Sir Nicholas Winton, who organised the rescue of 669 children destined for Nazi concentration camps, has died aged 106.

 

Winton was a stockbroker when he arranged for trains to carry Jewish children out of occupied Prague.

 

His son-in-law Stephen Watson said he died peacefully in his sleep at Wexham Hospital, Slough.

 

He died on the anniversary of the departure of a train in 1939 carrying the largest number of children - 241.

 

Winton brought the children to Britain, battling bureaucracy at both ends, saving them from almost certain death, and then kept quiet about his exploits for a half-century.

 

He organised a total of eight trains from Prague, with some other forms of transport also set up from Vienna.

 

The reluctant hero worked to find British families willing to put up £50 to look after the boys and girls in their homes.

 

Winton, whose work has been likened to that of the "saviour" of Jewish prisoners Oskar Schindler, was knighted by the Queen in March 2003.

 

The Rotary Club of Maidenhead, of which Winton was former president, said his daughter Barbara and two grandchildren were at his side when he died.

 

His son Nick said of his father's legacy: "It is about encouraging people to make a difference and not waiting for something to be done or waiting for someone else to do it.

 

"It's what he tried to tell people in all his speeches and in the book written by my sister."

 

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Sir Nicholas, tweeting: "The world has lost a great man. We must never forget Sir Nicholas Winton's humanity in saving so many children from the Holocaust."

 

The Refugee Council tweeted: "Very sad to hear the news of the passing of Sir Nicholas Winton. He was an amazing man who saved many lives."

(BBC)