“My Life is a Springboard”

Master-of-ceremonies S.V. Belyashov presented the career of the heroine of the event and told the audience how she had tempered her character, had developed leadership skills and had overcome each springboard of life circumstances.

During the event, Rimma Utkova remembered her friends, relatives, teachers and certainly her beloved husband Anatoly which whom they had met in the museum, on a volleyball ground, and had been married for 46 years. Listening to the narration of the master-of-ceremonies and stories of Rimma Utkova about her childhood and youth, looking at the pictures from the family archive on the screen, spectators experienced all twists and turns, victories and hardships of the heroine, rejoiced and cried together with her.

R.A. Utkova was born in the village of Siverovo of the Ferapontovo rural settlement in the Kirillov district. Her father participated in the Great Patriotic War; her mother worked at a collective farm and was a homefront worker. At the age of 13, she came to be in Monchegorsk where she had to work as a nurse in-home and in the children’s home. Then she lived in Cherepovets, but after all returned to her native district. Rimma Utkova remembered the years of her work at the Blagoveshchenskaya Button Accordion Plant in Volokoslavino with warmth and love. She displayed her organizational skills especially actively there - she introduced daily industrial gymnastics into the workday schedule. Later R.A. Utkova studied in the Vologda Regional Cultural and Educational School and worked at the cultural centre.

Rimma Utkova is a many-sided talented person. Along with her sports abilities that characterize her as a strong, weathered and strong-willed person, she has artistic temperament and a talent for music. Rimma Utkova pleased the guests playing the button accordion of her father, sang humorous rhymes and favourite songs together with them. And she certainly did morning exercises with the audience.

Rimma Utkova has been constant in her devotion to skiing. She took part in different competitions starting with the last bib, but finishing first.

The most important thing of Rimma Utkova’s career was her work at the Children and Youth Sports School in Kirillov. She was invited to coach there in 1966. She devoted 36 years to her pet project and was the principal of the school during 18 years. Pupils of his educational institution produced excellent results and claimed wins at different competitions within this period. The school was proud of them.

Ivan Rybin, pupil of the Kirillov Art Centre; Karina Popova, student of the Vologda Regional College of Culture and Tourism; and Elena Antonova took part in the event on December 9. The local musicians recited verses and sang songs about Rimma Utkova.

She accepted a lot of congratulations and kind words, received flowers and gifts from her relatives and friends, pupils and colleagues. T.V. Fedotova, head of the Education Department in the Kirillov District Administration, gave a congratulatory address to Rimma Utkova.

Olga Yemelicheva, participant of the local amateur performances, gave enthusiastic comment about the event, “I had so many good feelings after the evening! In spite of all difficulties, Rimma Utkova has gone through them honorably being a kind, light and strong person. Her selfless devotion to sport inspires respect and her personal qualities - optimism, dedication to her work and beloved husband, sincerity and kindness – delight and inspire! I have made up my mind to start skiing this winter thanks to this evening. Dear Rimma Andreevna, accept our sincere congratulations. As your sports colleagues have said, we will certainly gather again on the occasion of your hundredth anniversary! Have no doubt, we will gather! We wish you good health!”