1956 Commemoration - Consulate General of Hungary Manchester

Remembering 1956 in Manchester

To mark the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence, we held a National Day reception at the Hungarian Consulate General in Manchester.

It was a particular honour to welcome around 70 guests to the event, including members of the diplomatic corps in the North of England, Consuls General, the Sovereign’s local representative (the Lord-Lieutenant), the High Sheriff, mayors and deputy mayors from several cities, and representatives of Hungarian communities across the region.

In her commemorative address, Consul General Judit Várhelyi briefly recalled the historical background and key events of the 1956 Revolution, before highlighting how, following its suppression, Great Britain — and particularly the North of England — offered safety and the opportunity for a new beginning to many Hungarians forced to flee their homeland. She emphasised that the story of 1956 did not end at Hungary’s borders; it lived on in Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, Barnsley and in many other communities around the world.

One of the most poignant moments of the evening was paying tribute to our fellow Hungarians who had experienced the events of 1956 first-hand and now live in the North of England. Speaking on their behalf, Dr András Zsigmond, a former 1956 refugee and former Honorary Consul of Hungary in Liverpool, shared his personal memories with the guests. His moving recollections brought the history of 1956 and its deeply human dimension particularly close to everyone present.

Two special exhibitions also formed part of the commemoration. Original front pages from contemporary Hungarian daily newspapers and the _Manchester Evening News_ illustrated how the press reported on the events of the Revolution.

Meanwhile, entries from the _Freedom 70_ children's art competition offered a visual response to the question: “What does freedom mean to you?” — as seen through the eyes of the youngest generation.

The evening’s Hungarian culinary offering was prepared by András Tirnbach, Head Chef at The Duke, Sunninghill. His specially created Hungarian-inspired menu proved a great success with our guests.

We would like to thank everyone who joined us in commemorating this important chapter in our shared history and making the evening so special and memorable.