Czech students want Winton Nobel-awarded, promote him abroad

Almost 174,000 people have signed the petition launched by students of the Open Gate private secondary school in Ricany near Prague.

"We need support of as many people as possible, so that Winton´s story spreads as far as possible," Pastikova said.

The group is also preparing a video spot presenting Winton´s story.

Open Gate´s teacher David Nitsche said students in Britain do not know much of Sir Winton, now aged 103.

The Czech students have decided to spread Sir Nicholas Winton´s story not only to the world but also back to his native country, Nitsche said.

Czech Chamber of Deputies chairwoman Miroslava Nemcova (Civic Democrats, ODS) proposed Winton for the Nobel Peace Prize in January for the third time.

She said she is sorry at the Nobel Committee not having met her requests in the past years.

In 1939, Winton organised departures of trains from Prague that gradually brought 669 Jewish children from the then Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to Britain. Only the outbreak of war prevented him from rescuing more kids.

After the war Winton´s story fell into oblivion and he did not recall it himself. He told no one about it. It was only in 1988 when his wife uncovered material documenting the events.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz