Tributes have been paid after Eve Leadbeater, a Jewish woman who fled the persecution of Nazis to build a new life in Netherfield, sadly died at the age of 90.
Eve was one of the many Jewish children who made it onto kindertransport trains destined for London so they wouldn’t perish at the hands of the Nazis.
She was just eight years old when she was forced to leave her family back home.
Her brother, Tomy, was due to make the same trip days later, but his train was cancelled. He and the rest of the family were instead sent to Auschwitz and would never be seen again.
She landed at Liverpool Lime Street station on July 1, 1939, all alone after making her solo escape across Europe.
Eve was greeted that day by teacher Minnie Simmonds, who would create a new home for her in the town of Netherfield.
She went on to campaign for other children fleeing war to be helped by the Government and be allowed to enter the UK
In 2019 she went to Number 10 with other migrants to call on then Prime Minister Teresa May to take in more child refugees.
Former Gedling MP and now Lord of Gedling, Vernon Coaker, paid tribute to his long-time friend.
Lord Coaker said: “We should celebrate the amazing Eve Leadbeater, her compassion, her kindness, her strength and her intelligence.
“Eve’s tenacious, compassionate character and determination to help the plight of refugees across the world, never once wavered. We all owe her a huge amount of gratitude for the work she did.
“Eve is a testament to the very best of Gedling and I will always be so proud to say that Eve was such a special friend to me.
“Eve had a continued relentless drive in her work, standing up for those suffering from persecution and hate, including refugees and asylum seekers. Eve’s work crossed many borders, locally, nationally and internationally. Eve never forgot her history and neither should we.”
He added: “My thoughts are with Eve’s husband Alan, their family and friends. I promise to keep doing all I can for unaccompanied child refugees, in her memory and her name.
“May you rest in peace my dear friend, Eve.”
No mention that she taught at Carlton-le-Willows in the 60’s for numerous years?
Yes she taught me. I was there 1961-65