LIVERPOOL DIARY
Czech ambassador pays respects at cemetery

VISIT: Czech ambassador Libor Secka

CZECH ambassador to the UK Libor Secka made a surprise visit to Broadgreen Jewish Cemetery last week, much to the shock of the Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation’s burial board chairman Alaster Burman.

He recalled: “A few weeks ago I had to pay an unscheduled visit to the cemetery, but as I was about to close the gates a vehicle drove in.

“Following introductions, the driver tells me he is an author, has written and presented a book on Reinhard Heidrich, the Nazi in charge of Bohemia, to Mr Secka.

“He then tells me that he is going to meet him today, shortly at the cemetery. A while later the ambassador’s car drove in through the gates, and I was introduced to him and his party.

“He was a charming man, and he told me it is his intention to visit every war grave of a Czech national who is buried in the UK, to pay respects and mark the visit by placing a rose on the memorial.”

The grave he visited was that of Sgt Robert Alt, who died aged 58 in 1941. Sgt Alt was shipped across the Channel to a camp in Cheshire, but became ill soon after. He later died from prostate cancer.


If you have a story or an issue you want us to cover, let us know - in complete confidence - by contacting newsdesk@jewishtelegraph.com, 0161-741 2631 or via Facebook / Twitter


Site developed & maintained by
MICHAEL PAYSDEN/FIREIMAGE
© 2020 Jewish Telegraph
www.JewishTelegraph.com