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Master — George Frideric Handel through the eyes of Věra Várady
In memoriam Hana Jakubcová & Josef Průcha
Pre-All Souls'-Day
“visits” to Pavel Polka
(Mšeno, October 2025)
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Pre-All Souls'-Day “visits” to Pavel Polka (Mšeno, October 2025).

Pavel Polka (1957‒2024) was the founder and first chairman of the Czech Handel Society, we owe him almost everything we have. No wonder that at the present time we remember him with increased intensity. Now, the trip to Mšeno to his grave became a natural culmination of these recollections.

The first visit to Mšeno in Central Bohemia was made on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, by our friend Petr Tylínek, former member of the Czech Handel Society. As he wrote, the house where Pavel had grown up was already being renovated by someone and Pavel “greeted” everyone.

The house in Mšeno, where Pavel Polka spent a large part of his childhood, is already being renovated by someone. October 18th, 2025. Photo Petr Tylínek.
The grave of the Kofman family (stepfather of Pavel Polka), in which Pavel's remains rest. October 18th, 2025. Photo Petr Tylínek.

The second visit, this time “under the auspices” of the Czech Handel Society, was made on Wednesday, October 29th, in anticipation of All Souls' Day, by Věra Alves and Jan Kučera, both members of the Society, together with Věra's husband and a most kind driver Rui Alves. Not regretting time and patiently enduring the presence of thousands of trucks, which practically blocked some Central Bohemian roads, we arrived in Mšeno to visit Pavel's grave, where we laid a wreath, lit a candle and remained in silent remembrance for a while.

The grave of the Kofman family (Pavel Polka's stepfather), in which Pavel's remains rest, immediately after our arrival. October 29th, 2025. Photo Jan Kučera, Kladno.
The grave after we laid the wreath and lit the candle. October 29th, 2025. Photo Jan Kučera, Kladno.
Joint photo (from right: Věra Alves, Jan Kučera) at the grave with the remains of Pavel Polka. October 29th, 2025. Photo Ruy Alves, Prague.

It is a sad fact that there is no marking on the grave that would indicate the presence of Pavel's remains. Some negotiations in this direction have taken place, but so far without success. We will try to change it somehow, at least in a provisional way!

Recorded by: Jan Kučera

Entered 2nd November 2025.
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