When Hughes was establishing the works he needed skilled workers, and he recruited many of these in Wales. Some stayed only for a few years, but others settled in Hughesovka, bringing out their wives and families. Over the years, although a Russian workforce was trained by the Company, it continued to employ skilled workers from the United Kingdom. A thriving expatriate community was established, with a school for the British children, an Anglican church, and an English club.
Teachers
and pupils at the English school, 1911. Leeza Wiskin, who taught English
at the school, stands left back.
Some families stayed in Hughesovka for several generations, their children marrying there and bringing up their own families in the close-knit community.
Photograph of the wedding of Elizabeth Mary James and Charles Henry
Perry, in Odessa, 1894. The bride was born in Hughesovka to Welsh parents,
and the bridegroom came to Russia as a child with his family. Elizabeth
and Charles went on to have 10 children, all born in the Ukraine.
Life could be difficult, with very cold winters and hot summers, and public health problems such as cholera and typhus, but the British families generally enjoyed a good standard of living.
Photograph
of Percy and Gwladys Cartwright in their carriage, 1913. On the back, Gwladys
wrote 'André has not had the leather apron for himself yet, so does
not look quite tidy. Our next conveyance will have to be a new sledge.'
In 1896, there were 22 Welsh families living in Hughesovka.
See a list of them