Small Town, Big Heart

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BBC Radio Wales - Small Town, Big Heart

The story of the Czech children who found a new home in Wales during World War Two.

Miles Orchard on how Llanwrtyd Wells became the home for Czech refugee children escaping the Nazi invasion of their homeland 70 years ago. And Sir Nicholas Winton on how Kinder Transport began.

It has been eight years since BBC Archivist Miles Orchard updated the story on how Llanwrtyd Wells became the home for Czech refugee children escaping the Nazi invasion of their homeland in 1939. Vera Gissing was among the hundreds of children who were rescued on the Kinder Transport. Vera passed away aged 93 in March this year and this repeat is a tribute to Vera and the children who made a new life in Llanwrtyd Wells and the Abernant Lake Hotel.

The programme includes Vera Gissing reading from her leather bound diary that was  given to her by her parents before she left Czechoslovakia. Looking back on what she had written Vera finds it hard to come to terms with her life and her struggle to keep her parents in her thoughts. Also includes archive of Sir Nicholas Winton on how the Kinder Transport began and Mrs Rainford – of Liverpool – who, along with her family, gave Vera a home when she initially arrived. 

Presented by Miles Orchard
Produced by Steve Groves

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