Archivist’s school news Account
Behrmann Lecture 2019: The Boy in the Statue The 2019 Behrmann Lecture was delivered by Sir Erich Reich on the topic ‘The Boy in the Statue’, talking about his life experiences and how his photograph was used by Frank Meisler when designing the Kindertransport sculpture at Liverpool Street Station. Upper Sixth pupils Blythe White,
Following on from his childhood, he discussed his life and how from Dorking, he was moved to London, and
Colin Tuchel and Pavan Tanna give
eventually ended up living in a Kibbutz in Israel, where he
their thoughts on the lecture:
E
volunteered for the Israeli army. Eventually, however, he came back to Britain as a result of his brother becoming
very year since 2011, the School has held
unwell and eventually dying of cancer. He succeeded
the Behrmann Lecture around Holocaust
in Britain, becoming a director of Thomas Cook and
Memorial Day, in honour of Old Persean Joseph
working with multiple charities. When he was offered a
Behrmann (1939), who survived 14 concentration camps
knighthood in 2010, Sir Erich spoke of real hesitancy in
and went on to be a key witness at the Nuremberg
accepting, but, in the end, decided that it was the right
trials. This year, the lecture was given by Sir Erich Reich
thing to do as the award wasn’t just for him, but for all
who, in 1939, at the age of four, was rescued from
those strangers who had played a vital role in his life. This same kindness of strangers was implied near the
Austria as part of the Kindertransport scheme; he is now himself a chairman of the Association of Jewish
end of his talk when responding to a question about
Refugees’ Kindertransport group. He spoke about the
what should be taken away from the talk. Although the
importance of the kindness of strangers and, more
Kindertransport was organised, ‘there have always been
specifically, the role that it has played in his life.
refugees,’ he commented. Recently, with those coming from Syria, there is a need for a response, and especially
Beginning with detailed and harrowing context, Sir Erich told how he was deported first from Vienna
organisation, to this constant necessity, he said.
to Poland, and then escaped to Britain less than a year
Critiquing the fact that only hundreds of refugees have
after Kristallnacht. He pronounced that his family gave
been admitted to this country as a result of the Syrian
life to him twice: once at birth and once when they let
refugee crisis, he called for more to be done. Maybe,
him go. Despite the abnormality of his circumstances,
as a country, we need to display more of this ever-vital
his childhood involved the same foolish moments as
kindness of strangers that occurred throughout Sir
us all: disagreeing with our parents, injuries caused
Erich’s life, and is so needed today.
by pushing a cart too fast, and getting into trouble by not telling our parents where we are. It was because of anecdotes such as these that Sir Erich was able to both provoke laughter from the audience and inspire awe at his extraordinary life story. Sir Erich was brought up by a German-speaking family in Dorking, Surrey. He recalled how his brother walked by him searching for his foster parents and Sir Erich did not recognise him nor did he even know that he had a brother. Although he was a self-confessed ‘difficult child’ to bring up, his foster parents looked after him, valued him, and he said that they became his parents, showing how important a role the kindness
Head Ed Elliott and Upper Sixth pupils Pavan Tanna,
of strangers played in his life.
Eve Meakin and Colin Tuchel with Sir Erich Reich.
Maybe, as a country, we need to display more of this ever-vital kindness of strangers that occurred throughout Sir Erich’s life, and is so needed today. 15
