A London philanthropist, who fled Germany as a child, is to be presented with the country’s highest award.
Sir Ralph Kohn, 86, is to receive the Order of Merit at a ceremony at the German Embassy on Tuesday.
It is his passion for Bach in particular which re-established his connection with Leipzig, the city which his family left when he was just four. He is a trustee of the Bach archive there and his name and that of his wife Zahava — who is a survivor of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp — have been etched into the pillars of St Thomas Church, where Bach was a choirmaster.
Sir Ralph said, “After fleeing from Germany in the 1930s, I have subsequently enjoyed excellent relationships with colleagues in Germany in the medical sciences and the arts for many years.
