going to get the money from, but I will do it by the end of the year.'”

Bob is known for keeping his promises.

Over the last 15 months, he has been transporting medical equipment for the hospital, as well as IT and other supplies the school requested.

Before Christmas, he transported hundreds of gifts to distribute to local children, and took Easter eggs to the hospital’s children’s ward during his visit in April.

As well as taking donations from people around Knaresborough and beyond, he contacted numerous businesses across the area to ask for contributions of unwanted medical equipment and more.

He was given the lorry by a supporter, but it cost him £2,500 in fuel, insurance and ferries every time he travelled to Ukraine and back, and he now plans to sell the lorry to clear the overdrafts he and wife Maureen had used to fund the last trip.

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Bob is determined to raise enough money to buy and transport at least one fire engine to Volodymyr, to prevent more lives being lost and homes and businesses being destroyed if a fire breaks out.

He is being supported by Chain Lane Community Hub, which has been working with many Ukrainians who have fled the country since Russia invaded last February.

Knaresborough is now home to around 350 Ukrainians, many of whom have been helped to learn English, find work and settle into the community through the Chain Lane hub.

Bob has also been instrumental in moves to twin Knaresborough with Volodymyr, with both mayors keen to sign up to a twinning agreement.

A Crowdfunding page has been set up to help Bob reach the £20,000 he needs for the cause. On it, the team from the hub wrote:

“Chain Lane Community Hub want to support Bob in his continued support for this town by helping Bob to fundraise for further Humanitarian Aid to Volodymyr, with one of the intentions to purchase and transport a fire engine specifically for this town.

“We can feel so helpless watching the news from Ukraine but this is a way we can really make a difference to these brave people in their time of need.”

To donate to the cause, visit the Crowdfunding page.

‘Just one more trip’ for Knaresborough’s Ukraine aid hero

A Knaresborough man who has just returned from his seventh aid trip to Ukraine has said the next visit will be his last.

Retired lorry driver Bob Frendt has been taking a lorry loaded with medical equipment and other supplies to the west of the country since Russia’s invasion last February.

His latest trip saw him deliver a letter from Knaresborough Town Council to the mayor of Volodymyr proposing a twinning agreement, after Mr Frendt’s trips established a connection between the towns.

He also took with him mobility scooters, walking frames, crutches and other vital equipment for the hospital – as well as 200 Easter eggs. They had been collected by Knaresborough women Stacey Worrall and Joanne Notman with support from family and friends, to ensure young hospital patients will not go without a chocolate treat.

On arrival at the hospital in Volodymyr, Mr Frendt was asked to deliver the eggs to the children himself. He said:

“They were overwhelmed. Because they weren’t expecting it, the kids couldn’t believe it. I bet they haven’t had chocolate since the war started – they were just over the moon, they were blown away by it.

“There was one little girl who was about three. She was really ill. I gave her the Easter egg and you would have thought I was giving her life itself.”

Mr Frendt had planned to make this his last aid trip to Ukraine, saying he was “shattered” after more than a week of travelling and deliveries.

The lorry’s MOT in February cost £4,000 in repairs. Mr Frendt was only able to get it back on the road by using his overdraft, and his wife Maureen’s. He planned to sell the truck after his next trip in order to clear their debt.

School appeal

However, during the meeting at the mayor’s office, something happened to change his mind. He said:

“I got introduced to the principal of the school which had been shut for a year because at the start, all the men teachers had to go into the army and all the women packed up their kids and legged it.

“They heard what I had done for the hospital and wanted me to do the same for the school.

“When it was shut down, the military took all the technology, so they’re absolutely beside themselves and desperate for laptops, computers, monitors, routers – anything to do with IT. They want a 3D printer and everything to go with that, and they want language course stuff to teach English.

“The school was damaged by artillery. They were given funding by the government to rebuild the school, but no funds for equipment or refurbishment. They want about 500 litres of paint and varnish for the floors.”

Unable to say no, Mr Frendt has agreed to do what he can to get what the school needs and plans to set off for his final trip on May 25.

Bob Frendt with teachers from the school in Volodymyr, UkraineBob Frendt, in blue, with teachers from the school in Volodymyr

The school also asked for 10 footballs and 10 basketballs for sports lessons. Since returning less than a week ago, Mr Frendt has already sourced 40 of each, but is still seeking sports kits so the teams can play in suitable clothing.

He also still needs as much IT equipment as he can get, and paint and other supplies to make the school a better environment for learning.

And, as he left the mayor’s office, Mr Frendt was given an unusual request. He said:

“The parting shot was, ‘if you’ve got any fire engines lying about, we’ll take them – the army have nicked ours’.

“The military had commandeered the town fire engine, leaving them unable to fight any fires, so they have to let any that happen just burn out, leaving residents and businesses homeless.”

Mr Frendt said he is hoping to arrange an appointment with Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe to see whether an unneeded fire appliance could be given to Volodymyr.

If so, he said he will drive it there himself and fly home, as well as completing his final aid trip in May.

Anyone who can help Mr Frendt with equipment for the school, or funding to cover the £2,500 costs of each trip to Ukraine, can call him on 07836 514952.

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Support for plans to twin Knaresborough with town in Ukraine

Knaresborough could be twinned with a town in Ukraine in a show of support and solidarity from the town council.

Councillors last night voted in favour of writing to the mayor of Volodymyr in western Ukraine with the proposal, after a motion was put forward by Cllr David Goode.

The meeting saw a presentation by Bob Frendt, the retired lorry driver from Knaresborough who last year made six trips to deliver aid to people affected by Russia’s invasion of the country.

Mr Frendt said:

“I addressed Knaresborough Town Council and they agreed to my request to twin Knaresborough with Volodymyr in Ukraine to promote cultural, education, commercial and sporting links between our two towns going forward.

“I am very proud and pleased to have got this twinning project through.”

Cllr Goode described Mr Frendt as a “force of nature” and said his hard work to deliver medical equipment as well as toys to Ukraine had inspired the town twinning committee to back the idea.

Mr Frendt had already broached the subject with the mayor of Volodymyr and had an enthusiastic response. Now Cllr Goode’s proposal has been voted through by Knaresborough Town Council, a letter will be sent to the mayor to formalise the plans.

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Cllr Goode said there would be some details to work out over the exact wording of the twinning agreement. If the councils in both Volodymyr and Knaresborough are happy with the wording, the twinning will be made official.

However, the arrangement is likely to be less active than the 50-year twinning agreement with Bebra in Germany, which has seen partnerships between groups including Knaresborough Silver Band, civic organisations and local schools.

Cllr Goode said:

“I think, at this stage, it’s more moral support and commitment to the people in Volodymyr, as much for them to know there’s another group of people out there really thinking about them and what they are going through.

“There’s also an element of continuing to support Bob in what he’s doing.

“That’s what came across to the town council in terms of introducing the motion. It might not be a massive commitment, but it’s something more we are doing than just flying the flag in front of Knaresborough House.”

Cllr Goode said he was hopeful Ukrainians who had moved to Knaresborough since the war began last year would be keen to get involved if the twinning project went ahead.

Meanwhile, Mr Frendt will set off on another trip to Ukraine tomorrow afternoon. He will drive his lorry through Europe to Volodymyr to deliver supplies – including 200 Easter eggs donated by people and businesses in Knaresborough.

As with previous trips, his lorry has been filled with donated medical supplies, and has raised funds to cover insurance, fuel and other expenses, as well as using his own money.

Individuals or businesses wanting to offer support can email him, or call him on 07836 514952.