Eighty-five years since the Kindertransport brought the youngest victims of Nazi terror to safety in Great Britain, some of the former child refugees have been hosted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of London – just a stone’s throw from their arrival point.

Eight refugees and their descendants were welcomed to Mansion House, a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, which was where many of the Kinder had met their foster parents for the very first time.

Two of the Kinder, Renate Collins, 91, and Alexandra Greensted, 92, were rescued by the late Sir Nicholas Winton, who became famous for being one of the key organisers of the rescue of 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, recenty depicted in the film ‘One Life‘.

Alice Hubbers, who will soon celebrate her 100th birthday, attended alongside fellow Kinder Alfred Kessler, 94, John Farago, 95, Kurt Eichner, 97, and Maria Ault, 97.

The Lady Mayoress, Elisabeth Mainelli addressing the Kinder at Mansion House (Photo: Adam Soller Photography)

Addressing the Kinder, the Lady Mayoress, Elisabeth Mainelli, said: “From its earliest beginnings the City of London has welcomed people of all faiths, beliefs, and nationalities – many of whom were fleeing persecution at home. The City played an important role in the Kindertransport story. Children arrived at Liverpool Street Station to begin their new lives in the UK.”

She later said it had been “an honour” to host Kinder and their families at the mayoral residence on the 85th anniversary year of the Kindertransport and that it had been “an opportunity to remember their bravery and celebrate their lives and legacies We are proud of the City’s Jewish heritage.”

Kinder Alexandra Greensted (left) and Maria Ault (Photos: Adam Soller Photography)

The Kindertransport was a unique humanitarian mission through which approximately 10,000 children, the majority of whom were Jewish, were rescued from Nazi-controlled territories, during the nine months prior to the outbreak of World War Two.

Danny Kalman, Kindertransport chair at the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), which arranged the event, said: “We are thankful to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress for hosting the Kinder today. It seems fitting that only a short walk from here, at Liverpool Street Station, so many of those children started new lives, after unimaginable journeys against the backdrop of oppression, displacement, and war.

“It’s testament to their parents’ brave decision to send their precious offspring into the unknown, for a chance of freedom, that we see three generations of descendants here today. A chink of light in one of the darkest chapters in history and emblematic of AJR’s growing next generation membership, who enrol with us to celebrate and preserve their family heritage.”

Kind Renate Collins (centre) with her family at Mansion House (Photo: Adam Soller Photography)

As part of the visit, the Kinder were treated to a guided tour of Mansion House and learnt about The Freedom of the City. They also looked at memorabilia relating to Sir Nicholas Winton’s Freedom and discovered more about the history of Jewish migration in the City of London.

Michael Newman, CEO The AJR observed that the Kindertransport 85th anniversary year had coincided with “a time of increased sensitivity and concern for Jewish people, in this country and globally and underscores the priority to instill, in all audiences, the universality of the Holocaust - its lessons and its warnings. Long may the Kinder have the energy and opportunity to share their important eye-witness accounts which bear witness to where antisemitism can lead.”

The visit to Mansion House was part of a programme of events arranged by the AJR to commemorate 85 years since the arrival of the Kindertransport. Events have included arranging for His Majesty the King to meet with the Kinder last November as well as receptions hosted by Their Excellencies the German and Austrian Ambassadors.

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) is the leading national charitable organisation exclusively delivering social, welfare and volunteer services to Jewish victims of Nazi oppression living in Great Britain.