My son was groomed online and murdered - Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Young Citizen Awards 10
The great escape 16
Born different 30
Wet and wild with MAF 32
rotarygbi.org
The Official Magazine of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland February/March 2019
4
A MOTHER'S STORY
My son was
groomed online
and murdered
2 // Rotary rotarygbi.org
CONTENTS
16
4 30
REGULARS FEATURES
Rotary Great Britain The Breck Foundation 4
& Ireland President 22
Rotary Young Citizens 10
Letters to the Editor 24
Sir Nicholas Winton 16
32
Talk from the Top 28
Boost for cancer care centre 26
People of Action 39
Born different 30
And Finally… 50
Wet and wild with MAF 32
Roy Budd's Phantom 34
Stroke awareness 38
Editor
Dave King EVEN MORE ONLINE
editor@rotarygbi.org
PR Officer
pr@rotarygbi.org Facebook
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rotarygbi.org Rotary // 3
ROTARY IN ACTION
Video game lover Breck Bednar was groomed online by
a sadistic teenager who lured the 14-year-old to his
flat and killed him. According to Breck’s mother,
Lorin LaFave, her son’s murder was preventable.
As a result, she has launched a charitable trust
to protect other children.
4 // Rotary rotarygbi.org
ROTARY IN ACTION
The Breck Foundation
DAVE KING
B
RECK Bednar was an 2015, was sentenced to a minimum of 25
intelligent and handsome years in prison for killing Breck.
teenager who grew up in leafy, “I went to see Breck’s Lorin never once refers to Daynes by
middle class Surrey suburbia.
When he was a child, Breck’s
tutor to express my name during the interview.
She refers to him as The Predator
hero was the TV character Bob the concern about my son throughout the narrative, describing the
Builder, which was apt because he loved
fixing things, and was a dab hand at
spending too much moment her first born ran home from
school to tell his mum about the online
putting together flat-pack furniture. time being online with gaming room his friends had invited him
Breck loved science and technology, to, to receiving the awful, final phone call
so it was inevitable that, by the age of someone I didn’t know. which no parent ever wishes to hear.
10, this chilled and likeable young boy
found his escape in computing, building
She said Breck was “I was pleased that Breck’s friends
had invited him into their gaming room,”
Minecraft worlds on his computer. getting good grades recalled Lorin, who worked as a
However, four years later, Breck was teaching assistant.
dead. He had been brutally murdered, and don’t worry.” “I knew the boys because I had
after being lured to his death by someone taught them at primary school. I knew
he met online. where they lived, I knew their parents, so
The tale is truly horrific. I thought it would be a safe environment
And yet, as Breck’s mother, Lorin for him to spend time online.
LaFave, tells the story, you can feel the “The friends would make plans
raw emotion in her voice. There is even during the day about what teams and
the occasional watery eye as she reflects: squads they were going to join. Breck
what more could I have done to have would come home, rush through his
prevented my son’s death? chores, eat his dinner and meet the guys
Some mothers would have become online. He would go to his room, the door
hermits by detaching themselves from the was open, he was laughing and joking,
world following such an horrendous, life- and nothing sounded dangerous.
changing moment. Not Lorin. “Then, I remember one day
Originally from Pontiac in Michigan, overhearing what sounded like a man’s
on the outskirts of Detroit, this 51-year- voice. I stopped in my tracks, went to
old, who is also the mother of triplets, is Breck’s room and asked: ‘Why are you
made of stronger stuff. speaking to a man, who is this?’
Following the murder of Breck “Breck said: ‘It’s not a man, mum,
in 2014, Lorin, who is a member of it’s the guy who runs the server. The guys
Rotary Deal in Kent, set up the Breck at school have been gaming with him for
Foundation whose aim is to educate years. He is super clever, really great with
children, parents, teachers, the police and Breck Bednar technology, he’s teaching us to code and
others about online grooming. encrypt, and we are learning more from
And this March, schoolchildren him than we are learning at school.’”
across England will be watching a film the consequences of grooming can be Lorin admitted that straight away
called ‘Breck’s Last Game’ in planned absolutely horrific.” she was concerned. Her antennae told
classes which tells the shocking story. Breck’s killer was an 18-year-old her something was wrong. She checked
This short film will be rolled out in called Lewis Daynes. The Predator for his online footprint,
schools in Surrey, Essex, Leicestershire He ran the online games room which and although there was information on
and Northamptonshire, whose police Breck and his friends visited for hours Facebook, LinkedIn and some games’
forces are supporting the initiative. on end. Daynes posed as the mysterious forums, there were no photographs.
Essex Police’s Assistant Chief owner of a multi-million dollar software She asked her son why this was so,
Constable, Andy Prophet, said: “This is business based in New York. but Breck laughed it off reasoning it was
not an issue we can shy away from. In reality, he was an unemployed because of The Predator’s undercover
"Breck’s death shows us that that teenager from Grays in Essex who, in work in America.
rotarygbi.org Rotary // 5
Breck Bednar loved working on his laptop at home, spending hours online playing games and also chatting with friends
“Every time I questioned Breck, he radicalisation or to hack into Government
computers.
had what seemed like a sensible answer,”
explained Lorin. “I would eavesdrop and
“Sadly coming from The problem was, wherever Lorin
go into Breck’s room to try to engage with America I felt safer turned – to the school, to the other boys’
parents, friends and even the police – they
the boys, but they didn’t want to talk to
their old teacher. living in England were all initially dismissive, telling her not
to worry, since it was normal for teenagers
“But The Predator would chat with
me. He would say ‘Hey, what’s going on
because I am against to spend hours online.
mum, what are you doing?’ and we would guns and ironically “The truth is, no matter what the
have proper conversations. grooming is for, the characteristics are all
“I couldn’t see him, but I could hear my son gets stabbed.” the same, no matter what the intended
him and I would ask things like ‘what are outcome is.
you doing in New York City?’, trying to “There was the befriending, the
get information. But he would never talk that. This was the summer of 2013, when gaining of trust, the building of that
about New York. the controlling started. relationship through shared interest
“Funny things would pop up on the Lorin explained: “All of a sudden, I – their particular shared interest was
screen which we would all laugh at – felt that everything that Breck was saying computing and gaming.
