Jay Stuart

AS we approach the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion, the reality of peace for Ukraine seems to be as distant as ever, while a kind of bad news fatigue has set in for many people in the UK and concern has waned into apathy.

When the war began in 2022 our Ukrainian neighbours told us friends of theirs from Kyiv were looking for a place to stay in London and soon we had Tanya (not her real name) and her two boys living with us. Dad was (and is) in the army back home. We now think of them as part of our family.

North Hill on the Heath [N Chadwick]

They lived in our house for 18 months. Camden was very supportive, schools found places for the boys and a local business was quick to give Tanya a job. Eventually they found their own flat. We still see them often. As much as they long to return to Kyiv, they are all thriving here.

Not long ago, the army miraculously gave the father a short leave to visit from Ukraine and I went with him and the boys to Hampstead Heath.

I wrote a poem about it, which is published right (names are changed), as a reminder that the other side of Europe is very close to home.

• Jay Stuart worked for many years in the international sports media business and now teaches tai chi in Highgate.