Halina describes how she found it difficult to integrate with the Jewish community at first. Read the transcript: INT: Why were you so keen on Scotland? HM: I don’t know, I was just the kind of girl who was enthusiastic about countries. INT: So when you came here were your dreams met or were you … Read more
Halina describes how the family managed to leave Warsaw and finally settle in Bialystock where Halina went to school. Read the transcript: INT: Can we take you back. You went back to Poland, obviously a very dangerous time. What happened after that? HM: Well we got to Poland and we reoccupied our flat and on … Read more
Halina describes her life in Poland and Russia during the war and how she eventually came to Scotland. Read the transcript INT: Could you tell us when and where you were born and what was your name at birth? HM: I was born in Warsaw and my name at birth was Halina Lewiner (L E … Read more
Gretl hopes and believes that there will be no repetition of experiences like the Holocaust of the 1940s Read the Transcript INT: When you look ahead or you see something now, about any kind of prosecution ehm persecution do you get extremely upset about it? Are you moved to do something about it? G.S: Well … Read more
Gretl says that she feels truly British and has many non-Jewish friends though she is, of course, proud to be Jewish herself Read the Transcript INT: She, as a Quaker, did she ever try and suggest that you should join her in her worship? G.S: Oh, no no no. I mean I used to go … Read more
Gretl talks about life with her new guardian in Coventry and describes her education and the evacuation of her school during the war. Read the Transcript INT: This is the lady that you eventually called your aunt? G.S: Yes, yes. INT: She actually brought you up? G.S: Yes. She did yes. She brought me up, … Read more
This section describes Gretl’s arrival in England through the Kindertransport system and explains how she came to be placed with an English family. Read the Transcript INT: When you arrived do you remember how you felt? Were you frightened or bewildered? G.S: Well, yes. My sister was already here and we arrived at Liverpool Street … Read more
Read the Transcript NT: How did you come here? G.S: I came with a children’s transport which was arranged by the Quakers, the ‘Society of Friends’ INT: And where had you come from? G.S: I had come from Vienna INT: Why had your parents allowed you to come? G.S: Well, they could see no future … Read more
George explains how members of the family were traced in later years and how he made contact with some of them. Read the transcript: INT: And you have family? G.T: Five children. G.T: My oldest son died at 42 about 12 years ago. We had twin girls, another daughter and a son now in London. … Read more
George talks about the various jobs he had in Glasgow. Read the transcript: INT: So did anyone give you support? Did anyone help you to settle into Scotland? G.T: No, not really. INT: Anyone in the Jewish community? G.T: No. I did my own thing. G.T: When I started work my boss introduced me to … Read more