comedy or music. to me was coming from the mouth of a “I felt that The Predator was isolating
"If I had just come back from a dance stranger online. Breck from me, almost trying to take
class, dancing ladies would pop up. It was "It almost felt like there was another charge of him. He trying to parent Breck
very engaging, this virtual club house, so I parent trying to parent Breck, telling me and telling Breck what I should be doing.
could understand why Breck would want what to do with my child, in my own It just didn’t feel safe.”
to hang out there with his friends.” home, and it just didn’t feel right.” Lorin tried to limit her son’s screen
But, in time, Lorin noticed how What ensued was a nightmare time, unaware that The Predator had
Breck’s personality was slowly changing. situation as Lorin found herself sliding supplied three internet routers to Breck’s
He was getting stroppy, refusing to down a vortex of despair, seemingly bedroom, so they could communicate
do chores around the house, and reluctant unable to help her son who was being anytime they wanted. He even secretly
to go to church or take part in family drawn away from her by The Predator. couriered a £600 iPhone to Breck.
activities. She feared Breck was being groomed She called an intervention meeting
Breck would tell his mother that The for sex. Then she wondered if her son with Breck’s friends and their parents to
Predator had told him he was past all and the boys were being groomed for put a brake on the online activity.
6 // Rotary rotarygbi.org
ROTARY IN ACTION
The Breck Foundation
“You never believe something like this is going to
happen to anyone in your family. Breck was a
clever and a good boy, yet he fell for the gradual
tricks of the trade of a groomer.”
After some persuasion, the other sedate me. I just wanted to get home.”
boys agreed to leave the gaming room, Time has passed, but the pain never
unaware that The Predator had asked disappears. At times, Lorin admits she
Breck to record the meeting so he knew feels angry. How could an educated
exactly what was happening. person like herself have been so easily
The Predator was running rings duped and manipulated? She was aware
round Lorin, who was feeling helpless. Breck was being groomed, but she did not
What hurts now is that if the know how to fix the problem.
red flags had been raised earlier, and “Sadly, coming from America, I felt
interventions put in place, she believes safer living in England because I am
Breck Bednar could have been saved. against guns, and ironically my son gets
It was later revealed during the police stabbed,” she added.
investigation that The Predator had a “You never believe something like
number of indecent images stored on his this is going to happen to anyone in your
computer. family. Breck was a clever and a good boy,
“I went to see Breck’s tutor to express yet he fell for the gradual tricks of the
my concern about my son spending too trade of a groomer.”
much time being online with someone I Lorin and members of The Breck
didn’t know. She said Breck was getting Foundation are now spreading the
good grades and don’t worry. message of online resilience in talks
“Someone could have recommended across the country.
the Child Exploitation and Online Rotary clubs in Deal and Caterham
Protection Command. They are part of Breck's mother Lorin LaFave have got involved by helping to fund these
the National Crime Agency, but no-one talks and Lorin is hoping other clubs will
in the whole year that Breck was being birthday in Spain teaching. join forces.
groomed recommended them. Breck asked his father if he could The students are presented with blue
"They could have helped.” spend the day, and later the night, at the wrist bands carrying the Foundation’s
And it is that ignorance which lies nearby home of one of his school friends. web address and with the Rotary logo.
at the heart of the work of The Breck The Predator had pre-booked a taxi Lorin added: “Sometimes I tell
Foundation, which seeks to educate which turned up at the family home in myself that I am going to run into a cave
children from as young as four-years old Surrey and made the hour-long drive to and never come back out because I don’t
about healthy relationships and digital The Predator’s modest flat in Grays. want to do this forever, but I just know
resilience – being aware of the dangers It was there that Breck was brutally that if I had heard me speak when Breck
of the internet, learning more about murdered, and pictures of Breck’s was being groomed, he would be here
grooming and exploitation. bloodied body were sent to his online now.
According to the National Crime friends. The first the family learnt of his “If I had been in a training session
Agency (NCA), there are up to 80,000 murder was when Lorin’s 12-year-old in school, if I had seen me on the news or
people in the UK who “present some kind triplets received texts saying: ‘Sorry to sat in a conference, my son would have
of sexual threat” to children online. hear about your brother RIP. Poor Breck, been alive because I would have known
Referrals of child abuse images to the we’re going to miss him’. what to do.” l
NCA have increased by 700% over the “The next call I got was the worst call
last five years. a parent can ever receive,” recalled Lorin.
The story ends tragically on February “It was from my ex-husband who For more information visit:
17th, 2014, poignantly the date of Lorin’s said: ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, The Breck Foundation:
birthday. Breck was staying with his but The Predator has murdered Breck’. www.breckfoundation.org
father in Caterham having just returned "At that point I couldn’t stop You can hear Lorin speak at the
from a school trip to Spain. screaming. I damaged my ears. I was at Rotary Showcase in Nottingham
Ironically, Lorin was spending her a hotel where they had to get a doctor to from May 10th to 12th.
8 // Rotary rotarygbi.org
ROTARY IN ACTION
Young Citizen Awards
EVE CONWAY
Game, set and match
Abbie is a real tennis ace
It’s time for nominations for the Rotary Young Citizen WheelPower Sports Award,
which is one of the most celebrated of honours. Since winning the award last year,
teenager Abbie Breakwell has been going from strength to strength.
F
IFTEEN-year-old Paralympic In 2018, Abbie was selected for She said: “As part of my award I
hopeful Abbie Breakwell is the Junior Futures Programme, an elite was granted £500, I decided to split the
celebrating a fabulous year of training programme which aims to cheque and gave £250 to the Dan Maskell
achievements, winning eight help junior wheelchair tennis players to Tennis Trust, who are a charity who helped
national wheelchair tennis progress to the first level of the Tennis me pay for individual coaching sessions.
titles, many medals and trophies and, best Foundation world class performance “The other £250 I have put towards
of all, Abbie is still absolutely loving it all. programme. a project I am organising as one of my
After receiving her award at the Abbie is also celebrating a second year pledges as a Rotary Interact President for
Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland as President of her Interact Club of Long Long Eaton.
