The AJR is deeply saddened by the death of Dame Esther Rantzen.
Dame Esther holds a special place in the hearts of many AJR members. Through That’s Life!, she brought Sir Nicholas Winton together with the children he rescued from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and, in doing so, helped bring their extraordinary story to the attention of the world.
The AJR was honoured to bring together members who had journeyed to safety on Winton’s transports — Lord Alf Dubs, Hana Eardley, Alexandra Greensted, Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, Vera Schaufeld, Renate Collins, Emanuela Norton and Lia Lesser, alongside Rev. John Fieldsend — to thank Dame Esther for taking their story “to a global audience”.
Their final words to her feel especially poignant today: “Having stood up to thank him, we are now standing up to honour you.”
Today, the AJR stands with them in honouring Dame Esther and the remarkable role she played in ensuring their story would never be forgotten. May her memory be a blessing.
