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Nicholas Winton was a beacon of humanity Nicholas Winton was a beacon of humanity
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“I don’t know what the fuss is all about – I didn’t do anything special.” That was the constant refrain of Nicholas Winton every time I congratulated him on yet another honour that he had received for his life-saving work between 1938 and 1939.“I don’t know what the fuss is all about – I didn’t do anything special.” That was the constant refrain of Nicholas Winton every time I congratulated him on yet another honour that he had received for his life-saving work between 1938 and 1939.
Related: 'British Schindler' Sir Nicholas Winton dies aged 106Related: 'British Schindler' Sir Nicholas Winton dies aged 106
He was not indulging in false modesty, he meant it, and genuinely did not understand why so many people were interested in what he did so long ago. Yet it was something that few others would countenance doing.He was not indulging in false modesty, he meant it, and genuinely did not understand why so many people were interested in what he did so long ago. Yet it was something that few others would countenance doing.
His first “out of the ordinary” act was to cancel a skiing trip simply because a friend had phoned up and asked him to come over to Prague and instead spend his holiday helping Jewish families desperate to leave the country.His first “out of the ordinary” act was to cancel a skiing trip simply because a friend had phoned up and asked him to come over to Prague and instead spend his holiday helping Jewish families desperate to leave the country.
He also had the political foresight to appreciate that unless quick action was taken, the results would be a human catastrophe. While others were putting their trust in paper promises and talking of “peace for our time”, Winton realised that a much more brutal scenario lay ahead.He also had the political foresight to appreciate that unless quick action was taken, the results would be a human catastrophe. While others were putting their trust in paper promises and talking of “peace for our time”, Winton realised that a much more brutal scenario lay ahead.
This in turn led him to act on his instincts and seek to provide the remedy himself. It would have been very easy to tut-tut about the situation, or merely lift a pen to write to his MP urging the government to respond. Instead, he felt the moral obligation to step in personally.This in turn led him to act on his instincts and seek to provide the remedy himself. It would have been very easy to tut-tut about the situation, or merely lift a pen to write to his MP urging the government to respond. Instead, he felt the moral obligation to step in personally.
The result was a frenzied period of activity in which he brought together a team of people to commission trains to take children to England, persuaded the Home Office to let them in, galvanised donations to help pay for them, found families to host them, and sorted out the complex paperwork necessary for both countries. It was all done in his spare time as a stockbroker in the City of London.The result was a frenzied period of activity in which he brought together a team of people to commission trains to take children to England, persuaded the Home Office to let them in, galvanised donations to help pay for them, found families to host them, and sorted out the complex paperwork necessary for both countries. It was all done in his spare time as a stockbroker in the City of London.
Six trains left Prague taking 669 children to safety in Britain. Winton’s sense of urgency and political foreboding were proved correct when a seventh train failed to leave the station – it was 1 September 1939, Germany had just invaded Poland, war had been declared, and the border crossings were slammed shut. Almost all the 250 children on that train perished in the extermination camps.Six trains left Prague taking 669 children to safety in Britain. Winton’s sense of urgency and political foreboding were proved correct when a seventh train failed to leave the station – it was 1 September 1939, Germany had just invaded Poland, war had been declared, and the border crossings were slammed shut. Almost all the 250 children on that train perished in the extermination camps.
When Winton claimed he didn’t do anything special and that others would have done the same had they been there, he reveals his endearingly naïve sense of idealism. Others were there and did nothing, or could have made sure they were there but did not do so. His faith in human nature is almost as precious as his actions.When Winton claimed he didn’t do anything special and that others would have done the same had they been there, he reveals his endearingly naïve sense of idealism. Others were there and did nothing, or could have made sure they were there but did not do so. His faith in human nature is almost as precious as his actions.
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Moreover, this was not a one-off burst of altruism, but the philosophy that guided his entire life. It continued in peace time when he moved to Maidenhead, in Berkshire, and helped families with what were then termed mentally handicapped children, setting up a local branch of the Mencap Association. He also played a leading role as a Rotarian, as well as becoming active with Abbeyfield Homes for older people. He established one in the town, while a second is named after him.Moreover, this was not a one-off burst of altruism, but the philosophy that guided his entire life. It continued in peace time when he moved to Maidenhead, in Berkshire, and helped families with what were then termed mentally handicapped children, setting up a local branch of the Mencap Association. He also played a leading role as a Rotarian, as well as becoming active with Abbeyfield Homes for older people. He established one in the town, while a second is named after him.
Curiously, his first public award was for these local endeavours: he received an MBE in 1983. His work saving the Czech children was not widely known about until the late 1980s, and was eventually recognised in 2002 when he received a knighthood.Curiously, his first public award was for these local endeavours: he received an MBE in 1983. His work saving the Czech children was not widely known about until the late 1980s, and was eventually recognised in 2002 when he received a knighthood.
It was typical of Winton that he intensely disliked the frequent description of him as “the British Schindler”, seeing the latter as a far greater figure and finding the accolade embarrassing. Yet comparisons are justified, and the 669 children he saved have multiplied to an estimated 6,000 people today who owe their lives to him.It was typical of Winton that he intensely disliked the frequent description of him as “the British Schindler”, seeing the latter as a far greater figure and finding the accolade embarrassing. Yet comparisons are justified, and the 669 children he saved have multiplied to an estimated 6,000 people today who owe their lives to him.
In a modern world where refugees are both widespread and resented, Winton stands out as a beacon of humanity. Looking in the opposite direction, or just complaining, were not the Winton way. His combination of compassion and action offer a model for how to respond and, like him, not consider it particularly special to do so.In a modern world where refugees are both widespread and resented, Winton stands out as a beacon of humanity. Looking in the opposite direction, or just complaining, were not the Winton way. His combination of compassion and action offer a model for how to respond and, like him, not consider it particularly special to do so.