History and articles of association
"To preserve and promote the memory of the Cyprian Norwid Polish High School in Villard-de-Lans; to develop links between alumni, teachers, employees and others involved in the school and Villard-de-Lans, as well as their families; to develop links between people of all nationalities who are interested in the history and memory of the Polish High School.
Office
- President: Georges Nowak
- Secretary: Geneviève Perdrix
- Treasurer: Stéphane Malbos
- Members: Krystyna Kamieniak-Fassina, Barbara Jankowski, Christiane Herby, Daniel Liber.
Articles of Association
An association is founded with the title “Mémoire du Lycée Polonais Cyprian Norwid — Villard-de-Lans — 1940-1946”
The purpose of the association is:
- To preserve and promote the memory of the Cyprian Norwid Polish High School in Villard-de-Lans.
- To develop links between former students, teachers, staff and others involved in the School and Villard-de-Lans, as well as their families.
- To develop links between people of all nationalities who are interested in the history and memory of the Polish High School.
- Its registered office is in the town hall in Villard-de-Lans
Its registered office is at Villard-de-Lans town hall.
A brief history
In 1958, in Krakow, around thirty former students and teachers gathered to "create a circle of former ‘Villardians’ that would bring together all the former high school students living in Poland, and former teaching staff. Our international delegate, Panek, will likely be visiting France again this year to make contact with former students living there, as well as in the UK and elsewhere, and to prepare, if possible, an international meeting in Villard itself.” An alumni association was also formed in Paris. It was based at the Polish School at 15 Rue Lamandé.
In 1974, as the 30th anniversary of the fighting in the Vercors approached, encouraged by the mayor of Villard, André Ravix, former students and teachers from Poland and France came together in Villard to create the Union des anciens du Lycée Polonais Cyprian Norwid, à Villard-de-Lans, et de leur famille - Amicale Villardczycy (“Union of alumni of the Cyprian Norwid Polish High School, in Villard-de-Lans, and their families — Amicale Villardczycy”). The articles of association were certified on 10 July, and a first meeting was held in Villard-de-Lans, attended by sixteen Villardiens from Poland, England, Belgium, the USA and France. The association's executive committee consisted of: Lucjan Owczarek, president; Bolesław Szpiega, secretary; Bernard Nowak, treasurer; Wacław Godlewski and Marcel Malbos, honorary presidents.
It took some time to set up the association and the second meeting was held in Villard in 1976. It reunited eighty Villardians, including more than thirty from Poland. A plaque was unveiled on the wall of the Hôtel du Parc et du Château, and a street was named after the Cyprian Norwid Polish High School. The association was primarily concerned with the remembrance of Poles in the Vercors: the engraving of names on war memorials and in cemeteries, Polish graves in Villard and La Doua, in the suburbs of Lyon, etc. and played an active role in commemorative ceremonies. It strove to obtain recognition for the merits of teachers and friends still living in France: Wacław Godlewski, Philippe Blanc, Marcel Malbos and André Ravix received the Gold Cross of Polish Merit, one of Poland's highest honours. A street was named after “the Villardians" in Warsaw. Other plaques and monuments were inaugurated in Poland. Exhibitions were organised. Two books have been published in Polish: a historical 'bible' and a collection of biographies.
In the 1980s, humanitarian initiatives were organised by Villardians and the Villard municipality to send food, medicines, and various supplies to Poland.
Lucjan Owczarek died at the turn of the century. Henri Gielec replaced him as president. The alumni were ageing, their energy was waning, and the association became primarily a rallying point. The discovery and sharing of the former teacher Marcel Malbos' archives gave the association a new lease of life. Work on preserving the school’s memory has resumed with translations, the publication of books in French, exhibitions, conferences, a website, the renovation of memorials, etc.
The association has opened up to the outside world. With the gradual and inexorable disappearance of the Villardians, the articles of association were amended in 2010 to accept all those interested in the remembrance of this event. The Association Mémoire du lycée Polonais Cyprian Norwid (“Cyprian Norwid Polish High School Memorial Association”) - Villard-de-Lans 1940-1946, has its offices in Villard-de-Lans. Its presidency has passed from former students to their children, first Stéphane Malbos and then Georges Nowak. Beyond the symbolism, it ensures that the flame is passed on and that the memory of the school is preserved.
The annual general meeting is traditionally held in Villard-de-Lans at the beginning of September. A powerful, joyful moment, when everyone meets again.
On this site, we often refer to the alumni as they refer to themselves: Villardians.
Reunions
Since 1976, every year without fail, or almost (Covid), Villardians, their families and friends have come together to remember, celebrate and preserve the memory of the school. The programme for these reunions is always the same:
- Saturday morning, first meeting at the Polish tomb in Villard cemetery. Speeches. Remembrance of the fallen, national songs and prayers in French and Polish.
- Saturday afternoon: general meeting, followed by a “Polish mass”.
- Saturday evening, dinner together.
- On Sunday morning, at Bois-Barbu, final meeting at the seventh station of the Way of the Cross, known as the "Polish Station", speech and prayers with the parishioners who take part in the annual pilgrimage to Valchevrière that day.