PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Today (Wednesday, April 26), at King’s College Chapel, University of Aberdeen, at 4.45pm

A candlelit vigil to remember those who lost their lives and those whose lives were changed forever following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 will be held today (Wednesday, April 26) to mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster.

The vigil, ‘Remembering Chernobyl’, is a special opportunity for students and staff of the University to reflect on the tragic events which took place exactly two decades ago. The vigil, which takes place at King’s College Chapel at 5.00pm, has been jointly organised by The Aberdeen Gomel Trust, the Friends of Gomel, and the University of Aberdeen. The event forms part of a week-long series of visits planned for the Gomel University Choir – a 40-strong party who travelled from Belarus to spend this week in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen has been twinned with Gomel, a city of half a million people in Belarus, since 1990.

Reverend Easter Smart, Chaplain to the University of Aberdeen, said anyone who would like to take time to remember those whose lives were changed forever by Chernobyl were welcome to attend tomorrow’s vigil. She said: “The vigil is an opportunity to have a private time of reflection and meditation for all who were affected in any way.

“The vigil will also act as a poignant reminder of the courage and spirit of all peoples and nations affected by the nuclear fallout, and then to hope for the future.”

This week’s visit by the Gomel University Choir from Belarus has been organised by the University of Aberdeen Choral Society, the Aberdeen Gomel Trust and the Friends of Gomel. This partnership was formed to find a positive way to mark the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and to celebrate the 15 years of Aberdeen’s twinning with the city of Gomel, whose region was considerably affected by the tragedy.

The Gomel University Choir arrived in Aberdeen last Sunday and will leave this Monday (May 1). Other events running throughout the week include two public concerts at St Mary’s Cathedral and the Cowdray Hall; concerts for schools at Kincorth Academy and Bankhead Academy; a visit to Aberdeen Rotary Club; and a Civic Reception.

The centerpiece of the visit will be the much-anticipated Concert for Gomel, featuring a joint performance with the University of Aberdeen Choral Society and the Gomel University Choir. Tickets for the concert, which takes place on Friday, April 28, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Huntly Street, at 7.30pm, are priced £5.00 and are available from Aberdeen Box Office on (01224) 641122.