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Nicholas Winton: Memorial service for Holocaust hero Nicholas Winton memorial service honours Holocaust hero
(about 17 hours later)
A memorial service will be held later for Sir Nicholas Winton, who rescued hundreds of children from the Holocaust in the months before World War Two. A memorial service has been held for Sir Nicholas Winton, who rescued hundreds of children from the Holocaust in the months before World War Two.
The service at London's Guildhall will be attended by 400 people, including 28 of those he saved, and Czech, Slovak and UK government representatives. Some 400 people attended the event at London's Guildhall, including 28 of those he saved and Czech, Slovak and UK government representatives.
Sir Nicholas organised the "Kindertransport" in which 669 mostly Jewish children came to Britain by train from Czechoslovakia in 1939.Sir Nicholas organised the "Kindertransport" in which 669 mostly Jewish children came to Britain by train from Czechoslovakia in 1939.
He died on 1 July last year aged 106. He died on 1 July last year, aged 106.
The Kindertransport became public knowledge on BBC TV show That's Life in 1988 when presenter Esther Rantzen reunited some of those saved with the person who helped them escape the Nazis.The Kindertransport became public knowledge on BBC TV show That's Life in 1988 when presenter Esther Rantzen reunited some of those saved with the person who helped them escape the Nazis.
Many of the children went on to have their own families and the number currently alive as a result of the Kindertransport is believed to be about 7,000.Many of the children went on to have their own families and the number currently alive as a result of the Kindertransport is believed to be about 7,000.
Saved children and their families, making a total of about 130, have travelled from around the world to go to the service. Esther Rantzen told the service about the moment two women who were rescued through the Kindertransport met Sir Nicholas on That's Life.
Those attending include Lord Alfred Dubs, Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines and the Rev John Fieldsend, who were all part of the Kindertransport, and representatives from the German and Swedish embassies. She said: "For the only time in my professional life I had to stop, get off my chair, get to behind the scenery, wipe my eyes, come back again and continue with the programme, because the impact of that moment, when people for the first time had the chance to meet their hero, and one doesn't use that term lightly, who had been responsible for saving thousands of lives by the Kindertransport he had organised with his small team in Prague."
The service will have contributions from Lord Dubs, Dame Esther Rantzen, four other of the children, and former Czech ambassador Michael Zantovsky. Around 130 rescued children and family members travelled from around the world to be at the service.
A spokesman for the service said: "The memorial service provides an opportunity for the many hundreds of people around the world who owe their lives to Sir Nicholas, or who have been inspired by him, to celebrate his achievements and to pay their respects to a British citizen who helped to make the world a better place." For part of the service a number of them spoke to Esther Rantzen about their experiences of travelling to the UK on the Kindertransport.
A memorial concert will take place on Friday at St John's Smith Square in central London, including readings by actors Jason Isaacs and Rupert Graves and music from cellist Alexander Baillie, raising funds for current child refugees. One of those was Ruth, who was 13 when she travelled to London.
She said she ended up looking after a baby that travelled with her group and fed the infant with chocolate after its milk bottle smashed.
"My memory of looking out of the window and seeing all of the faces of our relatives, tear-stained and in great worry, will stay with me forever," she added.
Another of those rescued, Hugo, praised the parents who sent their children on the Kindertransport as well as Sir Nicholas.
He added that Sir Nicholas had "inspired" parents with his confidence, after which support for the Kindertransport had "spread like fire".
At the scene
BBC News reporter Mario Cacciottolo
The grand surroundings of the Guildhall buzzed with the warm rumblings of friends, dignitaries and families as people gathered to celebrate the life of the man they knew as "Nicky".
While a pianist stroked the keys of a black grand piano, some of those who were on the kindertransport filed in beneath the hall's grand arches, bringing their sons and daughters with them. All these people form part of what is known as Sir Nicholas Winton's extended family.
When the event began, Sir Nicholas's daughter, Barbara, paid tribute to her father, saying they were all gathered to "squeeze into an hour his long life", which she also said had been one of "love, laughter, passion and commitment".
Eva Paddock, 80, who now lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US, took that life-saving journey with her sister when she was three.
"I have my family with me and for us it's a rite of passage. Nicky was an exemplar of a person who acted when something needed to be done.
"It's very emotional and very moving to be here. It feels very important to be here with my extended family."
Others present included Lord Alfred Dubs, Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines and the Rev John Fieldsend, who were all part of the Kindertransport, and representatives from the German and Swedish embassies.
The service had contributions from Lord Dubs, Dame Esther Rantzen, four other of the children, and former Czech ambassador Michael Zantovsky.
A memorial concert will take also place on Friday at St John's Smith Square in central London, including readings by actors Jason Isaacs and Rupert Graves and music from cellist Alexander Baillie, raising funds for current child refugees.
The Briton who saved children from the HolocaustThe Briton who saved children from the Holocaust
How did one Englishman save 669 children from the Holocaust? BBC iWonder: Find out more about Nicholas Winton
One of the Kindertransport children, Hana Usaac-Kleiner, now 88, told the BBC that Nicholas Winton saved their lives.One of the Kindertransport children, Hana Usaac-Kleiner, now 88, told the BBC that Nicholas Winton saved their lives.
She said: "He was one of the few on the team in Prague who were well-enough informed about what was happening in Germany and Austria to realise that the danger to Jewish people was imminent."She said: "He was one of the few on the team in Prague who were well-enough informed about what was happening in Germany and Austria to realise that the danger to Jewish people was imminent."
Another, Kurt Taussig, 92, said he had known nothing about Nicholas Winton until the Esther Rantzen show. Another, Kurt Taussig, 92, from Stanmore, Harrow, spent seven years in the RAF after coming over on the Kindertransport.
"From that moment on, he became the nearest thing to God himself by what he had done," he said. "We realised that he had done something quite miraculous. Nobody will ever do it again. He said he usually did not come to kindertransport events but would have "swum an ocean to be here".
"He himself was shy and polite and didn't want any fuss, didn't want any bother. In fact he was pleading to be left alone and that's why he never spoke about his doings all these years. It was only by accident it was discovered." "What that man did has never been done before or again. He was completely unique in achieving a miracle."
Sir Nicholas continued community work in later life in Maidenhead, Berkshire.Sir Nicholas continued community work in later life in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
His surviving children Nick and Barbara Winton speak at events around the world about how one person can change lives.His surviving children Nick and Barbara Winton speak at events around the world about how one person can change lives.
Barbara Winton wrote his biography If It's Not Impossible, the title of which is taken from his motto: "If something is not impossible there must be a way of doing it."Barbara Winton wrote his biography If It's Not Impossible, the title of which is taken from his motto: "If something is not impossible there must be a way of doing it."