Grete Winton was the Danish-born wife of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton, who helped rescue hundreds of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia shortly before the Second World War. Born Grete Gjelstrup, she married Nicholas in 1948 and shared his life for more than five decades. While her husband eventually became internationally celebrated for his humanitarian work, Grete maintained a relatively private life centered on family and her own interests. Their marriage, children, and the remarkable history of the Winton family remain subjects of interest to readers researching the man sometimes called the British Schindler. More information about Nicholas Winton’s rescue efforts is available from the Nicholas Winton memorial website.
Quick Bio: Grete Winton
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Grete Winton |
| Birth name | Grete Gjelstrup |
| Known for | Wife of Sir Nicholas Winton |
| Nationality | Danish-born; lived in Britain |
| Birth date | Not consistently verified |
| Birthplace | Denmark |
| Husband | Sir Nicholas Winton |
| Marriage year | 1948 |
| Husband’s birth date | May 19, 1909 |
| Husband’s death date | July 1, 2015 |
| Children | Nicholas, Barbara, and Robin |
| Son Robin | Died in childhood |
| Residence | Associated with Maidenhead, Berkshire, England |
| Death | Died before Nicholas Winton; exact date requires verification |
| Profession | Not reliably documented |
| Net worth | Not independently verified |
Who Was Grete Winton?
Grete Winton was the wife of Nicholas Winton, the British humanitarian who helped organize the evacuation of children from Czechoslovakia in 1939.
Her husband played a major role in arranging transport, foster families, and documentation for children threatened by Nazi persecution.
The operation became widely known decades later.
Grete married Nicholas in 1948, several years after the Second World War ended.
Their marriage lasted more than five decades.
Together, they raised a family in Britain.
Although Grete was not the principal organizer of the 1939 rescue operation, she became part of the family that preserved and shared Nicholas Winton’s extraordinary history.
Why Is Grete Winton Famous?
Grete is primarily remembered as Nicholas Winton’s wife.
Her name appears in biographical accounts of the humanitarian and his family.
She is also remembered as the mother of their three children and as someone who shared Nicholas’s life during the years when his wartime rescue work gradually became internationally recognized.
Grete Winton’s Early Life
Grete was born in Denmark.
Her birth name was Grete Gjelstrup.
Reliable public accounts provide limited information about her parents, childhood, and early education.
Her life became more widely documented after her marriage to Nicholas Winton.
Where Was Grete Winton Born?
Grete was born in Denmark.
The exact town or city of her birth is not consistently established in major historical references.
What Was Grete Winton’s Maiden Name?
Her maiden name was Gjelstrup.
She became known as Grete Winton after marrying Nicholas.
What Was Grete Winton’s Age?
Her precise birth date and age at death are not consistently verified in readily available historical records.
For that reason, it is better not to assign a specific age without dependable documentation.
Grete Winton’s Education and Early Career
Grete’s educational background is not widely documented in biographies of Nicholas Winton.
There is limited reliable information about the schools she attended or her professional activities before marriage.
Her relative absence from public historical accounts should not be taken to mean she lacked education or professional interests.
It simply reflects the limited documentation available.
How Did Grete Meet Nicholas Winton?
Grete and Nicholas met after the Second World War.
Nicholas had served during the war and was establishing his postwar life.
Their relationship developed into marriage in 1948.
However, the precise circumstances of their first meeting are not consistently documented in major historical accounts.
When Did Grete Winton Marry Nicholas Winton?
Grete and Nicholas married in 1948.
Their wedding took place several years after Nicholas helped rescue children from Czechoslovakia.
How Long Were Grete and Nicholas Married?
Their marriage lasted more than five decades.
They remained together until Grete’s death.
Who Was Sir Nicholas Winton?
Sir Nicholas Winton was a British humanitarian and stockbroker best known for helping save 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939.
He was born on May 19, 1909, in Hampstead, London.
His parents were of German-Jewish background and had settled in Britain.
Nicholas later worked in banking and finance.
In December 1938, he traveled to Prague, where he became involved in efforts to help refugees threatened by Nazi expansion.
He subsequently organized an operation that enabled hundreds of children to travel to Britain.
Why Is Nicholas Winton Famous?
Nicholas became internationally famous for his role in the rescue of 669 children.
The operation was carried out before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Many of the rescued children came from Jewish families who faced growing persecution under Nazi rule.
Nicholas helped organize travel arrangements, identify foster homes, and obtain necessary documentation.
His work remained relatively unknown to the wider public for decades.
Nicholas Winton and the Kindertransport
The Kindertransport was a rescue effort that brought approximately 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi-controlled or threatened European territories to Britain between 1938 and 1939.
Nicholas Winton organized a related evacuation operation from Czechoslovakia.
His efforts helped 669 children reach safety.
The children traveled without their parents.
Many were placed with British foster families.
Tragically, numerous parents who remained in Europe were later murdered during the Holocaust.
How Did Nicholas Winton Help the Children?
