Kinder are invited to the Palace

HRH Prince Charles hosted a reception for 80 members of The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) who came to the UK on the Kindertransport.

The reception, held at St James’s Palace on Tuesday 20 November 2018 marked the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Kindertransport, the nine-month operation during which 10,000 mainly Jewish children under the age of 17 from Nazi Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia were rescued and given refuge in Britain prior to the start of the Second World War.

Guests included Tom Gutwin, 83, who at four years old was the youngest child on a transport from Czechoslovakia arranged by Nicholas Winton, and Ruth Schwiening, also 83, who came from Berlin on a Kindertransport in 1939. Ruth said, “This has been a great occasion. This is the first time I have been amongst company with a similar background to mine. It has been amazing to see so many smiling faces. I am very grateful to our host.”

Vera Schaufeld, 88, who was born in 1930 in Klatovy, Czechoslovakia said, “The Prince was very generous with his time, visiting each table to make everyone feel their stories are of value.”

Michael Newman, Chief Executive of the AJR said, “Today has been a truly memorable occasion and a wonderful way to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport. The AJR’s Kinder members were thrilled to be invited to St James’s Palace for a reception hosted by HRH Prince Charles, the heir to the throne of the country that gave them refugee 80 years ago thus saving their lives.”