Conference last April, where Abbie was Eaton in Nottinghamshire, where she has “In the summer, I am organising a
presented to HRH the Princess Royal been a member for four years. disability sports awareness day, where the
with other winners, it was announced
that she had been selected to represent
Great Britain in the junior wheelchair
tennis squad at the World Team Cup in the
Netherlands. This was a big achievement
since the competition is the wheelchair
tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and
Federation Cup.
Then, in July, Abbie was crowned
British Open Wheelchair Tennis Girl
Junior Champion. The British Open
is the UK flagship wheelchair tennis
tournament. She had ball-crewed all
week for the professionals, before her own
tournament started.
Abbie was so thrilled to win the
Rotary Young Citizen Sports Award. She
said: “I was shocked to receive the award
but was so proud and honoured to be
nominated and then to win.
“It was such a wonderful experience
going to the BBC studios and speaking to
presenter Simon McCoy about wheelchair
tennis, it was definitely a huge highlight of
the year and something I will remember
for life.” Abbie receiving her Young Citizen Award at the Rotary Conference in Torquay
10 // RotaryGLOBAL IMPACT
Special feature
After a successful year on the court, wheelchair tennis star Abbie Breakwell is hoping to inspire more young people her age to get involved.
local primary school students are invited Abbie’s summer of success was
to try out many disability sports such rounded off nicely in Grantham,
as wheelchair tennis, visually-impaired “She became Leeds Lincolnshire, once again in the national
tennis, wheelchair basketball, para- National Tennis Series series, where she became the Grantham
athletics and many more. National Tennis Series junior doubles
“The children will be able to adult and junior doubles champion.
understand that, no matter your disability,
sport can be fun and adapted.”
champion, meaning she She has also won a local sports award
for sporting achievements and for being
Abbie sees sport as a way to channel won in all categories, the local ‘This Girl Can’ ambassador.
her energy and frequently encourages Abbie finished the year playing at the
others to join in, knowing the positive which was outstanding British National Tournament winning her
benefits. Long Eaton Rotary Club spotted
her exceptional activities and put her
for her first adult women’s pool, becoming Division 1 juniors
singles runner-up and Division 1 doubles
forward for the award. national tournament.” champion, earning her final national title
The talented teenager also played for 2018.
in her first National Tennis Series adult All this and she has only been playing
tournament at the same time as playing wheelchair tennis for two and a half years.
junior doubles. where Abbie represented England. She Her dream is to represent Team GB at
She became Leeds National Tennis took home a silver medal in the singles and the Paralympics and to play at Wimbledon.
Series adult and junior doubles champion, became the National School Games’ girls Knowing Abbie’s determination and her
meaning she won in all categories, which doubles champion. love of the sport, that dream will no doubt
was outstanding for her first adult national This made Abbie the only girl to win become a wonderful reality. l
tournament. medals in both singles and doubles for the
More success came Abbie’s way at the last three consecutive years at the National
To join Rotary visit: rotarygbi.org
National School Games at Loughborough, School Games for wheelchair tennis.
rotarygbi.org Rotary // 11ROTARY IN ACTION
Young Citizen Awards
Rotary Young Citizen
Awards returns for 2019
R
EMARKABLE young people Rotary club to receive an award. and 11), Paralympians 17-year-old Kare
from across Britain and They include RotaKids, Interactors Adenegan and 22-year-old Samantha
Ireland are being recognised and Rotaractors. (Sammi) Kinghorn, Scottish world
by the Rotary Young Citizen So from helping the homeless to champion wheelchair racer.
Awards in 2019. clothing children who live in poverty
The accolades celebrate the positive to helping tackle gangs and anti-social Rotary Young Citizen
citizenship and responsibilities which are behaviour to being a wheelchair whizz Peacemaker Award
shown by many young people through kid on the tennis court, last year’s Young A new award, the Rotary Young Citizen
hard work, inspirational ideas and a Citizen Award winners were truly amazing. Peacemaker Award, reflecting Rotary’s area
determination to help others and make a Nominees do not necessarily have of focus on peace and conflict prevention/
difference, writes Eve Conway. to be working on a Rotary project to be resolution, is being introduced for 2019.
The Rotary Young Citizen Awards eligible, they just have to be recognised This award will recognise young
were launched in 2007 to overcome by a local Rotary club as worthy of people, aged under 25, who have made
negative stereotypes of youngsters, nomination. a significant contribution by building
and instead showcase and celebrate peace and understanding, whether in their
outstanding role-models under the age Rotary Young Citizen school, through their local community,
of 25. WheelPower Sports Award by for example helping tackle anti-social
I set up the awards with my then For the past three years, Rotary in behaviour and youth crime, or with a
boss at BBC News and Rotary at a time Britain and Ireland has partnered with peace project internationally.
when, as now, the headlines were so often WheelPower, the UK wheelchair sports Winners of the Rotary Young Citizen
dominated by bad news about youngsters charity, to create the Rotary Young Citizen Awards will be presented with their award
and the aim was to show that the majority WheelPower Sports Award and we are from BBC TV presenter, Ellie Crisell, at the
of young people are not like that but are looking for more nominations for 2019. Rotary in Britain and Ireland Showcase in
out there doing good in the world. The purpose of the award is to Nottingham on May 12th, 2019.
Since then, hundreds of inspirational recognise and highlight the achievements They will receive a trophy, certificate
youngsters have been recognised and the and contributions as a positive role and a cheque for £500 to go to their
awards have received extensive media model to others by a wheelchair sports chosen charity or project.
coverage. participant or group. The deadline for nominations is
Every year, individuals or groups of Previous winners include 15-year-old February 28th, 2019. l
young people are nominated by their local Abbie Breakwell ( featured on pages 10
12 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgROTARY IN ACTION
Young Citizen Awards
An inspiring generation
M
USIC has played a Bethany Hare was 12-years-old when
key role in the life of Rotary Leeds nominated her for a Young
Grace O’Malley and her Citizen Award in 2012 in recognition of
fundraising for charity the fundraising she’d been doing for a
from the age of 12. local children’s hospice. Since then, she’s
She won her Young Citizen Award continued to raise money to support
in 2013 after being nominated by Rotary young people with life-limiting illnesses,
Padiham near Burnley for raising tens setting up her own charity, Bethany’s
of thousands of pounds for The Royal Two Young Citizen Award winners Smile.
