VOLUME 5 NO. 8 AUGUST 2005 EjllS journal ^^^^1 ^l^^l ^ Association of Jewish Refugees Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, host reception for Kindertransport members Ronald Channing Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, honoured 100 Kindertransportees with a reception in Clarence House as part of the country's commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Kindertransport members of the Association of Jewish Refugees, chosen by ballot, came from all parts of the country to enjoy the Prince and the Duchess's informal hospitality and to recount their experiences in reaching safety in Britain. The invitation was received through the good offices of World Jewish Relief, with whose project in Cracow Prince Charles is personally associated. Under its former name, Central British Fund, World Jewish Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, receiving an Inscribed copy of I Came Alone, a collection of Kindertransport memoirs, from Hermann Hirschberger, Continued on page 2 Chairman of the AJR's KT Group AJR in 1950s keen to preserve memory of British officials such as Frank Foley The June edition of the AJR Journal AJR Information strove to preserve the for funds to plant a memorial forest in contained a report by Ruth Rothenberg memory of British officials who had honour of his memory. Donations were to on the recent unveiling of a memorial to helped Jews to survive the Third Reich, be sent to an account in Tel Aviv in the the British agent Frank Foley in his notably Frank Foley, Passport Control name of Hubert Pollack, a Jew from hometown of Highbridge in Somerset. Officer (and spy) at the Consulate in Germany who had been one of Foley's The following extract from Anthony Berlin, who otherwise remained largely agents in the rescue of Jews. The Grenville's forthcoming history of the forgotten in Britain until Michael Smith consecration of the forest, at which the memorial stone was unveiled by Siegfried Jewish refugees from Central Europe in published his best-selling biography in Moses, State Comptroller of Israel and a Britain, 'Aliens' and After: A Social History 1999. In July 1958, the journal reported leading figure among the Jews from of the Jewish Refugees from the German- the death two months previously of Germany there, was reported the speaking Countries in Britain, 1945-1970, Major Francis Edward Foley, who had following month. Clearly eager to shows that the AJR was concerned as far been 'extremely helpful to the persecuted associate itself actively with this back as the 1950s with preserving the Jews', in recognition of which his name memorial to a government official who memory of Frank Foley and like-minded had been inscribed in the Golden Book of had at the same time been a benefactor British officials. Dr Grenville's book is thejewish National Fund. of the refugees, the AJR announced that based largely on intensive research in The following June, the journal contributions could now be sent direct to AJR Information, generously supported publicised the appeal by a group of its offices, whence they would be by the AJR. German Jewish friends of Foley in Israel transferred en bloc to Tel Aviv. AJR JOURNAL AUGUST 2005 Relief had been largely responsible for the unique and historic act of the initiating the rescue of 10,000 mainly Kindertransport which saved our lives', AJR TEA Jewish children on the Kindertransports he said. Leading Israeli sculptor and SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2005, 3.00 PM in 1938-39. Kind Frank Meisler presented the at Nigel Layton and Linda Rosenblatt, Prince and Duchess with one of his own THE HILTON HOTEL WATFORD representing World Jewish Rehef, and works. A booking form is inserted into this Bertha Leverton MBE and Hermann In his response. Prince Charles issue of the Journal. On the back Hirschberger, representing the expressed his pride in Britain for having of the ticket application form there Kindertransportees, were presented to given refuge to the children of the is a form for brochure space. If you their Royal Highnesses. Prince Charles Kindertransport and to many others in would like to support the AJR even congratulated Bertha on her recent award need, and spoke of a debt of gratitude for further, kindly complete the and Hermann presented the Royal couple the services the Kinder had given the brochure form and return it to us. with an inscribed copy of / Came Alone, country in retum. It was necessary to We look forward to seeing you at the AJR Tea. the book of Kinder memoirs. learn lessons from the past, to share a Should you require further details, moral and cultural heritage and to be 'Kinder' described to the Prince their please telephone us on places of origin and arrival in Britain, constantly on one's guard to prevent 020 8385 3070 many expressing gratitude to Britain for history repeating itself. 