Tributes have been paid to the Holocaust survivor Bob Kirk, who has died at the age of 99.
Together with his wife Ann, a fellow Kindertransport refugee, he devoted his life to Shoah education and remembrance.
He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1925. In 1933 the Nazis came to power an,d after the Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938, at Bob travelled alone, aged 13, to the UK on the Kindertransport.
After the war, he discovered that his parents had been on the first transport out of Hanover, on 15 December 1941, to a concentration camp in Riga, Latvia. They never returned.
Bob Kirk. Photograph: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Bob met his wife Ann at a club for young Jewish refugees, run by Woburn House. They were married on 21 May 1950.
Last year, the couple were awarded the Citron, Sivan and Sefton Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award by the Jewish Volunteer Network for their volunteering work at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue.
Ann and Bob Kirk, HMDT Coronation Tea. Pic: Michelle Rosenberg, Thursday 4th May 2023
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust said: “We were deeply saddened to hear of Bob Kirk’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to Ann and the entire family during this difficult time. Bob played a vital role in our work at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, standing alongside other Holocaust survivors to share his powerful life story with thousands.
Bob Kirk. Photograph: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
“His unwavering dedication to ensuring future generations never forget the tragedy of the Shoah was truly remarkable. In a world that desperately needs to learn and uphold the lessons of the Shoah, may Bob’s memory forever be a blessing and remain a source of inspiration for all who carry his legacy forward.”
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: “The Holocaust Educational Trust is deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend and Holocaust survivor Bob Kirk BEM. Bob came to the UK, aged just 13, from Germany following the horrors of Kristallnacht.
“He refused to let what happened to him and millions of others be forgotten and dedicated years of his life to tirelessly telling his story, often speaking alongside his dear wife and fellow Kindertransport refugee Ann. Bob spoke softly but his words had a profound impact. A fiercely intelligent, articulate and thoughtful man, his words will be remembered by all who heard them. He leaves behind a powerful legacy.
“We will miss him greatly and are incredibly grateful for all he did to ensure thousands of young people across the country learn about Holocaust and its lessons. Our thoughts go out to Ann and his family at this sad time. May his memory be a blessing.”
Bob Kirk is survived by his wife Ann, two sons and three grandchildren.
