Keeping her promise, the Czech Republic ambassador to the UK visited Swanage in Dorset to see the impressive bronze statue of wartime hero Trevor Chadwick, who was responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of Czechslovakian children.
The ambassador Marie Chatardová had been invited to the unveiling of the statue in August 2022 but had been unable to attend at the time, although she did send an audio message which was played at the official ceremony.
Czech Republic ambassador Marie Chatardová visits the Trevor Chadwick statue on the Recreation Ground in Swanage
Travelled down from London
In the message, she promised to come and visit the Trevor Chadwick statue when she could, and true to her word she made the journey down from London to Swanage on Wednesday 5th February 2025.
There to meet her was Swanage town mayor Tina Foster along with chair of the Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust John Corben.
Also making the ambassador welcome were committee members of the Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust.
Local councillor Bill Trite explains to the Czech ambassador about Trevor Chadwick’s work
Trustees of the charity welcome the ambassador to Swanage, left to right: Swanage relative of Trevor Chadwick Annie Bridger, former Swanage town mayor Avril Harris, chair of the trust John Corben, Swanage town mayor Tina Foster, the ambassador Marie Chatardová, representative of the Jewish community Josephine Jackson, Dorset and Swanage councillor Bill Trite, and the mayor’s consort Les Parkinson
Saved 669 children’s lives
Trevor Chadwick moved to Swanage in 1928 when his father set up Forres School in Northbrook Road, now the disused Purbeck View school. He worked there as a Latin teacher and was also a volunteer member of the Swanage Lifeboat crew.
In early 1939, Trevor became one of a handful of mainly British volunteers who rescued children in Prague most threatened by an impending German occupation. The majority were Jewish but others were the sons or daughters of Czech and Slovak anti-Nazis.
He originally went to Prague to bring back two refugee boys to the school. In the event, he also took another child. Trevor delivered the three children, then returned to Prague to work for the rescue of further refugees, including a girl who later became the poet Gerda Mayer. In total he saved 669 children’s lives.
Trevor Chadwick as a young man
After the war, Trevor Chadwick moved to Norway and died in 1979, but he is still remembered in Swanage by the bronze statue created by local artist Moira Purver
“Legacy for the future”
As Marie Chatardová admired the statue, she said:
“This is a legacy for the future – for future generations not to forget. It’s a very extraordinary statue and very important, along with the playground named after Trevor Chadwick. It’s a topic close to my heart.
“Last year at the embassy I organised an event to mark the 85th anniversary of transporting people safely out of Czechoslovakia.
“Trevor was one of the most important people who saved lives, along with Sir Nicholas Winton and others. He worked on the ground and undertook an extremely important task, saving 669 children by bringing them to the UK.
“Seven of the children, now adults, came to the event at the embassy, along with second and third generations of those who survived. It is extraordinary to think that Trevor also saved all those future generations of children that would never have been born without him.”
Marie Chatardová taking in the view of the bay on her very first visit to Swanage
Women of the Decade award
Marie Chatardová became the Czech Republic ambassador to the UK in October 2021, after being the permanent representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations in New York.
While at the UN, she was elected as the 73rd president of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
During her impressive diplomatic career, she has also been the Czech Republic ambassador to Sweden, and France and Monaco.
In 2023 she received the Women of the Decade award at the Women Economic Forum in London. The award is given to women who are pioneers and leaders in their profession and inspire and inform the next generation of leadership.
The ambassador with John Corben
Children of Heroes
As ambassador in the UK, Marie Chatardová launched a project to find the children of Czech servicemen and women who took part in World War Two and stayed in the UK after the war or later returned so they could escape persecution under the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
Called Children of Heroes she has interviewed lots of descendants and the videos are all available to watch on YouTube telling the history of Czechoslovakians who settled in the UK. About 100 people have been found, spread out across the UK.
Czechoslovakia was dissolved following the Velvet Revolution in November 1989 which ended communist rule. Two independent states were formed in 1992 – the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The ambassador said:
“I would like to invite the people of Swanage to come and visit the Czech Republic. We’re friendly people and it’s a safe country with lots of history – we have the highest density of castles in Europe!
“I would also say, don’t just visit Prague but also explore our lovely countryside. We have a great transport infrastructure and very good food!
A great day! Left to right: John Corben, Marie Chatardová and Tina Foster
“Great honour”
After the ambassador had left to travel back to London, Swanage town mayor Tina Foster said:
“It was a great honour for Swanage to welcome the Czech Republic ambassador Marie Chatardová – she was absolutely charming and down to earth.
“I was impressed with how interested she was in Swanage and the work that we do here.”
Chair of the Trevor Chadwick Memorial Trust John Corben added:
“It was great that the ambassador was able to come down to Swanage and see the amazing sculpture of Trevor Chadwick. When we had the official unveiling and she couldn’t make it, she said that she would come another time and she has.
“It was tremendous to see her – she is very enthusiastic and very genuine. It’s been a very good day.”
Further information
- More about the Embassy of the Czech Republic in London
- Watch Children of Heroes on YouTube
