Nicholas Winton and the Rescued Generation: Save One Life, Save the WorldWhen Nicholas Winton met a friend in Prague in December 1938, he was shocked by the plight of thousands of refugees and Czech citizens desperate to flee from the advancing German army. A British organisation had been set up to help the adults, but who would save the children? Winton felt he could not walk away. He set up a makeshift office and in just three weeks interviewed thousands of distraught parents who had the courage to part with their children and send them alone to England. Armed with their details and photos, he returned to London to convince the Home Office of the urgency of the situation. He knew he was working against time. His supreme efforts resulted in eight trainloads bringing 669, mainly Jewish, children to London. For half a century these children, now dispersed and in their seventies, were unaware of the person to whom they owed their lives. To Winton, it was just a job. Even his wife knew nothing of what is undoubtedly his greatest achievement, until 1988, when clearing out the attic she came across documentation relating to the episode. From that moment, Winton's life was never the same again. Winton has been a remarkable humanitarian all his life. After the war, wishing to be involved with the rehabilitation of Europe's refugees, he worked for international organisations. He retired early, settled in Maidenhead and devoted himself to charitable works for which he was honoured with the MBE in 1983. Amongst other awards, he was granted the freedom of the City of Prague in 1991 and was awarded the Tomas Garrigue Masaryk Order by President Havel in a grand ceremony in Hradcany Castle in 1999. Nicolas Winton documentary (Power of Good) has won the 2002 International Emmy Award, in the category of TV documentary. |
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THE MAN | 3 |
Watch innards and other items of no value being thrown | 42 |
Wintons mother working in the London office c 1939 | 42 |
Copyright | |
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arrived banking Barbara BCRC became boys Britain British brother camps Chadwick children from Germany Christian church Czech Republic Czech School Czechoslovakia daughter diary Doreen Warriner emigration England English father feel felt foster-parents friends Fund German Gestapo girl Gissing Grete guarantors Hanus happy Hitler holiday hope hostels Israel Jewish Jews Joe Schlesinger joined Karel Reisz kindertransports knew Kristallnacht later leave letter Liverpool Street Station lives London March married meeting MENCAP months mother Nazi never Nicholas Winton Nicky Nicky's night organisation parents particularly realised recalls Red Falcons refugee children remained remember rescue mission returned to Prague Royal Air Force saved sister Slovakia soon stay story Sudetenland thank told took train transport Warriner's weeks Wertheim whilst wife Winton child Winton children Woodcraft Folk young Youth Aliyah