British Legion, a local hospice and cancer have become Rotarians. Twenty-year-old Bethany said: “Receiving a Rotary
charities – and she’s got big ambitions for Digital Youth Council founder Harry Young Citizen Award has given me loads
the future. McCann, a 2017 Award winner, is now a of opportunities and inspired me to
member of the Rotary Naas in Ireland, continue fundraising because of all the
who nominated him for the award. other young inspirational award winners
Harry was also named as one of the I met.
ten Outstanding Young Persons of the “The support from Rotarians and
World by Junior Chamber International. acknowledgement by Rotary of what I am
Maciej Szukala, a 2010 winner, doing is so important and so
has become a member of the new-style motivational.” l
Rotary Wrexham Glyndwr.
Grace, who turns 21 in February, plans to
become a professional opera singer and is
in her third year at the Royal College of Maciej moved to Wrexham from
Music studying for a Bachelor of Music, Poland when he was ten years old.
specialising in voice. He couldn’t speak any English and
Her aim is to use her singing talent to found starting his new life in the UK
raise one million pounds for charity. challenging. But within five years, he
She said: “Receiving a Rotary Young had become an active member of his
Citizen Award still remains my most community, teaching English to new
precious and proudest achievement. migrant pupils and helping young
“Raising money for charity is a very refugees settle in.
big part of my life and ethos. Rotary Wrexham Yale nominated
"I live with the mindset of, if I can’t him for a Young Citizen Award for his
help someone, then who can? work and he has gone on to start his own
“Rotary inspired me to carry on this, business “Legal Base” helping migrants
having met the most inspiring people and refugees.
who have encouraged me to continue Now aged 24, Maciej said: “Winning
supporting many different charities. the award has completely changed my
"It’s helped craft me into the person I life. The award is on my desk at work
am today. So, thank you Rotary.” every day to remind me about what I have
already achieved and also to motivate me
for what I can achieve for myself and the
rest of the community in the future.
“I have joined Rotary because I
wanted to give back for what Rotary
gave to me.”
14 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgROTARY IN ACTION
Special feature
e G r e a t
Th
Es c a p e
©hyperactivz.com
16 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgGLOBAL IMPACT
Sir Nicholas Winton
Sir Nicholas Winton was a former club president and, for
more than 50 years, a member of Rotary Maidenhead. Eighty
years ago, he helped save the lives of 669 children from Nazi-
occupied Czechoslovakia by arranging ‘Kindertransport’
from Prague to England. Sir Nicholas died in 2015 aged 106.
Here, his daughter Barbara tells the amazing story of a man
affectionately known as the British Oskar Schindler.
M
Y father became known which there were many thousands in
in the last quarter of that area).
his life for organising So with a day’s notice those people had
a Kindertransport to pick up their belongings and flee for their
from Czechoslovakia in lives to the centre of Czechoslovakia.
1939. Of course, there was a much larger In the autumn and winter of 1938,
Kindertransport which brought nearly there were tens of thousands of refugees
10,000 children to Britain from Germany looking for sanctuary.
and Austria organised by a consortium of At the time, my father was a London-
Jewish, Quaker and community groups, but based 29-year-old stockbroker.
their remit didn’t include Czechoslovakia. He came from a Jewish family
In September 1938, Britain, Germany, background, his parents were Jewish, but
Italy and France signed the Munich he had been baptised in 1916 and brought
Agreement which gave the Sudetenland in up as a Christian.
Czechoslovakia to Germany. The strange thing about coming from
Hitler had claimed this region due a middle class, Jewish, stockbroker/banking
to the high proportion of ethnic Germans background was that he was politically left
living there. Chamberlain thought this wing and joined the Labour party.
would prevent war. He had many friends who were
The day after the agreement, the luminaries of the time in the Labour
Germans marched into the Sudetenland, party including Aneurin Bevan, Stafford
terrorising all those who Hitler had Cripps, George Russell Strauss, and Jennie
threatened including politicians, teachers, Lee. They spent a lot of their time talking
intellectuals, communists and Jews, indeed politics, including what was going on
anybody who had said anything nasty about in Europe.
Hitler, (and that included the Jews, of He also had family who had direct
Sir Nicholas Winton with daughter Barbara
rotarygbi.org Rotary // 17Nicholas Winton (centre) with collegues in the Ambulance Service during the Second World War
experience of the Nazis, including his aunt Doreen was getting them and their
who had fled Germany in 1933. From families out on trains though Poland.
pretty early on, my father was beginning Doreen encouraged my father to visit
to understand how violent the Nazis’ the refugee camps where there was snow
behaviour was towards the Jews. on the ground and families trying to keep
At Christmas 1938, my father got a warm, with not much to eat. Many had fled
phone call from a friend Martin Blake. without winter clothes.
“My father decided he Martin was a schoolmaster at We look with hindsight at these events
was going to try to bring Westminster School who took a group of and decide how we might act, because we
pupils skiing every winter, which my father now know what happened in the next few
endangered children out of joined. My father got a phone call from years. We have to try to understand this
Czechoslovakia to Britain. Martin saying the trip was off, that he was
in Prague and suggested Nicholas should
today when we look at a refugee crisis.
