A picture taken on October 28, 2014 shows Sir Nicholas Winton receiving the Order of the White Lion at Prague Castle during the celebration of the Independance day. (AFP)
It was long after I arrived on a Kindertransport in London in the summer of 1939 that I first heard of Nicky Winton. For many years I simply knew I had arrived on a Kindertransport, but had no idea who had made it possible for me, and hundreds of other mainly Jewish children, to escape the Nazis.
Then, in 1988 Esther Rantzen featured Nicky on her TV programme That's Life, and described what he had done. The result was that all of us who came on a Kindertransport from Prague soon began to meet him, and we kept in touch regularly.
He was invited everywhere, Prague, Israel, all over Britain. Everyone wanted him to come and speak about what he had achieved. I doubt he enjoyed all the accolades, but I hope he felt a quiet pride at having saved so many lives.
Over the years I got to know him better, and we became friends. I was a Labour MP and then a peer, and he loved talking about politics and the earlier generation of Labour politicians, such as Nye Bevan. But it was only when I read his daughter Barbara's excellent biography of Nicky that I learned how in 1953 and 1954 he stood as a Labour candidate in the elections for Maidenhead council. Not surprisingly he lost, as even then Maidenhead, where he lived, was a Conservative area.
His interest in politics remained throughout his life, and he loved talking about what was going on in parliament. His views were certainly to the left of the Labour party and he had some scathing criticisms of the Labour government.
The last time I met him was a few weeks ago, at his 106th birthday party in Maidenhead. He was becoming frailer, and protested that his memory was not as good as it used to be. I told him that his memory was still better than that of many younger people. Of course there was a birthday cake with candles shaped in the figures for his age but he needed help to blow them out.
I treasure my memory of that last occasion but also of many others. I think it was at his 104th birthday party that I asked him how he was and his characteristic reply was: "I am all right from the neck upwards."
Nicky Winton was truly a special human being. In Prague in 1938 and early 1939, he saw the impending tragedy and was determined to save Jewish children from the Nazis. The difficulties were enormous, not the least of which was to persuade the Home Office to allow unaccompanied children to enter the country. A lesser person might have said "It's too difficult, not my problem". He could easily have walked away but didn't, and instead devoted himself to succeeding.
I shall miss him dreadfully, as will the hundreds whose lives he saved and also their children and grandchildren. Thank you, Nicky.
Then, in 1988 Esther Rantzen featured Nicky on her TV programme That's Life, and described what he had done. The result was that all of us who came on a Kindertransport from Prague soon began to meet him, and we kept in touch regularly.
He was invited everywhere, Prague, Israel, all over Britain. Everyone wanted him to come and speak about what he had achieved. I doubt he enjoyed all the accolades, but I hope he felt a quiet pride at having saved so many lives.
Over the years I got to know him better, and we became friends. I was a Labour MP and then a peer, and he loved talking about politics and the earlier generation of Labour politicians, such as Nye Bevan. But it was only when I read his daughter Barbara's excellent biography of Nicky that I learned how in 1953 and 1954 he stood as a Labour candidate in the elections for Maidenhead council. Not surprisingly he lost, as even then Maidenhead, where he lived, was a Conservative area.
His interest in politics remained throughout his life, and he loved talking about what was going on in parliament. His views were certainly to the left of the Labour party and he had some scathing criticisms of the Labour government.
The last time I met him was a few weeks ago, at his 106th birthday party in Maidenhead. He was becoming frailer, and protested that his memory was not as good as it used to be. I told him that his memory was still better than that of many younger people. Of course there was a birthday cake with candles shaped in the figures for his age but he needed help to blow them out.
I treasure my memory of that last occasion but also of many others. I think it was at his 104th birthday party that I asked him how he was and his characteristic reply was: "I am all right from the neck upwards."
Nicky Winton was truly a special human being. In Prague in 1938 and early 1939, he saw the impending tragedy and was determined to save Jewish children from the Nazis. The difficulties were enormous, not the least of which was to persuade the Home Office to allow unaccompanied children to enter the country. A lesser person might have said "It's too difficult, not my problem". He could easily have walked away but didn't, and instead devoted himself to succeeding.
I shall miss him dreadfully, as will the hundreds whose lives he saved and also their children and grandchildren. Thank you, Nicky.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
