Sir Nicholas Winton MBE | |
|---|---|
 Winton in Prague photographed on 10 October 2007. | |
| Born | Nicholas George Wertheim 19 May 1909 |
| Died | 1 July 2015 (aged 106) |
| Other names | Nicholas George Wortham |
| Alma mater | Stowe School |
| Occupation | Humanitarian |
| Years active | 1938–2015 |
| Spouse |
Grete Gjelstrup
(m. 1948–1999) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | http://www.nicholaswinton.com/ |
Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE (born Nicholas George Wertheim; 19 May 1909 – 1 July 2015) was a English-born Jewish stockbroker, banker, and humanitarian of German descent, who saved the lives of many Czech Jewish children from 14 March to 2 August 1939, by transporting them from Czechia to Sweden and England. He was also known as the "British Schindler". The transports lasted almost five (5) months, in total. He was not awarded Righteous Among The Nations by the Yad Vashem, unfortunately as he did not meet the criteria, which includes that the individual to be recognized must not be Jewish. Winton was in fact born to Jewish parents but converted to Christianity which disqualified him. Winton was recognized for all of his actions and responsibilities by being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, in the year, 2003.
Winton was born in Hampstead, London, England. His parents were German Jews. The family later became Christians and Winton was baptised. In 1923, he began studying at Stowe School. He married Grete Gjelstrup, a woman of Danish origin, in 1948. They were married until Gjelstrup's death in 1999. They had three children together, Nicholas, Barbara and Robin.
Winton died from respiratory failure on 1 July 2015 in Slough, Berkshire, aged 106.
