UKRANIAN guests were invited this week to catch a new train service from Buckfastleigh to the North Pole, courtesy of the Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club and Newton Abbot CIC.

The day kicked off at South Devon Railway, where everyone was transported to a winter wonderland, fake snow and all.

As the passengers made their way out onto the platform, a giant black steam train emerged, with every character from the Polar Express film on board. After a short monologue from the conductor, it was a full steam ahead to Totnes, with Father Christmas at the ready to dispense presents.

Once the trip was over, the celebrations began. Guests were invited back to the Highweek Village Inn by landlady Poppy Taylor. There, a full spread of Ukrainian food was prepared, alongside a Christmas tree decorated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Santa also made a reappearance as well, most certainly not Richard Elson, a Highweek Village Inn local.

Tetiana, a mother from Ukraine said: ‘I would like to say thank you very much for the trip to Buckfastleigh, it was amazing.  It was like we got into a fairy tale, I think these memories will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

‘I also would you like to say thank you for the dinner in the pub, I was very impressed that even the Christmas tree was blue and yellow. There was delicious Ukrainian food and gifts for children.

‘The owner of the pub is a very nice and kind woman, I thank her very much for welcoming so many people, I felt incredible support from her. You all have a very big heart.

‘It was a very bright, exciting day.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone involved, the memories of this day will warm us for a long time.

‘I hope that in the future we can also be useful to you and do good to each other.  I am so thankful that we can live in peace, my child can go to school and have wonderful days like this.’

Rick Birmingham, Vice President of the Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club and one of the key organisers, said: ‘All our Ukranian friends had a great experience on the train and a special Polly party at the Highweek Village Inn after. They are a long way from home, and it was great to see the smiles and joy in their faces.

I would like to thank Steve Talbot for helping me get the event off the ground and onto the rails.

‘Thanks to Peta Richard-Jones and Emily Farrell at Newton Abbot CIC for helping to assemble our Ukranian Guests. Svetlana Pike for being there as our translator, Polly and her staff for getting the party going. The food was amazing and a special thanks to Nicola’s team who added the Ukranian touches.

 ‘Ali Ellison and Shane at Country Bus for the transfers between the events, Richard Elson for being Santa. Elaine Birmingham and Paul Haarar for getting the pub ready for the party. Finally, thanks to the two police officers who looked after us all at the pub.

 ‘The only dampener was the damp weather. It was a great team effort and wouldn’t have worked as well as it did without all of you. What to plan next?’