There have been countless inspirational stories to come out of Peterborough this year.
In February, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw Peterborough welcome refugees from the war-torn country to the city with open arms. Refugees, such as the Yaschenko family, told the Peterborough Telegraph of the horrors of war – sharing stories of the terror of being shot at and having their home bombed, before moving to a safer new home in Peterborough.
The conflict saw a couple from Thorney rescue their pet cat, Muchik, from their former family home in Irpin, Ukraine. Muchik’s great escape involved travelling 2,500 miles through five different European countries before being reunited with his family.
There have been child heroes who have saved the lives of family members, a sepsis survivor turned social media sensation who has used her platform to raise awareness of the condition, and charities, volunteers and individuals doing excellent work in the community.
Here are 12 of the most inspirational people and moments in Peterborough this year:
5. Liberty Barros
Contortionist Liberty Barros, 14, became the Guinness World Record holder for the most ‘chest to floor back bends in 30 seconds’ - a move she calls ‘The Liberty Lowdown’ - at Spiral Gymnastics Club, in Bretton, in October. The Peterborough teenager - known as 'the world's most flexible girl' - broke the record by bending her body over backwards, bringing her head through her legs and chest to the floor 12 times in half a minute. Photo: PT
6. Peterborough Beer Festival organisers
After a three-year hiatus because of the pandemic, Peterborough Beer Festival returned to The Embankment for the first time since 2019 this summer - and organisers made sure to show beer-lovers what they'd been missing by putting on the biggest beer-fest to date. The forty-third Peterborough Beer Festival had over 300 different beers to choose from and the festival's “longest bar ever” - measuring in at over 100 metres long. Photo: PT
7. Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade
Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade is the only volunteer fire service in the country. In June 2022, chief fire officer, Tony De Matteis, was among 490 people across the country to be awarded a Platinum Champions Award by the Royal Voluntary Service and its president, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, for his 38 years of service to the Volunteer Fire Bridge. The awards were in honour of the charity’s patron the late Her Majesty The Queen for her Platinum Jubilee and 70 years of service to the country. Photo: PT
8. Nathan Murdoch
Peterborough's Nathan Murdoch traded his stable corporate career to pursue his lifelong passion for street art. He's been painting the city ever since, with a vision to create a street art trail in Peterborough. One of his recent projects in St Mark's Street raises awareness of mental health. The mural features 12 influential people who have connections to, or are ambassadors of, mental health, and is supporting the charity Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and South Lincolnshire MIND. Photo: PT