'When my wife having saved their lives. The Duchess and I think about being separated from Arts and Events Diary spoke particularly with the lady guests, our children', he said, 'it is too much to AUGUST seeking details of their individual stories, bear. We are incredibly honoured to and was much interested in items of salute you and we remember you and 25-30 July 'Memory - The Forgotten memorabilia. your loved ones who did not survive.' Jews of Shanghai'. Arndean Gallery, 23 Cork Street, London Wl . Nigel Layton, World Jewish Reliefs AJR's Chairman, Andrew Kaufman, For further information, telephone Chairman, wished the Royal couple who had acquainted the Prince with the 07717 231597 or visit www. 'Mazel Tov' on their recent marriage. He Association's history and current arndeangallery.com/exhibition.html stressed the importance of educating the responsibilities, admired the Prince's 28 June to 8 August The Art of Eva next generation on the significance of the genuine sympathy and moving speech. 'I Hirschberger' at the Etz Chaim Gallery, Northwood and Pinner Liberal Kindertransports and 'the tremendous have the overwhelming feeling', he said, Synagogue, Oaklands Gate, Northwood. sacrifice' of devoted parents. Hermann 'that the Kinder would not have dreamt Tel 01923 822592 Hirschberger, Chairman of the AJR's KT that they would one day be presented to Until 21 August 'Closing the Door? Group, said that in the six decades since the future King of England.' Bertha Immigrants to Britain 1905-2005' their arrival many had made conspicuous Leverton declared that 'Both the Prince Special exhibition marking the centenary contributions in commerce, industry, and the Duchess showed warmth and of the 1905 Aliens Act. Jewish Museum, Camden Town tel 020 72841997 medicine, science, politics and the arts: compassion for the fate the Kinder 'We recall with deep gratitude to the UK endured.' Until 2 October 'The Last Goodbye: The Rescue of Children from Nazi Europe' Exhibition on the Kindertransport. Jewish Museum, Finchley tel 020 8349 1143 JACKMAN • SILVERMAN REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CONSULTANTS (PART-TIME) FOR AJR GROUPS The AJR is looking for an energetic co-ordinator with excellent inter­ 26 Conduit Street, London WIR 9TA personal skills to develop our existing Telephone: 020 7409 0771 Fax: 020 7493 8017 nationwide network of regional groups. The successful applicant will be responsible for managing existing AJR Heads of Department gatherings of /UR members in the Gordon Greenfield Finance Midlands and on the south coast as Carol Rossen Administration and Personnel Marcia Goodman Social Services well as developing new groups in the Michael Newman Media and West Country and Wales. He or she will Public Relations Ken Saunders, 84, was among AJR members hold a full UK driving licence. who shared their wartime stories when a BBC team visited the Day Centre to gather If you are interested (or know of AJR Journal someone who would be), please Howard Spier Executive Editor material for Its WW2 People's War archive. contact Carol Rossen at Head Office on Andrea Goodmaker Born In Vienna, Ken was a British Army Secretarial/Advertisements sergeant during the war. WW2 People's War [email protected] is at bbc.co.uk/ww2 AJR JOURNAL AUGUST 2005 The joys of travel NEWTONS Martha Blend Leading Hampstead Solicitors advise on Time was when you planned your trip, seized as a suspicious object. That bottle Property, Wills, Family Trusts and Charitable Trusts loaded up your car with luggage and the of whisky, which seemed such a good kids, and set off on a journey that might idea for a present, is dragging you down. French and German spoken take days to complete. I remember It can't be long before take-off now. Or Home visits arranged having a yen to see the South of France, can it? an almost unimaginable distance away as No, it's alright. You're propelled into a 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, it seemed then. So we plotted our route tube loud with the sound of roaring London NW3 SNB on the map. Not along the Rhone-Saone engines, at the end of which a smiling Tel: 020 7435 5351 Fax: 020 7435 8881 valley in the east - that was bound to be face welcomes you. You've asked for an congested with traffic and we always had aisle seat, but the distance between the to take our holidays at the height of the fixed arm on the outside ofyour seat and tourist season to fit in with my teaching the seat in front is just a few inches. It commitments. No, we would go down takes a skilful sideways contortion to the west side. get you out. This creates problems CONSULTANT to long established English On that first day we drove to the port, when your fellow passengers decide Solicitors (bi-lingual German) they must visit the restroom, as the stowed our car in the bowels of the ship, would be happy to assist clients and faced a rough crossing, which American crew charmingly call it, or with English, German and resulted in my being sick in a lady's have a rendezvous with a firiend in Austrian problems.