Holocaust Survivors Finally Reunited at Same House They Sought Refuge 70 Years Ago
- Jan Goldberger, Harry Spiro and Sir Ben Helfgott were among 23 teenagers who got refuge at Holmhurst House
- The three started life as British citizens at the hostel and became family as all their relatives were lost or displaced
- Last week, the three, together with their current families, met and shared photos in the same home
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Three men, Jan Goldberger, Harry Spiro, and Sir Ben Helfgott, reunited again after 70 years apart.
The three were among a group of Jewish teenage boys who were given refuge in Loughton, Essex, back in 1946 after they were brought to Britain the previous year, According to Mirror.
They had survived the Holocaust, which was the genocide of European Jews during World War II.
The three stayed at concentration camps and were all orphaned, finding rescue at Holmhurst House with other 23 teenagers.
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Here, they started their lives as British citizens, and the three, known as the Loughton Boys, were reunited last week at the mansion they lived in, which is now privately owned.
The three men, who are now in their mid-90s, were joined by their children and grandchildren in photos at the mansion as they recalled their times at the home.
Jan shared his experience at the hostel, saying he could roam freely but was still finding it hard to believe that he had lost all his family.
He said they did not mix with people from the outside, but they were like brothers.
Jan went on to train as a tailor and had three children with his wife, Sara.
Sir Ben used sports to overcome his trauma and represented Great Britain in the Olympics as a weightlifter. He was later knighted in 2018.
Joy as woman whose son was taken finally reunites with him 52 years later
In another reunion story, Briefly News previously reported that a woman who lost her baby boy 10 days after giving birth united with her grown-up son 52 years later.
Lynne Oakes gave birth to her baby back in 1968 but was forced to give him up for adoption just 10 days later. According to Mirror, Lynne was only 14 years old and her parents would not entertain the idea of her raising a child.
Now 68 years old, Lynne went on a show on ITV dubbed Long Lost Family and said she was always knitting clothes for him before he left. She said she loved every minute with her boy and cried profusely when he was teken, saying she is sorry and promised to find him.
She later married but did not get to have children.
A moment 52 years in waiting
This was not the first time trying to look for her boy, and finally she got to meet her 52-year-old son Michael through the show.
The mother of one said their moment was just "magic", and he kept holding her hand and calling her "mum". Michael also introduced his long lost mum to his daughter Ellie, also a mother of one..
Source: Briefly News
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