AJR unveils Blue Plaque honouring Czech refugee rescue organisations
Ceremony in London at Goodenough College attended by diplomats, descendants of refugees, historians and survivors Lord Alf Dubs and John Fieldsend
On the birthday of Sir Nicholas Winton — one of the most significant British figures involved in rescuing Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe — the Association of Jewish Refugees unveiled the latest plaque in its nationally recognised Blue Plaque Scheme.
The plaque, unveiled at at Goodenough College in Bloomsbury, commemorates the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia and the Czech Refugee Trust, paying tribute to the vital role played by these committees in facilitating rescue, advocacy and resettlement efforts for those fleeing Czechoslovakia.
The unveiling ceremony brought together diplomats, historians, descendants of refugees, AJR members and representatives from Goodenough College, alongside survivors and members of the wider refugee community.
Among those attending were first-generation refugees Lord Alf Dubs and John Fieldsend, both of whom escaped Nazi persecution via rescue efforts organised by Sir Nicholas Winton and later settled in Britain.
Also present was Lydia Tischler, a survivor of Auschwitz and Theresienstadt concentration camps, whose family was directly assisted by the Czech Refugee Trust.
Lord Alf Dubs said: “I owe my life to the people and organisations who helped Jewish refugee children escape Nazi persecution. This plaque is a reminder not only of extraordinary courage and humanity, but of Britain’s responsibility to stand up for refugees. It is vital that these stories continue to be remembered and shared with future generations.”
Frank Harding, AJR trustee and founder of its Blue Plaque scheme said: “These plaques tell part of the story of one of the most important waves of migration to Britain. While much has been written about refugees from Germany and Austria, less is known about those who fled the former Czechoslovakia. This plaque honours not only the refugees themselves, but also those whose courage, determination and humanity helped bring them to safety.”
He added: “At a time when antisemitism is once again rising across society, it is more important than ever that we celebrate and recognise the extraordinary contribution Jewish refugees made to Britain. These plaques ensure that their achievements, resilience and humanity remain visible in our public spaces, reminding future generations not only of what was lost through persecution, but of what refugees gave back to the country that offered them sanctuary.”
The Hon Alice Walpole, director of Goodenough College, said the institution was “honoured to host this important plaque and to help preserve the memory of those organisations and individuals who worked to rescue refugees at a time of immense danger and uncertainty. Bloomsbury has a rich history as a place of sanctuary, scholarship and internationalism, and we are proud to be part of that continuing story.”
The ceremony also highlighted the wider humanitarian effort behind the rescue of refugees from Czechoslovakia, including the work of Sir Nicholas Winton, Doreen Warriner, Trevor Chadwick and countless volunteers whose contributions often went unrecognised.
Since the first plaque was unveiled in 2013 in honour of Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Sir Hans Krebs, the scheme has expanded across the UK and internationally, commemorating leading figures in science, music, education, medicine, public life and humanitarian rescue.
Among those honoured by the scheme are Sir Ludwig Guttmann, founder of the Paralympic movement, Rabbi Leo Baeck, Sir Rudolf Bing, Otto Schiff, Anna Essinger and Kurt Hahn. The AJR has also unveiled plaques at the British embassies in Berlin and Vienna recognising diplomats who helped refugees escape Nazi Europe.
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