Nicholas and his colleagues worked to arrange documentation, transportation, and homes for children.
The operation required cooperation among volunteers, refugee organizations, families, and officials.
Nicholas’s work was especially important in Britain, where he helped coordinate the arrangements necessary for children to enter the country.
Did Grete Winton Participate in the 1939 Rescue?
No documented evidence establishes that Grete participated in the original 1939 operation.
She married Nicholas in 1948, nine years after the rescue.
Her historical connection to the Kindertransport comes through their marriage and family life.
Grete Winton’s Most Important Contribution: Discovering the Rescue Records
One of the most remarkable chapters of Grete’s life occurred in 1988.
While examining old belongings in the family’s attic, she discovered a scrapbook containing records of Nicholas Winton’s 1939 rescue operation.
The documents included names, photographs, letters, and information about children who had escaped Nazi persecution.
For decades, the story had remained largely unknown to the public.
Grete recognized that the papers were historically important.
Her discovery helped set in motion the events that brought Nicholas’s humanitarian work to international attention.
What Did Grete Winton Find in the Attic?
Grete found a scrapbook containing records related to the children Nicholas had helped rescue.
These included names and information about families and placements.
The documents offered a way to reconnect the rescued children with the story of their escape.
Did Grete Know About the Rescue Before 1988?
Nicholas had not fully explained the extent of his wartime work to his family.
The scrapbook revealed details that had remained largely unrecognized for almost 50 years.
Grete’s discovery helped transform a private family record into a major historical story.
Grete Winton and the Television Program That’s Life!
Following the rediscovery of Nicholas’s rescue records, his story gained attention through the British television program That’s Life!.
The program, presented by Esther Rantzen, arranged an emotional reunion between Nicholas and people he had helped rescue as children.
During the famous 1988 broadcast, Nicholas was seated among adults who had survived because of the evacuation operation.
When the presenter asked those rescued by Nicholas Winton to stand, many people around him rose.
The moment became one of the most memorable scenes in British television history.
Was Grete Winton Responsible for Revealing Nicholas’s Story?
Grete played a significant role by discovering the documents that helped bring the story to wider attention.
However, the public recognition also involved historians, researchers, journalists, television producers, and the survivors themselves.
It is therefore most accurate to describe her as an important figure in the rediscovery of the rescue records rather than the sole person responsible for the publicity.
Grete and Nicholas Winton’s Children
Grete and Nicholas had three children: Nicholas Jr., Barbara, and Robin.
Their family life included both happy experiences and profound tragedy.
Their youngest son, Robin, had Down syndrome and died of meningitis in 1962.
His death deeply affected the family and helped inspire Nicholas’s later work supporting people with disabilities and their families.
| Child | Birth year | Background |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Winton Jr. | 1952 | Son of Grete and Nicholas |
| Barbara Winton | 1953 | Writer and biographer of her father |
| Robin Winton | 1956 | Youngest son; died in 1962 |
Nicholas Winton Jr.
Nicholas Winton Jr., also known as Nick Winton, was the couple’s eldest child.
He has been associated with efforts to preserve and explain his father’s humanitarian legacy.
Barbara Winton
Barbara Winton was born in 1953.
She became a writer and authored If It’s Not Impossible… The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton, a biography documenting her father’s extraordinary story.
Barbara died in September 2022.
Her work remains an important source for understanding Nicholas Winton’s life and humanitarian achievements.
Robin Winton
Robin was the youngest child of Grete and Nicholas.
He was born in 1956 and had Down syndrome.
At a time when institutional care was commonly recommended for children with disabilities, Grete and Nicholas chose to raise Robin at home.
He died from meningitis in 1962, shortly before his sixth birthday.
His death was a devastating loss for the family.
Grete Winton and Her Family’s Disability Advocacy
Robin’s life and death had a lasting effect on his parents.
Nicholas became involved in establishing local support for people with learning disabilities and their families.
His work contributed to the development of the Maidenhead branch of what is now known as Mencap.
Grete shared the family experiences that shaped this commitment.
However, the specific organizational roles she personally held are not extensively documented.
What Is Mencap?
Mencap is a British charity supporting people with learning disabilities and their families.
Its work includes advocacy, services, public education, and promoting equal opportunities.
Nicholas’s involvement with disability support became an important part of his later humanitarian activities.
Grete Winton’s Family Life in Maidenhead
Grete and Nicholas settled in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in 1950.
They raised their children there and became associated with the local community.
Nicholas worked in finance and participated in charitable organizations.
The family experienced the ordinary responsibilities of raising children alongside the unusual circumstances of Nicholas’s wartime history.
Their home later became significant because it was where Grete rediscovered the rescue documents.
Was Grete Winton a Public Celebrity?
No.
Grete did not build a career around celebrity appearances or entertainment publicity.
Her historical importance comes from her family life and her role in bringing Nicholas’s rescue records to attention.
Grete Winton’s Death
Grete Winton died on August 28, 1999, in Berkshire, England.
