AROUND 100 people gathered at a ‘touching’ and ‘emotional’ vigil over the weekend to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The event was organised by Weymouth Town Council who wanted communities to come together for a period of quiet reflection.

The vigil, which took place at Jubilee Clock at Weymouth Esplanade, saw most people stay for the full hour between 6pm and 7pm.

Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Colin Huckle said: “We started the vigil with me saying a few words and my Chaplain read a few passages, then we followed with a minute or so silence.

“I went and spoke to as many people as I could with the Lady Mayoress. We had at least three Ukrainian adults there and I spoke at length with one of them who was also keen to speak to other groups of people. She told me she had been helping out and sorting donations at a school in Dorchester.

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“People were very sympathetic and very concerned because not only are the Ukrainians under threat but there are areas in Europe that really didn’t expect another war here after the Second World War. I think we are all very concerned about what Mr Putin is going to do next.

“The vigil was really touching, and it was particularly touching to speak to all the people from Ukraine.”

“To the people that came along, thank you very much. A few even suggested doing another one as it was very late notice when we organised this one so a lot of people wouldn’t have been aware."

Weymouth Town Councillor, Ann Weaving was also touched by her meeting with the Ukrainian people who showed up to the vigil.

She said: “The vigil was very emotional and I was pleased so many people turned up.

“There was a lovely Ukrainian mother and daughter there that gave us personal information about their family in Ukraine which made it really hit home.

“We can’t do much apart from donate gifts and money, but to show our solidarity it really did make me feel good. We had pictures taken with the Ukrainian mother and daughter and they passed them onto their family to show them that ordinary people in Weymouth care.

“I’d like to say to everybody that turned out, thank you all for your support. It was really appreciated by Ukrainian people.”

Weymouth Town Councillor Tia Roos admits the evening was emotional. She said: “Everybody was really moved by what the Chaplain said.

“It brought a tear to our eyes just to hear somebody cement those thoughts that we are all having. Which is the concern over how the Ukrainians are, but also that we want them to be safe, we want them to feel that we’re united with them.

“We all feel very powerless at this time so something like this, the hope, made people feel like contributed in some small way.”

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