Person    | Male  Born 19/5/1909  Died 1/7/2015

Sir Nicholas Winton

Categories: Children, Peace

Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE was a British banker and humanitarian who established an organisation to rescue children at risk from Nazi Germany. Born to German-Jewish parents who had emigrated to Britain at the beginning of the 20th century, Winton supervised the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of WW2. Winton found homes for the children and arranged for their safe passage to Britain. This operation was later known as the Czech Kindertransport (German for "children's transport").

Born in Hampstead as Nicholas George Wertheim. His parents were German Jews who had moved to London two years earlier. They changed the family name to Winton and converted to Christianity. In 1938-9 he became involved, with others, in the work to get Jewish children out of Europe before the war began. Only Britain and Sweden agreed to take children. America was asked but failed to take any.

His rescue work was unknown until 1983 when he became a national hero and was honoured. Died, aged 106, in Slough.

There are statues of Winton at Prague railway station (by Flor Kent) and at Maidenhead railway station.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Sir Nicholas Winton

Creations i

Kindertransport - Kent

{Carved into the right side of the plinth:} Pro dítě {Czech for “for the chil...

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Other Subjects

Dr Burnhart Gloss

Dr Burnhart Gloss

From Walking Through London's History: "... included Dr Burnhart Gloss, originally from Australia, and now a resident working as a professional clown."

Person, Children, Humour, Theatre, Australia

1 memorial
Pollock's toy theatre shop

Pollock's toy theatre shop

This was started by John Redington, selling printed sheets of characters and scenery for toy theatres. He ran it until his death when his family took over. 1877 his daughter Eliza married Benjamin ...

Building, Children, Commerce, Theatre

1 memorial
Oxford and St George’s Club / St George’s Settlement

Oxford and St George’s Club / St George’s Settlement

From University of Southampton: "Based in a disused hostel on 125 Cannon Street Road, the Oxford and St George’s Club began in 1914 with a membership of 25 boys. The Club got its name from Basil’s ...

Group, Children, Community / Clubs, Education

2 memorials
Sir John Kirk

Sir John Kirk

J.P., Christian philanthropist, the children's friend.  Not to be confused with Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), the African explorer.  Sir John's great great grandson, Peter Mitchell, contacted us to sa...

Person, Children, Education, Philanthropy

1 memorial

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Sir Arthur Keith

Sir Arthur Keith

N5, Aubert Park, 17

Sir Arthur Keith, 1866 - 1955, distinguished physiologist and anthropologist, lived here, 1908 - 1933. London Borough of Islington Histor...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Marylebone Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes

Marylebone Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes

Incorporated by royal charter in 1854, possibly on 7th April. Still operating in 1928.

Group, Philanthropy, Property, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Sir Stephen Spender

Sir Stephen Spender

Poet.  Born 47 Campden House Court, Kensington.  The Evening Standard carries a very critical review of a 2012 edition of Spender's journals. Died at home at 15 Loudoun Road, St John's Wood , or i...

Person, Poetry

1 memorial
Richard D'Oyly Carte - WC1

Richard D'Oyly Carte - WC1

WC1, Guilford Street, President Hotel

D'Oyly Carte lived at 71 Russell Square, a residence behind the houses fronting onto Russell Square, accessed from Guilford Street. It ha...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators