Award for local hero

Following the attack by Russia on Ukraine in February 2022 there was a cry around the world for help to support the people of Ukraine. The cry was answered by many, but one Knaresborian stands out. A retired coach driver, Bob Frendt was emotionally touched by the plight of the Ukrainians and could not just sit back and do nothing. Thus started a commitment to fundraising to pay for trips to Ukraine. Little did Bob know at the time that it would result in him making 13 trips to Ukraine over the next 3 years. Whilst reading the newspaper he saw an advert from a person looking for a second driver to take a lorry load of aid supplies to Ukraine. That first journey was adventurous with issues to overcome, but they made it to the Polish Ukrainian border where the aid was to be left for onward shipment into Ukraine. Not long after returning Bob read another advert from an Australian entrepreneur, temporarily working in the UK who had bought a former band tour bus and had it converted into an ambulance, again Bob signed up as second driver.  At that time there were stories surfacing about corruption related to aid distribution which made Bob determined that if he was to make another trip it would be into Ukraine delivering aid directly to those effected. But how?

One of Bobs contacts in Poland had business contacts with the town of Volodymyr, an historic town in the west of Ukraine. Bob contacted members of the home guard in Volodymyr and arranged for aid deliveries directly to the town. Since then, there have been at least 11 trips to the town. The aid taken by Bob has helped the local hospital, school and care home. More recently Bob has supported the local fire service which has lost many of its vehicles to other parts of Ukraine raising £20,000 to buy a fire engine. When he purchased the fire engine, a company in East Yorkshire donated a second vehicle for Ukraine.

Bob has taken beds, mattresses, wheelchairs, crutches, clothes, toys, a 4x4 SUV, 2 fire engines, cookers, schoolbooks, laptops, stationary, and sports equipment. To indicate solidarity with Ukraine, and particularly the people of Volodymyr, Knaresborough Town Council have signed a town twinning agreement with Volodymyr. In November 2023 David Goode had the privilege of joining Bob on the four-day drive to get the the Fire Engines to Volodymy, and to get the Town Twinning agreement signed. David says that the warmth of Bob’s reception in Volodymyr was overwhelming. He had clearly made a significant difference to their community, and they wanted to show him how much they valued and respected his efforts to help them.

Rotary was founded by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905 and the highest award in Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellowship, is named for him. The award is available to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who demonstrate exemplary community service. Today Knaresborough Rotary Club are pleased to award Bob Frendt with a Paul Harris Fellowship as a mark of respect for his efforts helping the people of Ukraine