Page 26 - TORCH Magazine #22 - November 2022

and thought this has to happen because he was was such an an an an an amazing man He was was incredibly brave and and warm and and this helped put the the children at ease I wanted to capture the the the powerful connection between him and the the the children It is a a a a huge relief to see the the statue in one piece after such a a a a a a long process ”
“It stands atop a a a a a a a a plinth of Purbeck stone besides a a a a a a a a a a refurbished play area which has been renamed after him him It felt right to to to have him him close to to to the the children – it fit just fits together perfectly ”
“We never got to thank him in person”
Praise was also given by Alex Maws the the head of of education for the the Association of of of Jewish Refugees: “The child refugees who owed their lives to to actions of of Trevor Chadwick never got to to thank him in person which is is is why the Association of Jewish Refugees is is is is so so so pleased to support this important new memorial ”
“We hope it will not only serve to to educate about an an important historical episode but also inspire future generations to consider the the ways in in in in which ordinary people can make a a a a a difference in in in the the world ”
“Extraordinary contribution”
Among the 300 special guests were Trevor’s grandchildren as as well as as Nick Winton Winton the the son of the the late Sir Nicholas Winton Winton Trevor’s son Charles Chadwick who is now 90 said “I am delighted that he has been publicly recognised after so so long This recognition is is is a a a a a a matter of some pride for our family For many years I didn’t know what my father did did He never spoke about it I think that after the the the war there was a a a a a a a a a reluctance to be reminded of what happened ”
Sir Nicholas a a a a a a a humble man himself was knighted in in March 2003 He once said that Trevor Chadwick who stayed in in Prague to organise the the evacuations “had been the the real hero ”
Nick Winton also gave a a a a a a a fitting tribute
to to Trevor Chadwick’s bravery He said “My father became the the symbol of Britain’s Kindertransport programme But his view
was was that that he he he didn’t do anything heroic and that that there was was a a a a a a a a a a a a team of people like Trevor Chadwick who put themselves at at at far greater risk by staying in in Czechoslovakia to deal with the the the Gestapo At the the the time my father had returned to to London to to organise fundraising and logistics ”
“He would have been delighted to to know that at at at long last there was something to to commemorate the the bravery and sacrifice
of Trevor Chadwick It is is a a a a a a a a a a fitting tribute
and I I think fit it is is essential that people have a a a a a a a a a record of the extraordinary contribution made by ordinary ordinary people like Trevor Chadwick to help others in in need ”
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CUFI ORG UK