Bertha Leverton, a Kindertransport evacuee honoured by the Queen for her services to the Jewish community, has died in Israel, aged 97.
Ms Leverton, who received an MBE in 2005, arrived in England from her native Munich at the age of 15, having fled Nazi persecution with her brother Theo.
She organised the reunion of Kindertransport in 1989, to mark the 50th anniversary, a gathering that was latterly taken over by the Association of Jewish Refugees.
Ms Leverton contributed to and helped edit the 1990 book, I Came Alone: The Stories of the Kindertransports, a collection of first person testimonies.
She made aliyah at the age of 86 in 2009.
AJR chief executive Michael Newman paid tribute to an “inspirational” figure.
“As one of the older Kinder on her transport, Bertha looked after the younger children on the journey. Poignantly, her passing came on the anniversary of the arrival of the first Kindertransport in 1938.
“Although she endured great personal tragedy throughout her life, Bertha was an elder sister to many of the Kinder and a popular presence at the AJR day centre and our gatherings.
“Such was her charm and powers of persuasion, it was impossible to refuse her requests.”
Tribute was also paid by Holocaust Educational Trust chief executive Karen Pollock, who said Ms Leverton had “worked tirelessly to reunite and support other Kinder refugees.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her.”
