In Honour of Michael Lunn

Presenter 1:

In memory of Michael Samuel Lunn, a prominent Balashikha’s engineer and merchant we devote our performance.

Presenter 2:

In 1850 Michael Samuel Lunn came to Balashikha. This 30 year old English engineer was hired to install an engine at the cotton plant. He did his work but did not leave Russia. He worked at the plant for 20 years as the director

Michael Lunn:

Please, remember, you need to learn every day of your life. You must read books, ask questions and find answers. Soon we will open a school for your children.

Young girl:

Great, our children will get a good education! Oh, Mr. Lunn, can they become engineers like you?

Lunn:

Sure, why not? Just have ambitions and work hard.

Young girl:

We want to create such perfect machines as you brought from England!

Lunn:

My dear, all is in your own hands, learn much and have faith in yourself.

Presenter 1:

Under the rule of Michael Lunn several houses, hostels, schools and a hospital were built for the workers and their families near the plant Balashikhinskaya Manufactura.

Young girl:

Now, one and a half century later, we are still using them!

Presenter 2:

In 1873 Michael Lunn together with other merchants Ivan Karzinkin, Petr Shelaputin, Mikhail Scheglov made a joint stock company Balashikhinskaya Manufactura.

Merchant Karzinkin:

Dear Mr. Lunn, let me say that we like your work at the factory very much. Your technologies are new and efficient. It is good to use them in Russia.

Young girl:

Yes, your work of the manager is a great success – our factory now is much more successful than it was 20 years ago.

Lunn:

Gentlemen, I dare say that I want to bring all my knowledge and experience into the business I am doing. When I came to Balashikha 20 years ago I worked hard and I had some problems.

Merchant:

Oh, Mr. Lunn, we understand you, these are our well known problems: we are slow, need to learn more and to be a little more optimistic.

Lunn:

Later I learnt Russian people better: their strong will and ambition to learn and to live better. And I became fascinated by Russian people.

Merchant:

And Russians are fascinated by you. Now, Mr Lunn, we have a commercial offer for you. Would you like to become our partner in the joint stock company Balashikkhinskaya Manufactura?

Lunn:

Yes, I am happy to accept your offer and I am sure that together we will make Balashikhinskaya Manufactura prosperous!

All together:

Michael Samuel Lunn worked at the plant until his death on March 9, 1895. He was buried in Nikolskoye-Trubetskoye, now it is a district of Balashikha. His wife and one of his sons were buried with him. His other children left Russia in 1918. His daughter Jenny married a Russian engineer and stayed in this country.

Исполняют по строчке «Подмосковные вечера»

Stillness in the grove, not a rustling sound

Softly shines the moon clear and bright

Dear, if you could know how I treasure so

This most beautiful Moscow night