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Kindertransport: Swanage statue for 'Purbeck Schindler' Trevor Chadwick | Kindertransport: Swanage statue for 'Purbeck Schindler' Trevor Chadwick |
(about 8 hours later) | |
An "unsung hero" who helped save hundreds of children destined for Nazi concentration camps is to be honoured with a statue in his hometown. | An "unsung hero" who helped save hundreds of children destined for Nazi concentration camps is to be honoured with a statue in his hometown. |
Trevor Chadwick, dubbed the "Purbeck Schindler", helped Sir Nicholas Winton rescue 669 children from Czechoslovakia ahead of World War Two. | Trevor Chadwick, dubbed the "Purbeck Schindler", helped Sir Nicholas Winton rescue 669 children from Czechoslovakia ahead of World War Two. |
The Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust is raising £80,000 for a statue to be placed in Swanage, Dorset. | The Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust is raising £80,000 for a statue to be placed in Swanage, Dorset. |
His cousin, Annie Bridger, said his family was "very proud" of his efforts. | His cousin, Annie Bridger, said his family was "very proud" of his efforts. |
John Corben, chair of the Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust, said: "There is a bronze statue of Sir Nicholas Winton on Prague Railway Station and we feel it would be appropriate to erect a similar memorial to Trevor in his hometown, to remember an unsung hero who made such a difference to so many lives." | |
Mrs Bridger, 67, from Swanage, whose father was Mr Chadwick's cousin - making him her second cousin - said they spent time together in her late teens when her family holidayed in Oslo, Norway, where he spent most of his life with his German wife Sigrid. | Mrs Bridger, 67, from Swanage, whose father was Mr Chadwick's cousin - making him her second cousin - said they spent time together in her late teens when her family holidayed in Oslo, Norway, where he spent most of his life with his German wife Sigrid. |
"He had TB [tuberculosis] and went there to recuperate - the fresh air there helped him to recover," she said. | "He had TB [tuberculosis] and went there to recuperate - the fresh air there helped him to recover," she said. |
"He relapsed every time he tried to return." | "He relapsed every time he tried to return." |
He worked at academic publisher Oslo University Press, having previously been a school teacher. | He worked at academic publisher Oslo University Press, having previously been a school teacher. |
'Very proud' | 'Very proud' |
Mrs Bridger recalled his "wonderful wit" and described the plan for a statue in his memory as "a wonderful thing". | Mrs Bridger recalled his "wonderful wit" and described the plan for a statue in his memory as "a wonderful thing". |
"I only discovered in the last few years what he had done and I was bowled over," she added. | "I only discovered in the last few years what he had done and I was bowled over," she added. |
"The family are very, very proud of him". | "The family are very, very proud of him". |
His wife, known as "Siggy", was 28 years his junior and died four years ago of cancer, Mrs Bridger said. | His wife, known as "Siggy", was 28 years his junior and died four years ago of cancer, Mrs Bridger said. |
Mr Chadwick, who died in 1979 aged 72, worked with Sir Nicholas, who lived in Maidenhead, Berkshire, until his death in 2015 aged 106, to find British families willing to put up £50 to look after the children in their homes. | Mr Chadwick, who died in 1979 aged 72, worked with Sir Nicholas, who lived in Maidenhead, Berkshire, until his death in 2015 aged 106, to find British families willing to put up £50 to look after the children in their homes. |
Their efforts, along with those of their colleagues - Doreen Warriner, Nicholas Stopford, Beatrice Wellington, Josephine Pike and Bill Barazetti - were not publicly known for almost 50 years. | Their efforts, along with those of their colleagues - Doreen Warriner, Nicholas Stopford, Beatrice Wellington, Josephine Pike and Bill Barazetti - were not publicly known for almost 50 years. |
They organised a total of eight trains - known as Kindertransport - from Prague, and their work has been likened to that of the "saviour" of Jewish prisoners, Oskar Schindler. | They organised a total of eight trains - known as Kindertransport - from Prague, and their work has been likened to that of the "saviour" of Jewish prisoners, Oskar Schindler. |
'Great danger' | 'Great danger' |
Though Sir Nicholas was knighted in March 2003 he had insisted Mr Chadwick, who stayed in Prague to organise the evacuations, had been the real hero. | Though Sir Nicholas was knighted in March 2003 he had insisted Mr Chadwick, who stayed in Prague to organise the evacuations, had been the real hero. |
"He had to deal with the authorities, putting his life in great danger," said Mr Corben. | "He had to deal with the authorities, putting his life in great danger," said Mr Corben. |
It is hoped the statue will be placed at the town's recreation ground, close to its war memorial, and be unveiled in 2022. | It is hoped the statue will be placed at the town's recreation ground, close to its war memorial, and be unveiled in 2022. |
"We would very much like to trace at least one of the children that Trevor brought back," Mr Corben said. | "We would very much like to trace at least one of the children that Trevor brought back," Mr Corben said. |
Swanage Town Council said it "wholeheartedly backed the campaign to publicly commemorate the vitally important role played by Trevor Chadwick in the Kindertransport programme". | Swanage Town Council said it "wholeheartedly backed the campaign to publicly commemorate the vitally important role played by Trevor Chadwick in the Kindertransport programme". |
The seafront play park would also be renamed in Mr Chadwick's honour and a memorial tree planted, the authority added. | The seafront play park would also be renamed in Mr Chadwick's honour and a memorial tree planted, the authority added. |
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