We don’t know what the outcome is
He had a motto which join him to see what he was up to. going to be in future years, we have to act
With no more information than that, on the conditions we see at present.
said: “If something is not my father changed his plans and a week My father had no foresight, as did
impossible, there must be a later arrived in Prague. Martin was also very nobody at that time, that Hitler would start
involved politically and they had spoken a a mass extermination programme.
way of doing it”. He felt this lot about Hitler’s plans. He knew if Martin So when he stood in the refugee camp
was difficult, but was engaged in something, it would be and decided to do something, it was not
something worthwhile. because he had foresight, it was because
not impossible.” My father arrived in Prague where the conditions he was witnessing at that
he was introduced by Martin to a woman moment were intolerable.
called Doreen Warriner. Doreen was an My father decided he was going to
academic and a fellow volunteer who had try to bring endangered children out of
flown to Prague and, with the help of the Czechoslovakia to Britain. He had a motto
Labour party, was trying to smuggle out which said: “If something is not impossible,
of Czechoslovakia and to safety all of the there must be a way of doing it”. He felt this
Sudetenland Social Democrat politicians was difficult, but not impossible.
who were on Hitler’s wanted list. He started meeting families who
18 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgSome of those saved from Czechoslovakia were reunited with Sir Nicholas Winton
understood here was someone who was stamped under the BCRC heading.
going to try to help them. While he was in Nicholas then had a meeting with
Prague, my father met Trevor Chadwick, a himself, the kind of meeting he really
schoolmaster from Dorset, who was sent by loved where things really got done, and he
his school in January to sponsor two refugee nominated himself as honorary secretary of
boys and bring them back. the Children’s Section of the BCRC, and off
Trevor learnt from my father that he he went to the Home Office.
intended to bring a much larger number of Without the difficulty others had
“Doreen encouraged my children back to Britain, and Trevor agreed predicted, they agreed to him bringing
father to visit the refugee to run the Prague end of the operation if the home children from Czechoslovakia but
Government agreed to his plan. with two conditions. Firstly: he had to find
camps where there was snow After three weeks in Prague, my a foster family to look after the children and
on the ground and families father returned to London and went to secondly: a £50 guarantee was required for
the British Committee for Refugees from their eventual repatriation.
trying to keep warm, with Czechoslovakia (BCRC), the organisation He set about getting this done.
not much to eat. Many had Doreen was working for. Trevor returned to Prague, collecting
He said he was going to visit the lists of children, meeting parents, taking
fled without winter clothes.” Home Office to ask for permission to bring photographs and sending them back to
children from Czechoslovakia. England. My father wrote letters to the
But the BCRC urged him not to go as newspapers and magazines.
that would antagonise the Home Office, He had the assistance of people like
who were already dealing with another Independent MP, Eleanor Rathbone, and
organisation bringing children from the Unitarian Minister, the Rev Rosalind
Germany and Austria. The Home Office felt Lee, who also wrote to newspapers asking
eventually that the organisation would also people to open their homes and their hearts
agree to help Czechoslovak children. to these endangered children.
On the way out of the office, my father It was a very slow process. This was not
took some BCRC headed notepaper and the age of emails and mobile phones.
persuaded a local printer to make a stamp It was all done by letter writing and
saying ‘Children’s Section’, which he duly the occasional phone call, and he would get
20 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgGLOBAL IMPACT
Sir Nicholas Winton
a letter saying “we think we would like a working from his home in Hampstead, For instance a group of rabbis came to
child”, he would write back “would you like but now they moved into their office in his house saying they understood he was
a boy or a girl, which age” and they would Bloomsbury House in central London, bringing Jewish children from Prague to
write back and so on. benefitting from their extra resources. live in Christian homes in Britain and that
He thought this was taking all too Trevor had to negotiate with the must stop. My father said, ‘That’s not going
long, so he produced cards with photos of Gestapo. He was a very gregarious, outgoing to stop. If you prefer a dead Jewish child in
six to eight children on which he sent out character, who knew how to behave to get Prague to one living in a Christian home in
for each family to ‘choose’ a child. the Germans to do what he wanted. Britain, that is your problem, not mine’.
This sped up the work immensely. You would think the Germans would He had a thick skin to get his projects
When asked about this later, my father try to stop these children, but they didn’t. done and it worked.
agreed that it did look mercenary, but it was The Germans wanted to rid Europe of In terms of this project, my father felt
quick and he had to act quickly. Jews, and if these strange characters wanted he had failed. They had 5,000 names on
My father had learned to run projects to help them by taking these children to this list and only 669 were saved. But 50
independently from his work at the Stock Britain that was fine. years later when the story came out and he
Exchange and he had a method that The Home Office sent out permits for met some of his children, we discovered
worked. If he decided a project needed entry to the country and these had to be there were about 7,000 people alive because
doing, he would assume everyone else stamped by the Germans to get the children of what he had achieved.
would agree with him. on the train. Though we look back at the
He would find volunteers by working The Home Office acted very slowly Kindertransport as a positive thing, there
out who would do a good job, walking up to and sometimes the trains were ready in were dissenting voices then as there are
them and pinning them against a wall so, Prague and the Home Office permits hadn’t today about refugees. There were headlines
by the end of the conversation, they would arrived. Trevor and Nicky’s solution was to at the time which read: “No open door to
be volunteers. My grandmother was his use a printer in Prague who would make refugees”, “Every refugee is an enemy alien”.
first ‘volunteer’ and she helped him with the identical copies of the Home Office permits, So what does this story teach us
office work and later through the war with which the Germans then stamped to allow for today’s problems? The scale was
any support the children needed. the children to get on the train. overwhelming, but doing something
The idea of seeking permission and They crossed their fingers that when achieves something.
going through a committee was not his the children arrived in Harwich, the Home When my father met some of the
thing at all. He liked to be in charge and Office permits were there waiting for them, children who he rescued for the first time
develop his own committee of those who so they could swap the fakes for originals. as adults, they bought him a ring engraved
would agree with him. I don’t know if that Whether you believe that is a correct with a saying from the Jewish Talmud ‘Save
is the Rotary way, but it was effective. way to do business, I don’t know. But they one live, save the world’. l
The one thing my father knew about did what they felt they had to do.
this mission is that there was not a lot of Eight transports arrived through the
time. He and the political friends like him Spring and Summer of 1939.
who had read ‘Mein Kampf ’ believed that The ninth, which was the largest with
Hitler intended to occupy the whole of 250 children was due to leave on September
Europe. My father believed that war was 1st, 1939, the day when the Germans
imminent and he had very little time to invaded Poland, closed all the borders and
achieve his goals. two days later war was declared.
