For the past five years, I have had the privilege of serving as a Trustee of the AJR, and for the last two, as Chair of its Kindertransport Special Interest Group. It is a role that holds particular personal significance for me. My late father and his younger brother escaped Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport train from Frankfurt in April 1939, eventually settling in Sheffield, where a relative had agreed to sponsor them.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the opportunity to visit former Kindertransport refugees in their homes across the UK, often accompanied by AJR Chief Executive Michael Newman and colleagues, including Dr. Amy Williams and members of our regional teams. These visits are always special occasions, offering a chance to reconnect, share memories and hear remarkable personal stories.
Our most recent visit took us to the beautiful Leicestershire town of Market Bosworth, where we spent a wonderful afternoon with Ruth Schweining.
I first met Ruth in Berlin in November 2023, when she and members of her family joined a small AJR delegation to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransport train, which departed from Berlin’s Friedrichstrasse station in November 1938.
It was a bitterly cold day, with snow underfoot, but the weather did little to diminish the significance of the occasion. Standing beside the Kindertransport memorial, Ruth delivered a deeply moving speech before an audience of distinguished guests, including the President of the German Parliament and the British Ambassador.
I promised Ruth that I would visit her at home, so when I finally arrived in Market Bosworth, her first words to me were: “Better late than never!”
It was lovely to see her again, and particularly special that her daughter, Erica, could join us, alongside Michael Newman and Amy Williams.
One of the most moving moments of the afternoon came when Amy shared historical documents relating to Ruth’s Kindertransport journey and her family, some of which neither Ruth nor Erica had ever seen before. It was a wonderful reminder of the importance of preserving these personal histories and helping families discover more about their past.
Ruth is also an exceptionally talented artist, as the accompanying photograph shows. Her home is filled with beautiful works of art, including extraordinary, colourful glass creations. It was a real pleasure to admire her work and hear more about her artistic talents.
We were fortunate to have glorious weather, allowing us to sit outside on Ruth’s terrace, enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding countryside, wonderful conversation and, of course, afternoon tea.
In fact, the most difficult decision of the day was whether to have the lemon drizzle cake or the apple cake.
Naturally, I had a slice of each!
It was a truly memorable afternoon and another reminder of why these visits mean so much. Beyond the extraordinary histories of the Kindertransport generation are the friendships, conversations and personal connections that continue to make the AJR community so special.
Danny Kalman – AJR Trustee
