Author Topic: Tunbridge Wells Youth Hostel for Refugees  (Read 1895 times)

Offline Smokey807

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Tunbridge Wells Youth Hostel for Refugees
« on: Monday 01 April 13 17:07 BST (UK) »
Im looking for any information about the Tunbridge Wells Youth Hotel which was located at the Rusthall Beacon mansion (now the Beacon Hote) during WW II.

It was used to house Jewish refugees brought to Britain. I have a photograph taken at the hostel in 1939 showing a group of jewish girls,including a girl Susan Gruner who's name became Suzanne Ben-Yehuda.Also mentioned in the caption to this photo is that the foster mother of the girls was Mrs Reynolds.

Any information about Mrs Reynolds, Susan Gruner or the hostel in general or anyone else who may have stayed there would be appreciated. Im researching the history of this building and its occupants.


Offline cabinetcurios

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Re: Tunbridge Wells Youth Hostel for Refugees
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 01 November 14 16:22 GMT (UK) »
http://www.ajr.org.uk/documents/cb_4_arrival_in_gb.pdf

Not sure if this is your photograph of Susan Gruner (now Suzanne Ben-Yehuda) in the above pdf?
Association of Jewish Refugees may well be worth getting in touch with if you haven't already.

Also, Max Dickson might be a good contact: http://www.courier.co.uk/Jewish-war-refugee-looks-Tunbridge-Wells/story-12013790-detail/story.html

If you feel like sharing your account of housing Jewish refugees with Tunbridge Wells Museum, do get in touch!