Local community beaming with pride for our hero landlord

A week into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nub News editor Francesca Evans reflects on how the terrifying global headlines can affect us all... and one incredible act of bravery

It has been a little difficult to find much meaning in what I write this week, as everything pales into insignificance against the backdrop of war in Europe.

War in Europe – that's not something I ever considered writing about as a journalist in the 21st century. Something that generations before mine had hoped they would never hear again.

During my lifetime, the only wars I have known are those in the Middle East. When the Iraq War was called in 2003, I was 13 years old and the only knowledge I really had of war was the little I had learned in history class about the two world wars.

Was it going to be like that? The idea terrified me but, I am ashamed to admit, it has become easy to put to the back of my mind over the years with little direct impact on most of our lives here in rural East Devon.

We have watched scenes of horror on the television for so long that we have become almost numb to them. We watch with sympathy, yes, but also with a level of detachment to these far flung places that seem another world away.

The invasion of Ukraine has suddenly brought conflict far closer to home – just 1,000 or so miles away – and with the increasing threat of nuclear warfare, distance seems far less significant.

The unjustified Russian invasion has, quite rightly, dominated the world's headlines and, while I believe it's always important to stay afloat of current affairs, even as a journalist I have found it necessary to take a break from the 24-hour rolling news which, in a similar way to that at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, has filled me with increasing anxiety and dread.

Like me, I imagine many are feeling scared, sad at the state of the world and rather helpless – or perhaps even guilty for having those emotions and for carrying on with our day-to-day lives, knowing that so many are so much less fortunate.

One person that could not just sit back and watch the news is local businessman Tom Littledyke – now dubbed the hero landlord by the national press – the man who opened an Italian restaurant in Lyme Regis and served me a glass of wine on Saturday night, not mentioning a word about war, and just 48 hours later was well on his way to the Ukrainian border.

In an act of incredible bravery, Tom loaded his 16-seat mini bus – usually used to ferry customers between his pubs in Lyme Regis and the Marshwood Vale – with blankets, sleeping bags, towels and toys to comfort children, and drove 1,000 miles to the Polish border to help those in need.

But on arrival, Tom felt he couldn't stop there. Admitting he was terrified, he crossed the border into Lviv, Ukraine, and has since been ferrying those seeking refuge out of the country.

On social media he has shared videos of dark, cramped bomb shelters and traffic queueing as Ukrainians flee their homes, families torn apart. This is Europe.

West Dorset and East Devon is made up of tight-knit, altruistic communities, always willing to pull together to help others – the pandemic showed us that. They are rightly proud of their courageous hero landlord and are praying for the day when he is safely back behind the bar.

Local residents have helped Tom raise more than £13,000 in just four days to provide supplies and aid where needed, and donations are still open at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thomas-littledyke with a second trip now planned later in the month.

We may not all have the courage or resources to load up a mini bus and drive across Europe, but as Tom says, "there is always something you can do, it doesn't matter how small, as long as it's in the right direction".

Come home safe, Tom.