Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Sir Nicholas Winton organised the rescue of 669 Czech Jewish children from the Nazi death camps in an operation known as the Czech Kindertransport.
The evening commenced with a showing of the 2002 International Emmy Award-winning documentary film, The Power Of Good, followed by an interview with Sir Nicholas Winton by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the Kinloss Synagogue.
At the conclusion of the interview, Rabbi Mirvis unexpectedly announced that he would invite two 'surprise guests' onto the stage - Kathe Fischel and Vera Gissing, who were two of the original Czech children saved on the Kindertransport.
After waiting nearly 70 years, Kathe Fischel was finally able to embrace Sir Nicholas and publicly thank her rescuer; it proved to be an emotional few moments. Vera Gissing - who has written the official biography of Sir Nicholas - also recalled her own personal experience of the transportations.
Anticipating a full capacity audience and in order to achieve optimum sound coverage to ground floor and balcony levels, The Sound Division Group supplied six stand mounted EV SX 300 loudspeakers driven by two Crown CE 1000 amplifiers and controlled by the Allen & Heath 16-channel Mix Wizard. Specifying both a Shure UXL and AKG radio mic system enabled the discreet presence of handheld, table-mounted and lapel mics to fully handle a seamless vocal delivery for all standing or sitting guest speakers across the full length of the stage.
To ensure a maximum visual display, a Panasonic SXGA 7000 was used to project the film onto a large 16ft x 12ft fully-suspended and internally framed supported viewing screen.
Allowing for a possible viewing restriction to those seated immediately in front of the central praying platform, a satellite 42" NEC plasma screen was mounted on an elegantly curved Parabella stand. The plasma would show not only the documentary film but also a 'live feed' of the interviews as they took place.
Chief organiser for the Kinloss Learning Centre at the synagogue, Stephen Renshaw, comments, "The evening went perfectly; the Rabbi was especially pleased, bearing in mind the eminence of the guest of honour and the high number attending from the community."
Sound Division's MD, David Graham, who took a close interest in ensuring a smooth-running event, commented, "Given the large interior of the Kinloss Synagogue with its high ceiling, and the importance of the historical background for all present, we are delighted to know that we contributed to the evening's success."
(Jim Evans)
