Sídlo společnosti: Na Valech 16, 160 00 Praha 6
Korespondenční adresa: Musílkova 1, 150 00 Praha 5
E-mail: olga.menzelova@medialogue.cz
www.medialogue.cz
PRESS RELEASE No. 2
CEREMONIAL OPENING OF WINTON'S TRAINS EXHIBITION IN LONDON AND PRAGUE
Prague, 18. 5. 2011 - On Saturday, 21 May at 3 pm. at Liverpool Street Station (Bishopsgate entrance)
the external exhibition of large-format photos and documents will be ceremonially opened. The
exhibition, produced by Olga Menzelova Kelymanova and authored by Jaroslav Brabec is called
"Winton's Trains - Photographs and documents of the children who were allowed to live and of a
history which, sadly is still present." The event will also mark Sir Nicholas Winton's 102nd birthday candles on his birthday cake will be blown out and a toast made simultaneously in London and Prague.
In Prague a live TV broadcast will be made.
..."There is a difference between passive goodness and active goodness, which is, in my opinion, the giving of
one's time and energy in the alleviation of pain and suffering. It entails giving out, finding out, and helping those,
who are suffering and in danger, and, not merely in leading an exmplary life in a purely passive way by doing
no wrong."
Nicholas Winton, from a letter to his friend, 1939
The exhibition is connected with the successful Winton Train 2009 - Inspiration of Goodness Project. To
celebrate the 70th anniversary of Winton’s rescue mission, during which 669 children of mostly Jewish origin
were saved, the “Winton Train” traveling the original route from Prague to London was dispatched. On board
the period train pulled by a steam locomotive were the descendants of the rescued “children” with their families.
The author of the exhibition - director, cameraman and photographer Jaroslav Brabec - held the exhibition as a
testimony to the pre-war time in Europe which influenced in such a brutal way the lives of the families whose
children were rescued by Winton.
"I first encountered the theme of Winton's Children when the special Winton Train was dispatched in 2009. I
was taken by the immense fortitude of parents, who, at the times of pogroms, hatred and a clear omen of war,
were able to give their children the most precious thing they had - the chance to live. Most of them then died
without ever seeing their children again or saying good bye to them. I got extremely interested in the fate of 20
Czech children who, after many years, came back to their home country, which was mostly foreign and hostile
to them. The disstress they had experienced in the pre-war time got repeated in the post-February time.
I trust the exhibition on the outbreak of Fascism, on the horrors of Holocaust, but also on the immense effort of
the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia and its Children's Section of Nicholas Winton from
1939, is not going to be merely a historic look back at the times long gone, but primarily the emotive and
enlightened view of the present. The effort of the Children's Section of the British Committee for Refugees
lasted only eight months. During this time almost 700 children were rescued, out of which a tree has grown of
some 5000 new lives taking roots all over the world.” adds the author of the exhibition.
A picture reconstruction of the Winton Train 2009 route makes a significant part of the exhibition while the
pictures were made by such noted Czech photographers as Karel Cudlín, Bohdan Holomíček or Jan Šibík. The
exhibition will also bring unique materials of renowned world museums and archives (eg.The German Federal
Archives, The US Holocaust Memorial Museum), as well as pictures and documents from family archives of
Winton's Children.
Producer Olga Menzelová who has already realized a number of successful external exhibitions (The Land of
the Beautiful Unknown – Yann Arthus Bertrand, Orbis Artis, Jan Saudek, Alive, Charles Bridge 2010), has a
very personal relationship towards this subject. As a spokesperson of the Winton Train 2009 she met with Sir
Nicholas, his family and a number of Winton's Children. ”Saying that this event dramatically influenced my life is
not an overstatement. To get to know such unique people, to learn of their life stories and to feel how strong,
yet humble they are was a very special experience I will never forget. This is also why I decided to organize this
exhibition and to bring it to the Czech and world audiences. In today’s difficult era we feel it is vital to show
especially the young people worldwide that evil has to be fought. Hero is each and everyone of us who decides
to resist injustice and to help someone in need”, says Olga Menzelova.
Sídlo společnosti: Na Valech 16, 160 00 Praha 6
Korespondenční adresa: Musílkova 1, 150 00 Praha 5
E-mail: olga.menzelova@medialogue.cz
www.medialogue.cz
Apart from Sir Nicholas Winton and his family and the Winton's Children and their family members, the opening
ceremony in London will also be attended by such renowned official guests as Michael Žantovský, the Czech
Ambassador to the UK, The Lord Mayor of the City of London Michael Bear, Jeremy Irons and others. The
moderator of the event will be the noted film producer Mr Barney Reisz, the son of a British film director of a
Czech origin Mr Karel Reisz, one of Winton's Children.
In Prague, personal remarks will be delivered by Sian MacLeod, the UK Ambassador to the CR, Miroslava
Němcová, Chairwoman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies,
Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandr Vondra, Minister
of Defence, Bohuslav Svoboda, the Mayor of Prague and others.
The event is being held under the auspices of
Václav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic
Miroslava Němcová, Chairwoman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies
Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Her Britannic Majesty´s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Sian MacLeod
His Excellency Michael Žantovský, the Czech Ambassador to the UK
Bohuslav Svoboda, the Mayor of Prague
Woody Allen, film director and actor
Winton's Trains Exhibition Producer
Olga Menzelová Kelymanová, MEDIALOGUE, Ltd., www.medialogue.cz
Author of the exhibition
Jaroslav Brabec
Expert assistant and text editor
PhDr. Jana Šplíchalová
Graphic design, artistic assistance, DTP, production
Libor Jelínek, Michal Plíhal, Mgr. Michaela Procházková,
Dynamo design s.r.o. www.dynamodesign.cz
Architectural design
Jaroslav Brabec,Tony McGuirk, David Mirman
Expert advisors
Doc. PhDr. Vojtěch Blodig, CSc., The Terezín Memorial
Mgr. Michal Frankl, PhD., The Jewish Museum in Prague
Bc. Markéta Hofmanová, The Photobank of the Czech News Agency
Ing. Zbyněk Honys
Mgr. Vojtěch Scheinost, The National Museum in Prague
Doc. Mgr. Jaroslav Šebek, PhD.
JUDr. Pavel Trégl
English translation
Lucie Butcher / theBESTtranslation /
Hebrew translation
Radana Sušilová
www.thebesttranslation.cz
Sídlo společnosti: Na Valech 16, 160 00 Praha 6
Korespondenční adresa: Musílkova 1, 150 00 Praha 5
E-mail: olga.menzelova@medialogue.cz
www.medialogue.cz
Special thanks
Sir Nicholas Winton, Barbara Winton and Laurence Watson
Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines
Charles Chadwick
Elizabeth Kamau, Station Support Assistant, Liverpool Street & Fenchurch Street
Michal Richter, Director of the Dynamo design s.r.o. graphic studio
Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The exhibition will be held
Prague: 21May - 31 July 2011
London: 21May - 30 June 2011
The exhibition in both cities is outdoor, free of charge and accessible to the general public 24 hours a day.
Other countries the exhibition will go
Germany (Berlíin and other cities), New Zealand, Israel, USA (New York and other cities)
For more information and pictures, please contact:
Laurence Watson
PR Executive, MEDIALOGUE, s.r.o.
laurence.watson@gmail.com, mob: +420 774 640 581
www.wintonstrains.com
Sídlo společnosti: Na Valech 16, 160 00 Praha 6
Korespondenční adresa: Musílkova 1, 150 00 Praha 5
E-mail: olga.menzelova@medialogue.cz
www.medialogue.cz