Maria Alicja (Ala) Ferenc was born in Ostrow, Poland in 1932 to Ignazc Ferenc and Zofia Kaczynska.  She had three brothers - Zbigniew (who died in infancy), Ryzsard and Bogdan. Ryzsard was arrested for stealing during their deportation and was never seen again. 

 

Ala came to the United Kingdom aboard the MV Dundalk Bay in September 1950, docking at Hull.

 

​In 1951, she married Franciszek Pruski, with whom she settled in Coventry and had two sons - Andrew and Christopher.  ​In 1972, Franciszek died and Ala remarried Josef Gradkowski in 1978.​

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I was lucky enough to meet her whilst visiting her son Chris in Wales.  She held my face in her hands and said "I never thought I'd get to meet Vodek's daughters".​

 

Ala passed in October 2022 after a short illness.​It is thanks to Ala's notes that we know as much as we do about our family's incredible journey.  Thank you Ala. xxx