Sir Nicholas Winton (who saved 669 children from the Holocaust) passes away

[Shaun]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33350880

Sir Nicholas Winton, who organised the rescue of 669 children destined for Nazi concentration camps, has died aged 106.

Winton was a stockbroker when he arranged for trains to carry Jewish children out of occupied Prague.

His son-in-law Stephen Watson said he died peacefully in his sleep at Wexham Hospital, Slough.

He died on the anniversary of the departure of a train in 1939 carrying the largest number of children - 241.

Winton brought the children to Britain, battling bureaucracy at both ends, saving them from almost certain death, and then kept quiet about his exploits for a half-century.

He organised a total of eight trains from Prague, with some other forms of transport also set up from Vienna.

The reluctant hero worked to find British families willing to put up £50 to look after the boys and girls in their homes.

Winton, whose work has been likened to that of the "saviour" of Jewish prisoners Oskar Schindler, was knighted by the Queen in March 2003.

The Rotary Club of Maidenhead, of which Winton was former president, said his daughter Barbara and two grandchildren were at his side when he died.

What a hero :love:

[Pete.]

A hero :love:

RIP

[arista]

For sure a Top Hero

[T*]

RIP hero :love:

[Kazanne]

A true hero and wonderful man,RIP

[the truth]

that's a marvellous story , its important not to forget how much working class families did to help the jewish people. these people were dirt poor on rations , many had family members fighting in the war , yet still found the compassion to house and home these poor jewish immigrants. as with world war 1 and 2 and 911 attacks on the usa amidst the carnage of pure evil there are some remarkable heroes

[Niamh.]

RIP to him what a wonderful man :love:

[jennyjuniper]

Now that's who I call a Legend. Wonderful man.

[Tom4784]

What an amazing story and a more amazing man. A true hero.

[Ammi]

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.


..:love:...

[Livia]

A hero in every sense of the word. Alav Hashalom, may he rest in peace.

[Braden]

RIP :love:

[Ammi]

..I have to say that I wasn't aware of Sir Nicholas Winton and what he did during is life and I was thinking last night of just how many 'unsung Schindlers' there must have been that no one or not many people are aware of...and every one of them equally a true hero...

[Kizzy]

What a wonderful man, so happy he had such a long life and passed so peacefully.

[Niamh.]

..I have to say that I wasn't aware of Sir Nicholas Winton and what he did during is life and I was thinking last night of just how many 'unsung Schindlers' there must have been that no one or not many people are aware of...and every one of them equally a true hero...

Oh watch this video Ammi :love:

6_nFuJAF5F0

[Ninastar]

I'll never forget the first time I watched the video of him at that award ceremony where he gets surprised by all the children he saved. Brings a tear to my eye every time. R.I.P to a true hero. You don't get too many of them these days.

It makes me wonder how much all of our lives on here have been affected. Like he saved 669 children... most of those children will have had families of their own, they'd have made friends, had jobs, done things for charity, etc etc and it makes me wonder if any of us wouldn't be here, if he hadnt have saved those children. Is that strange? I always wonder about things like that.

[Livia]

For every Adolf Hitler there is a Nicholas Winton.

[Niamh.]

I'll never forget the first time I watched the video of him at that award ceremony where he gets surprised by all the children he saved. Brings a tear to my eye every time. R.I.P to a true hero. You don't get too many of them these days.

It makes me wonder how much all of our lives on here have been affected. Like he saved 669 children... most of those children will have had families of their own, they'd have made friends, had jobs, done things for charity, etc etc and it makes me wonder if any of us wouldn't be here, if he hadnt have saved those children. Is that strange? I always wonder about things like that.

yeah that's very true Caitlin, kind of a butterfly effect type thing