When Nicholas Winton met a friend in Prague in December 1938, he was shocked by the plight of thousands of refugees and Czech citizens desperate to flee from the advancing German army. A British organisation had been set up to help the adults, but who would save the children? Winton felt he could not walk away. He set up a makeshift office and in just three weeks interviewed thousands of distraught parents who had the courage to part with their children and send them alone to England. Armed with their details and photos, he returned to London to convince the Home Office of the urgency of the situation. He knew he was working against time. His supreme efforts resulted in eight trainloads bringing 669, mainly Jewish, children to London. For half a century these children, now dispersed and in their seventies, were unaware of the person to whom they owed their lives. To Winton, it was just a job. Even his wife knew nothing of what is undoubtedly, his greatest achievement, until 1988, when clearing out the attic she came across documentation relating to the episode. From that moment, Winton's life was never the same again. Winton has been a remarkable humanitarian all his life. After the war, wishing to be involved with the rehabilitation of Europe's refugees, he worked for international organisations. He retired early, settled in Maidenhead and devoted himself to charitable works for which he was honoured with the MBE in 1983, and a knighthood in 2003 at the age of 105, one year before his death. Amongst other awards, he was granted the freedom of the City of Prague in 1991 and was awarded the Tomas Garrigue Masaryk Order by President Havel in a grand ceremony in Hradcany Castle in 1999. Nicholas Winton documentary (Power of Good) won the 2002 International Emmy Award, in the category of TV documentary. A new film of his life, One Life, was released this year, and Vera Gissing is played by Henrietta Garden in it. AUTHOR: Muriel Emanuel, born in London, worked as an editor of art reference books before becoming a freelance writer and researcher. Her publications include Israel: A Survey and Bibliography, 1971 and Contemporary Architects, 1980 and 1994. Vera Gissing was born in Prague in 1928. She escaped to Britain in 1939 on one of the eight Winton trains. An author of children's books and a literary translator, she is widely known for her autobiography Pearls of Childhood, published in 1988 and now in its eleventh edition, and for her work in Holocaust education.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Nicholas Winton - the man, Muriel Emanuel: family background; early days - 1909-31; the city - 1931-39; dark days -1939-45; looking forward - 1946-48; a change of direction - 1948 and after. Part 2 The rescue mission, Vera Gissing: who will save the children?; enter Mr. Winton; never say can't be done; life is a lottery; those who helped; no time to say goodbye; the emigration game - winter 1938-39; appendix. Part 3 The re-awakening: you can't throw those papers away; getting acquainted; what became of the children?; new beginnings; coping with loneliness; no hugs, no kisses; forging a bond with those in need; fuelled by adversity; coming home. Part 4 The twilight years: retirement; life gathers pace; dawn of a new era; service above self.