On Wednesday 22 January, Eton had the privilege of welcoming Nick Winton, son of Sir Nicholas Winton MBE, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. In front of a packed School Hall, Nick shared his father’s inspirational story and touched the hearts of many in the audience.
Sir Nicholas was born to German-Jewish parents in 1909 in West Hampstead, London. Whilst attending Stowe School, it became apparent that Sir Nicholas was exceptionally talented. He developed into an excellent fencer and was even selected for the 1938 British Team. His early career proved to be an uphill battle. He moved to Germany to pursue a career in banking, an unfavourable place to do so given the dire situation of the economy following WWI.
It was during this period abroad that Sir Nicholas gained a “feel for what life was like on the ground”. As an avid follower of politics, Nicholas read Hitler’s Mein Kampf and became aware of the growing popularity of The Hitler Youth. This first-hand exposure gave him insight into the growing fascism movement and the threat it could pose to western civilisation, and more specifically, to the Jewish population.
Sir Nicholas planned to ski shortly before the Christmas of 1938, yet his attention was soon diverted to Czechoslovakia. His three-week stint in Prague exposed him to the rawest forms of human suffering. Jewish refugees desperately searched for somewhere to live, whilst facing the harsh Czech winter. Having witnessed these horrors, Sir Nicholas took it upon himself to rescue Jews, whose fate seemed all but sealed.
Upon return to the UK, Sir Nicholas started to formulate a plan to transfer Jewish children from Czechoslovakia to the UK. Nick explained to us the complexities of this operation. Sir Nicholas needed to ensure that the refugees had a suitable foster family, an immigration visa, and a guarantor for repatriation. He sent a letter to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and to the British embassy pleading for support with his mission, yet he was met with no response. Sir Nicholas’ perseverance, despite the lack of support, highlighted what a remarkable man he was—driven solely by the desire to help those in desperate need.
Nick revealed that by the Summer of 1939, his father had rescued 669 children on eight separate trains, the largest of which carried 250 passengers. Nick explained that despite these great successes, the failure of the ninth train to depart from the station and the subsequent deaths of those scheduled to be on that train, haunted Sir Nicholas for the rest of his life. As articulated by Nick, it was this tragedy which saw the selfless Sir Nicholas shy away from the limelight in the post-war era.
Sir Nicholas’ goodwill was not limited to the WWII years. He founded the Maidenhead Mental Handicap Society and raised funds to develop a dementia wing at the Abbeyfield care home. In explaining his approach to life, Nick delivered a profound statement that beautifully captured his father’s attitude: “He was intent on helping the community, rather than having others fix his problems for him”.
It was only in his late 70s that his work during the war became public knowledge. Betty Maxwell, a French Holocaust Researcher gained access to Sir Nicholas’ scrapbook, documenting all his work during the war. Maxwell then wrote to all the foster families who hosted the children to ask whether they were still in contact. Her work culminated in a powerful moment, aired on the 1988 BBC programme ‘That’s Life.’ Everyone in School Hall had the privilege of watching the clip alongside his son. Nick shared that he remains deeply moved by the moment when everyone saved by Sir Nicholas’ actions stands up.
Sir Nicholas was showered with awards following the release of this programme. He received the highest honour from the Czech President, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, and has been celebrated as a symbol of humanity by Germany in the years following the war. However, Nick made sure to point out that his father was an ordinary man, simply governed by the desire to do the right thing in the moment.
As the moving talk drew to a close, Nick shared a poignant message with the audience. He emphasised the importance of looking to change the state of the world each day, whether that be with something you do or something you don’t do. He explained that this approach can have indescribable effects on those being aided and can in some scenarios “be the difference between life and death”.
Nick was met with a standing ovation following his talk. His words moved and inspired us, and taught us exactly what it means to do good. We thank Nick again for giving up his time to come to Eton. Sir Nicholas’s actions will not be forgotten by the audience.
