Obituary: George Lee

The first general secretary of Mencap, the national charity for special needs children, from 1957-80, George Lee was a Quaker who played an active part in the Kindertransport rescue of Jewish children in Nazi Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia 70 years ago.

A conscientious objector, he worked in the Council of Refugees (later called the Central British Fund), finding financial sponsors and homes for the refugee children.

After the war, he helped refugees in Greece, working with the Save The Children Fund. He went to Mencap from the British Council for Rehabilitation, where he had been general secretary. In his Mencap post he brought in a wide range of religious leaders as patrons, including the Chief Rabbi.

A lifelong admirer of Jews, he was a committed member of the Council of Christians and Jews, established in 1942 in the midst of war to combat prejudice and antisemitism and promote mutual understanding. He was appointed OBE in 1971.

At his “green” funeral, kaddish was recited; at his memorial celebration, in a Church of England service, his favourite song Jerusalem of Gold, was played.

First widowed, then divorced, he is survived by his third wife, whom he married in 1966; three sons and two daughters from his first two marriages; and 10 grandchildren.