He often had people saying you should That train was cancelled, and most
not be doing this, but he would brush off of the children on that train ended up in
those comments and get on with it. the Terezin Concentration Camp and then
The first transport arrived in Britain Auschwitz. That was heart-breaking for my
from Czechoslovakia on March 14th, 1939, father because there was no more he could
the day after that the Germans broke do at that point.
their promise and invaded the rest of The project was wound up, he went
Czechoslovakia. into the Red Cross because he was termed a
From then on, Doreen and Trevor were conscientious objector.
working under German occupation. It was not because he did not believe in
Trevor had to get the Gestapo to sign war, it was because he was so furious with
any exit permits for the children to leave the Government and the way they behaved.
Barbara Winton has written a
Czechoslovakia. After two years he relented and joined
biography of her father “If it’s not
By May, after four transports had the RAF. My father made his decision and impossible – the life of Sir Nicholas
already arrived in Britain, he was officially looked for others to assist him carry it out. Winton”. The book & Ebook is
asked by the BCRC to become the head He avoided those who disagreed or available from www.amazon.co.uk
of the children’s section – four months opposed him. He was not popular. In fact, For more details visit:
after that first meeting! He had volunteers he offended many people. www.barbarawinton.co.uk
rotarygbi.org Rotary // 21ROTARY IN ACTION
Rotary GBI President
Rotary GBI President
Debbie Hodge
Reading is the pathway to prosperity
I
T was in the summer of 2013 when the ‘pathway to prosperity’, and give Roger a available.
I met a young Maori woman whose great ‘feel good’ feeling at the same time! Mental ill health often stems from
mission in life was to give children It is a sobering statistic that 50% loneliness and Rotary members are
the opportunity to learn to read. Her of prisoners in the UK are functionally beginning to look at how they may be part
name was Toni and her mantra was illiterate. This means half of the 85,000 of the solution when it comes to raising
‘literacy is the route out of poverty, reading people currently incarcerated have a reading awareness and creating opportunities for
is the pathway to prosperity’. age of 11 or lower – with 20% falling well people to get together.
Sadly, Toni died while on a Rotary short of that mark. The Worry Tree Cafe in Framlingham,
Group Study Exchange trip to District Many prisoners are completely Suffolk, is a great example of Rotarians
1260 (Beds Bucks and Herts) that same illiterate. For some reason they missed working with their local community to
summer, but her legacy lives on in the lives out on educational opportunities and provide a place where people can get
of countless children that were influenced now Rotarians are working to make sure together and where conversations about
by her work. successive generations have the opportunity mental ill health happen.
One of the key areas of focus for to learn to read. Rotary is already known for its work
Rotary is literacy and in this country many In Birmingham, the ShelterBus project with dementia - Rotarians easing the
members are active in reading projects will support the homeless. Nationally the Problems of Dementia: www.repod.org.uk
in their local schools. Around the world figures are hard to verify but it is estimated and in many areas they have set up, or are
The Rotary Foundation supports its that there were almost 5,000 rough sleepers working with others on, memory cafes or
members providing literacy and educational on the streets. The Birmingham ShelterBus dementia clubs.
programmes in many countries – including is acting as a catalyst for similar projects in The lessons learnt in this area of
New Zealand, Toni’s home country. other major cities. community service will be shared and
Ask Roger Green from my own club in One of the key issues affecting both built on as Rotary engages in the local
Ware what he gets out of helping little ones those in prison and those sleeping rough community on the issues the community
to read – his face lights up and he will regal is mental health. There is a growing are concerned about. l
you with wonderful examples of how the awareness that we need to treat mental
children are progressing! health issues in the same way as we treat Rotarians are people of action who
It’s all part of Rotary’s contribution to physical health, by raising awareness of make a significant difference in the
the local community, a contribution that the issues and sharing knowledge of some local community – to join us go to
in this instance will help young people find of the simple helping techniques that are rotarygbi.org
22 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgLetters to the Editor
providing equipment for the Samson it needs more women members.
Centre in Guildford, which supports My own club has some 35 members,
Thank you to the patients with multiple sclerosis, and only three of them are women. But those
Rotary Foundation one providing machinery at Skillway in
Godalming, which teaches disadvantaged
three ladies are among the most active
contributors to the mission and workings
OVER the past 25 years, Rotary Guildford or disengaged young people practical of a successful club, which is no less bound
has been directly involved in 90 Matching workshop skills. together because of their presence.
and Global Grants, both as a host and This dispels a common misconception As for encouraging more women
international partner, 78 of which have that Rotary Foundation grants only provide members, it may be that ‘fellowship’ is not
been in connection with the Guildford assistance to the poorer parts of the world. the most inclusive, inviting and welcoming
Rotary Eye Project. Global grants are global. of words. Friendship, on the other hand,
We have also been actively involved It is our wish to continue this work can embrace everyone and is understood
with at least 26 others, 24 of which have with the help of all of our Rotary friends. and appreciated by men and women both.
been part-funded by the eye project. There While we now have a new working name
are four more in the pipeline, with many of Global Sight Solutions, we are still Jim Crate
others planned. registered with the charity commission as Rotary Bewdley
None of these eye project grants the Rotary Club of Guildford Eye Project
would have been possible without the and are still very much a Rotary project.
generous support of countless Rotary Thank you to everyone who has
clubs and individuals within Rotary
GBI and overseas, each of whom have
supported us over the years. Unhappy reading
provided funds for our work in equipping I LOOKED at the cover of the October
Andrew M Jackson
eye hospitals and treating preventable edition of Rotary magazine and was pretty
Chairman of trustees of
blindness. certain that it wasn’t going to be exactly
the Rotary Guildford Eye Project
The bulk of such humanitarian work ‘happy’ reading.
is the provision of free cataract operations The cover doesn’t look appealing in any
way, in that it is a morbid picture and the
to the poor. This we can achieve for a
donation of just £5 here in the UK. That
Rotary is all about text is ambiguous as it could be read as
donation grows to the actual operation cost forging friendships Rotary itself being behind bars and needing
rehabilitation or punishment. Then looking
of £15 when deployed through a Rotary I WRITE to concur wholeheartedly
Foundation Grant. at the content, we also have articles on
with your correspondent John J. Elliott
All of our eye project grants require domestic abuse and later homelessness.
