Bolton Holodomor survivor speaks out about her story

Lola Smal was born during one of the darkest times in Ukraine's history - the Holodomor, translated as 'Death by Starvation'. 

The famine, which took place between 1932 and 1933, is regarded as having been caused by the agricultural policies of Joseph Stalin's Soviet regime.

Different sources and historians give varying figures as to how many died, but it is believed it could be as many as seven million people. 

In recent years, governments and parliaments have recognised the event as genocide. 

The sermon at St Patrick's RC Church (Image: Phil Taylor) A sermon to mark Holodomor Memorial Day took place at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Bolton on Sunday, November 24. The moving service was delivered in Ukrainian. 

The Bolton News went down to speak to Lola who attended the service. 

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She said: "I was born in 1933 near the town of Shevtyka, Ukraine. I had no knowledge of the Holodomor until we came to live in England after the war. 

Lola Smal (Image: Phil Taylor) "The reason for that is that no one in our household, or any other household, would speak of it because you could be reported to the NKVD, the secret police, and you would be taken away and never seen again. 

"I only survived the famine because my mother breast fed me. My father was a forester and had a small shed deep in the forest where he managed to store some food. 

"It is only through this that we managed to avoid hunger and death. My mum struggled and I am forever grateful that we escaped." 

She added: "When I was three years old, my father was taken away by the local police. To this day, I do not know why. I never saw him again. 

Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn (Image: Phil Taylor) "When I was old enough to understand what had happened in Ukraine, my mother explained the events of the Holodomor. Many of our neighbours did not survive, we were the lucky ones. 

"I have had seven children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, I am grateful to my mother forever. I don't think we would have survived." 

Speaking about the Holodomor Memorial, Lola added: "It is always very close to my heart at this time of year. 

"I am blessed, I have come so far and am in good health." 

Lola's story was also read out by Bolton branch chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn, at a Holodomor memorial on Saturday in Cheetham Hill.