Two years ago we lost our son Alex to Motor Neuron Disease. To celebrate his life we organized a Memorial lecture in our home town Tenterden on July 23rd. The guest speaker was Lord Dubs of Battersea, the renowned campaigner for child refugees. Alf is a long standing friend who knew Alex well. In 2019 Alex was elected to Ashford Borough Council fulfilling a long held ambition to achieve elected office and commitment to public service. Tragically later that year Alex began to experience difficulties walking and was subsequently diagnosed with MND. This cruel disease took his life in July 2020. He was just 31.
Alf’s lecture is an inspiring account of his experiences as a child refugee and then a lifetime of public service. He was rescued from the Nazi occupation of the Czech Republic in 1939 as part of the kinder transport initiative of Sir Nick Winton. Later he served as Member of Parliament for Battersea, as a Northern Ireland Minister, as Director of the Refugee Council and in the House of Lords. We are very grateful to St Mildred’s Church, Tenterden for hosting the lecture.