Commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day’s 2006 theme One Person Can Make a Difference

This film is a documentary about the amazing courage, determination and modesty of a young English stock exchange clerk who saved the lives of 669 Jewish children who otherwise almost certainly would have been murdered by the Nazis.

Between March and August 1939 Nicholas Winton organised six trains to take children from Prague to new homes in Britain, and kept quiet about it until 1988 when his wife discovered a scrapbook documenting his unique mission. Sadly a seventh train which he had organised was unable to leave Prague because of the outbreak of WWII, and it must be assumed that all those children were murdered.

Around 125 people attended the meeting, and we were very privileged to welcome four of the “Winton children” – John Snabl, Josi Knight, Susan Medas and Kurt Taussig. It was harrowing to realise that had it not been for the action of Nicholas Winton these four people, mere children at the time, could not have been with us. Tragically the rescued children never saw their parents again and presumably most, if not all the parents, were murdered by the Nazis.

After the showing of the film the four “Winton children” answered a number of questions from the audience, and paid tribute to the kindness and understanding of the families who took them in. Under arrangements made by Nicholas Winton provision for their care was made until they reached age 17. The events recorded in this documentary film, and the presence of these survivors at our meeting, illustrates the truth of this year’s Holocaust theme that one person can make a difference.

After Nicholas Winton’s exploits became public he was awarded an M.B.E and a knighthood. He is now in his nineties and is involved with some charities; one of which being the Abbeyfield Foundation. Proceeds from this meeting have enabled Hillingdon CCJ to donate £200 to this cause.

- Bernard Tiley