(Rotary, October) who opined that ‘Rotary
the active co-operation of the host Rotary Whilst I accept that all three subjects
unquestionably made the correct decision
club by contributing a third of the cost, are important, I personally, do not think
to open its doors to women members’. He
running the hospitals and carrying out that it is Rotary’s remit to tackle them as
was also in no doubt that dual gender clubs
the eye testing and operations. The whole they are massive problems in themselves
can operate successfully.
programme must be sustainable. and whilst we can donate to homeless
He then qualified these opinions,
The support of many Rotary Districts, shelters, women’s refuges and to charities
however, by suspecting that, whenever
in particular their District Rotary who support ex-prisoners (as our club does)
women have joined, many clubs have lost
Foundation committees in providing I do not think that it should take up most
some of the inherently male elements of
considerable amounts of funding, plus of our magazine, or at least having all three
‘fellowship’ which helps to bind members
the vital financial contribution of The subjects in one issue.
together. Another correspondent listed
Rotary Foundation through their grants There are many far more positive
banter, mickey-taking and common
programme, has been equally important to initiatives that clubs, Districts and Rotary
interests as enjoyable features of men-only
this success. Recently, this has also included GBI get involved in that should be
gatherings.
support from Rotary GBI’s ‘Gift of Sight’ publicised and which, if I was thinking
But modern women are more than
initiative. of becoming a member, would sway my
capable of joining in and holding their own
It is uncertain how many thousands decision.
when it comes to banter, verbal exchanges
of US dollars have been generated for these But I hardly think that any of
and humour. Men and women, moreover,
projects, but it is clear that the total value these three subjects would attract many
have many interests in common.
easily exceeds £3,750,000! interested parties to join.
Yet another correspondent writes that
As a consequence of the eye projects, Rotary definitely has its own problems to
Indian clubs have sponsored three global Tony Willson
resolve when it comes to membership. It
grants supporting projects in Surrey, two President, Rotary Colchester Centurion
does indeed. It would like more members;
We welcome your letters on any subject to do with Rotary. Submissions should not be more than 250 words long. Please include your name and address.
Email: editor@rotarygbi.org or post to: Rotary magazine, Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland, Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6PB. The comments
made on this page do not necessarily represent the views of Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland and Rotarians.
24 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgrotarygbi.org Rotary // 25
ROTARY IN ACTION
Boost for cancer care
JAMES BOLTON
Creating a
brighter future
The largest ever Rotary Foundation Global Grant to be awarded to a project
based in Great Britain and Ireland will dramatically improve access to
radiotherapy and cancer treatment in the south of England.
T
HERE is a brighter future in Swindon, a satellite unit of Oxford radiotherapy service for the people of
ahead for medical care in University Hospitals. Swindon and Wiltshire will mean over
Swindon, thanks to a record- A Global Grant of £175,000 will 13,000 patient journeys for treatment will
breaking Rotary grant. be added to the £158,000 already be significantly shorter every year as they
Rotary clubs in Swindon raised by Rotary clubs in Swindon and no longer need to travel to Oxford.
have been working together to support the surrounding areas to take Rotary’s Currently, the journey can take
the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy Appeal contribution to the appeal to one third of between one and two hours, depending on
based at the Great Western Hospital. a million pounds. This is the largest ever the time of day, which can be physically
The appeal, which has now hit its Global Grant in Great Britain and Ireland and emotionally draining for patients and
£2.9 million target thanks to Rotary’s The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s own their families at an extremely challenging
support, was set up by Brighter Futures, and only charity, supports around 1,000 time.
the charity for the Great Western Hospitals humanitarian service projects across the Some patients even opt not to receive
NHS Foundation Trust in May 2015. globe each year in a range of areas such as radiotherapy treatment or palliative care
Funds will be spent on developing health, education, sanitation and peace. because they cannot face the prospect of
a radiotherapy cancer treatment unit This development of a local the journey on a daily basis for as many as
six weeks.
Peter Wells, a member of Rotary
Swindon who was closely involved with
Global Grant bidding process commented:
“This really is what Rotary is all about.
Engaging in practical projects that provide
potentially life-changing solutions to local
problems.
“Rotary members and The Rotary
Foundation are doing incredible things
around the world, supporting around
1,000 projects like this one, every single
year.
“What has been so special is that all of
the fundraising has been done locally, not
only by Rotary clubs in the area, but small
businesses and individuals as well.
“Rotary fundraising activities have
included a duck race, swimathon, spring
fayres, fun runs and more. Not only have
these events contributed funds towards
An artist impression of the radiotherapy centre the radiotherapy appeal, but they’ve also
26 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgROTARY IN ACTION
The LinAc - Linear Accelerator - machine in Oxford
fostered great community spirit and that the journey itself became extremely
involvement in our area – so it’s a double stressful for Fred.
win!”
“The sad reality is that cancer Thankfully, Fred’s wife and family had
Commenting on the appeal, affects one in three of the UK flexible lifestyles and work commitments
Catherine Newman, Associate Director meaning they could support him with
of Fundraising at Brighter Futures, said: population and the number of travel, but this isn’t the case for all patients.
