 Nick and Barbara Winton |  Rt Hon Theresa May MP |
Memorial Service
On Thursday 19th May 2016, an excellent Memorial Service was held for Sir Nicholas Winton in the Old Library, Guildhall, at which 27 Czech Kindertransport 'Children' attended with their families. A large number of our club members were also there. Nick and Barbara Winton shared the hosting of this event, and the guest speakers were inspirational:
On Thursday 19th May 2016, an excellent Memorial Service was held for Sir Nicholas Winton in the Old Library, Guildhall, at which 27 Czech Kindertransport 'Children' attended with their families. A large number of our club members were also there. Nick and Barbara Winton shared the hosting of this event, and the guest speakers were inspirational:
- Lord Alfred Dubs - Labour peer, Czech Kindertransport child and a friend of Nicky
- Dame Esther Rantzen - interviewing 'Children' Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines (UK), Alice Masters (who had flown in from USA), Ruth Havlova (from Czech Republic) and Hugo Marom (from Israel)
- Michael Zantovsky - Director of Vaclav Havel Library, Prague, and former Ambassador to the Court of St James's
- Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Members of the Rotary Club of Maidenhead
Memorial Concert
The Memorial Concert at St John's Smith Square on Friday 20th May was another superb event, with a wide range of the music that Nicky loved, and thoughtful readings. All the many musicians and speakers had given their time without charge so that all the ticket money will be shared between the two charities that are being supported in Nicky's memory:
The Refugee Council - who provide a national service to help unaccompanied refugee children who are alone in the UK
Theirworld - who seek to establish education opportunities for refugee children, primarily in emergency and conflict affected countries
The first half was introduced by Nick Winton, and the music was provided by Cellist Alexander Baillie backed by 16 further cellos of CelloSoundBirmingham, who were joined by Soprano Caroline Modiba.
Jason Isaacs, noting that Nicky greatly enjoyed Shakespeare, read from Hamlet the advice given by Polonius to Laertes as he leaves for France, that ends:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night follow the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Jason said that Nicky through his life had surely been true to himself.
In the second half the musicians included the daughter and granddaughter of Jiri Frank (one of the 'Children'), playing a Schubert piano Fantasia for 4 hands.
Rupert Graves read excerpts from the letter that Nicky wrote about the difference between passive goodness and active goodness, that has such resonance right now - as he pressed the need to take action more than 70 years ago to help the children:
'mostly without nationality, but they certainly have one thing in common: there is no future for them if they are forced to remain where they are.' Nicky continued further in the letter 'I now have particulars with photographs of about 5,000 children'
Rupert ended saying 'How apt his words turn out today'.
The programme ended with Group Captain Heffron recognising Nicky's 14 years service in the Royal Air Force, and the playing of the Royal Air Force March Past on the organ. Barbara Winton closed the evening, introducing two children who are currently being supported by the Refugee Council.
The Memorial Concert at St John's Smith Square on Friday 20th May was another superb event, with a wide range of the music that Nicky loved, and thoughtful readings. All the many musicians and speakers had given their time without charge so that all the ticket money will be shared between the two charities that are being supported in Nicky's memory:
The Refugee Council - who provide a national service to help unaccompanied refugee children who are alone in the UK
Theirworld - who seek to establish education opportunities for refugee children, primarily in emergency and conflict affected countries
The first half was introduced by Nick Winton, and the music was provided by Cellist Alexander Baillie backed by 16 further cellos of CelloSoundBirmingham, who were joined by Soprano Caroline Modiba.
Jason Isaacs, noting that Nicky greatly enjoyed Shakespeare, read from Hamlet the advice given by Polonius to Laertes as he leaves for France, that ends:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night follow the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Jason said that Nicky through his life had surely been true to himself.
In the second half the musicians included the daughter and granddaughter of Jiri Frank (one of the 'Children'), playing a Schubert piano Fantasia for 4 hands.
Rupert Graves read excerpts from the letter that Nicky wrote about the difference between passive goodness and active goodness, that has such resonance right now - as he pressed the need to take action more than 70 years ago to help the children:
'mostly without nationality, but they certainly have one thing in common: there is no future for them if they are forced to remain where they are.' Nicky continued further in the letter 'I now have particulars with photographs of about 5,000 children'
Rupert ended saying 'How apt his words turn out today'.
The programme ended with Group Captain Heffron recognising Nicky's 14 years service in the Royal Air Force, and the playing of the Royal Air Force March Past on the organ. Barbara Winton closed the evening, introducing two children who are currently being supported by the Refugee Council.
