Rotarians held a picnic in Oaken Grove Park to commemorate the life of the club’s greatest member.
 Nick Winton (left), the son of Sir Nicholas, with Rotary president Mary Spinks and past president Sean Egan. | Members of the Rotary Club of Maidenhead met face-to-face for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown to commemorate the life of the club’s ‘greatest Rotarian’ Sir Nicky Winton. About 30 Rotarians gathered for a picnic at the Sir Nicholas Winton Memorial Garden at Oaken Grove Park, in Maidenhead on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of his death. Also there was Sir Nicky’s son, Nick Winton, who was able to renew his acquaintance with many of the Rotarians who knew his father and regularly visited him in his later years. |
Sir Nicky, who dedicated himself to many charitable causes during his 106-year life, is best known for rescuing more than 600 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia on a Kindertransport train shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
The club has been meeting online via Zoom since the start of the pandemic and, as the lockdown rules begin to ease, Rotary president Mary Spinks thought it was the ideal opportunity and setting for a physical gathering.
“It’s a huge outdoor area so we could all maintain social distancing,” she said. “The gardens are very inspirational to walk around, featuring many of Sir Nicky’s sayings and using railway sleepers to represent the journey of the children. “Despite some rain it was a wonderful opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate the greatest Rotarian we have had in our club.”
The club has been meeting online via Zoom since the start of the pandemic and, as the lockdown rules begin to ease, Rotary president Mary Spinks thought it was the ideal opportunity and setting for a physical gathering.
“It’s a huge outdoor area so we could all maintain social distancing,” she said. “The gardens are very inspirational to walk around, featuring many of Sir Nicky’s sayings and using railway sleepers to represent the journey of the children. “Despite some rain it was a wonderful opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate the greatest Rotarian we have had in our club.”