“We’re so thankful for all the hard work incidents is predicted to rise by Fred returned to full health two years later.
our local community and the Rotary clubs Upcoming fundraising events for
of Swindon and surrounding area put in to 16% over the next ten years.” the radiotherapy appeal will have their
raising this money. donations go towards supporting the
“The sad reality is that cancer affects wider cancer pathway at the Great Western
one in three of the UK population and the who had experiences like Fred Bassett, Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
number of incidents is predicted to rise by who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in That additional funding will help
16% over the next ten years. 2006. Six months after his diagnosis, Fred to extend the Trust’s programmes and
“This money will fund critically began a course of radiotherapy at the John research into the early diagnosis and
important equipment for a new Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. detection of cancer. l
radiotherapy unit that will support the Initially, Fred thought he could drive
284 people who receive a cancer diagnosis himself to his appointments on the 76-
every month at the Great Western mile round trip from Swindon, but after
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. the first few days he realised that this was
“We hope the success of this appeal not going to be possible. To find out more visit:
shows people how important their Radiotherapy for a prostate cancer Rotary Foundation:
continued support is, no matter how big patient has to be delivered on a full www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/
or small.” bladder. The delicate balance of managing rotary-foundation
The development of a satellite this and dealing with the side effects of Brighter Futures:
treatment unit is going to support people the treatment on the trek home, meant www.brighterfuturesgwh.nhs.uk
rotarygbi.org Rotary // 27Latest news
Talk from the top… from the top of the Rotary tree
Barry Rassin Ron D. Burton Brian Stoyel
Rotary President 2018/19 Trustee Chair 2018/19 RI Director 2017-19
I n my travels over the past year, I’ve visited
many strong, vibrant clubs and districts
that are transforming their communities.
E very second of every day, Rotarians
are doing good in the world through
The Rotary Foundation. They are planning,
O ne of the first discussions on election
as Rotary International Director is the
location of the Zone 'Institute'. As you will
When I attend their meetings, I can feel the funding, implementing, and completing know - in October 2017 - some of us travelled
energy. When I meet their members, I can projects, both locally and globally. It is a to the beautiful city of Riga in Latvia, but for
see they are people of action. source of great pride for us all. 2018, after much soul searching, the unique
I’d like to challenge every Rotary club To me, this is one of the unique features location of Stratford-upon-Avon was chosen.
to come up with at least one high-impact of Rotary membership. You can get as At the same time the name was changed to
service project. Each club already has the involved as you choose. You can participate 'Be The Inspiration' weekend.
potential, the resources, to make it happen. in a project from beginning to end, or you In some respects the location is the
It doesn’t take millions of dollars. One can join in anywhere in the process. But it all easy part because we have no idea of the
of the most transformational projects I’ve starts with you and me making a gift to our numbers that will attend. However, I can
been a part of involved providing a Jeep to a Foundation so that funds are available. now inform you the number of participants
group of midwives in Haiti. For many of us, a district grant offers and the chosen venue the Crown Plaza Hotel
They told us they needed a way to reach the quickest and most convenient way to exceeded our expectations. Thank you to all
expectant mothers in a remote part of the participate in grant activity, because it usually who attended.
country. We supplied a Jeep, painted it pink, involves a local project. It was a training event for incoming
and put the Rotary logo on it. A district grant project is a good way District Governors, the re-enforcement of
Three years later, we went back to see to showcase Rotary, to get publicity, to Foundation ideas, the opportunity to listen to
how they were doing. They were excited by involve prospective members as well as the inspirational speakers - we certainly had it all.
the outcomes: they told us that the mortality beneficiaries, and to add value to your own Rotary International President Barry
rate for mothers and infants in that region community. Rassin and wife Esther, Foundation Vice
had dropped by 50 per cent. That’s what I Global grants offer us a way to participate Chairman Brenda Cressey and husband
call transformational service. in international projects in one or more of our Dick made conversation easy - the stories
But Jeeps don’t last forever, and after six areas of focus. from Rotaract, young Rotarians, experienced
eight years on the road, that vehicle was As we develop a project idea, we conduct Rotarians inspired - performances from local
on its last legs. So we bought a pink Land a needs assessment to determine what is schoolchildren and the Alcester Drama Club
Cruiser. It’s still on the road, allowing the needed in the community, the resources stimulated the imagination!
midwives to provide prenatal care to women required and how they can be accessed, and Anyone in the vicinity of the Crowne
in that remote region. how to carry out the project collaboratively Plaza could not escape the publicity material
What makes a project transformational? with Rotarians, partners, and others in the of Rotary. Rotary GBI certainly put on a
It doesn’t have to involve a lot of money, field. memorable few days, enhanced by a new
but it has to reach people and have a major We make sure that our project includes member joining the Arch Klumph Society. It
impact in the community. That is the key, Rotarian involvement, benefits the greatest was an experience we shall remember for a
and that is where careful planning and number of people, and can be maintained long time.
thorough research come in. So do your by the local residents once it is completed to My sincere thanks go to the committee
research. Leverage your resources. Seek ensure a long-term effect for the community. and everyone involved led by Keith Barnard-
partnerships that can increase your impact. We all take comfort in knowing that these Jones, and the Rotary GBI staff, under the
And then take action. steps have been meticulously followed. watchful eye of General Secretary Amanda
Of course, service is only part of what And, because of this proper stewardship Watkin.
a strong club must offer. It must also and accountability, we all continue to I have still many tasks to complete,
have good speakers, provide leadership contribute our time, talents, and treasure. evaluations of our procedures and committees
development, involve Rotaract and Interact, You see, it is our Foundation. We are plus areas to visit - Scotland, Ireland and
and bring value to its members and reasons proud of it, and it is truly making a difference Gibraltar - so with six months to go of my
to participate in Rotary events. in our world! l Director journey my upcoming involvement
If your club is transformational and with the International Assembly, Council
well-organised, everything else will follow. on Legislation, Rotary GBI Conference and
Members will be engaged, and new members Showcase, the International Convention,
will be eager to join you. Fundraising will be Board and committee meetings – so I fear this
easier: people love to give when they see how will swiftly go by.
their money is making a difference and when I am here to be your spokesman on the
they know the organisation is accountable. Board so please keep me up to date with your
Your club will be vibrant, relevant, and concerns, ideas and aspirations of where we
alive — and it will Be the Inspiration to those can take our wonderful organisation. l
within its ranks as well as to the community
it serves. l
28 // Rotary rotarygbi.orgYou can also read