She was born on December 21, 1919, making her 79 years old at the time of her death.
Her marriage to Nicholas lasted from October 1948 until her death, almost 51 years.
What Was Grete Winton’s Cause of Death?
Her specific cause of death is not consistently documented in major historical accounts.
It would be inappropriate to assign a medical condition without reliable evidence.
Did Nicholas Winton Remarry?
Nicholas did not remarry after Grete’s death.
He died on July 1, 2015, at the age of 106.
Nicholas Winton’s Recognition After Grete’s Discovery
The rediscovery of the scrapbook helped increase public recognition of Nicholas Winton’s work.
He received numerous honors for his humanitarian achievements.
These included a knighthood in 2003 and the Czech Republic’s Order of the White Lion in 2014.
He also received recognition from organizations devoted to Holocaust remembrance and humanitarian work.
Grete died before some of these later honors were awarded, but she lived to see his rescue story receive significant international attention.
Grete Winton’s Life Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1919 | Born on December 21 in Vejle, Denmark |
| 1939 | Nicholas helped rescue 669 children, before meeting Grete |
| 1948 | Married Nicholas Winton on October 31 in Vejle |
| 1950 | Couple settled in Maidenhead |
| 1952 | Son Nicholas Jr. was born |
| 1953 | Daughter Barbara was born |
| 1956 | Son Robin was born |
| 1962 | Robin died of meningitis |
| 1988 | Grete discovered Nicholas’s rescue scrapbook |
| 1988 | Nicholas’s story gained attention through That’s Life! |
| 1999 | Grete died on August 28, aged 79 |
| 2003 | Nicholas was knighted |
| 2015 | Nicholas died at age 106 |
| 2022 | Daughter Barbara died |
Grete Winton in Films and Documentaries
Nicholas Winton’s rescue efforts have inspired several documentaries and dramatic productions.
Grete’s role in discovering the records is part of the larger historical story.
The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton
The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton is a 2002 documentary exploring Nicholas’s rescue efforts.
The film helped introduce his story to international audiences.
Grete is included in its historical and biographical context.
Nicky’s Family
Nicky’s Family is a 2011 documentary directed by Matej Mináč.
It examines Nicholas’s rescue operation and the lives affected by it.
One Life
One Life is a biographical drama starring Anthony Hopkins as the older Nicholas Winton.
The film explores his efforts to rescue children and the later recognition of his work.
It also depicts the importance of his family in the rediscovery of the rescue story.
Grete Winton’s Legacy
Grete’s most widely recognized historical contribution was discovering the scrapbook that helped bring Nicholas Winton’s rescue work to public attention.
Her role demonstrates the importance of preserving historical records.
Without documents, photographs, and personal correspondence, important events can remain unknown to later generations.
Her discovery helped connect survivors, families, historians, and the wider public with an extraordinary humanitarian achievement.
Grete’s life also included her experiences as a mother, wife, and member of the Maidenhead community.
The tragedy of losing Robin shaped the family’s understanding of disability and support.
Together, these experiences form a fuller picture of her life beyond her husband’s fame.
Common Misconceptions About Grete Winton
| Claim | Historical facts |
|---|---|
| Grete helped organize the 1939 rescue | She met Nicholas after the war |
| She was born in Britain | She was born in Denmark |
| Her birth date is unknown | Records identify December 21, 1919 |
| She married Nicholas in 1939 | They married in 1948 |
| She had two children | The couple had three children |
| Nicholas’s rescue was famous immediately | It became widely known decades later |
| Grete discovered the scrapbook after Nicholas died | She found it in 1988, while he was alive |
| Grete lived to see Nicholas knighted | She died in 1999; he was knighted in 2003 |
| Nicholas died before Grete | Grete died in 1999; Nicholas died in 2015 |
Final Thoughts
Grete Winton was far more than the wife of a famous humanitarian.
Born in Denmark in 1919, she married Nicholas Winton in 1948 and shared almost 51 years of marriage with him.
They raised three children and experienced both family happiness and the heartbreaking loss of their youngest son, Robin.
In 1988, Grete discovered documents that helped reveal the extraordinary story of Nicholas’s rescue of 669 children from Nazi persecution.
Her discovery became a turning point in the public recognition of his humanitarian work.
Grete died in 1999 at the age of 79, but her contribution to preserving an important chapter of Holocaust history remains significant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grete Winton
1. Who was Grete Winton?
Grete Winton was the Danish-born wife of Sir Nicholas Winton, the British humanitarian who helped rescue 669 children from Nazi persecution.
2. What was Grete Winton’s maiden name?
Her maiden name was Grete Gjelstrup.
3. When was Grete Winton born?
She was born on December 21, 1919.
4. Where was Grete Winton born?
She was born in Vejle, Denmark.
5. Who was Grete Winton’s husband?
Her husband was Sir Nicholas Winton.
6. When did Grete marry Nicholas Winton?
They married on October 31, 1948.
7. How many children did Grete Winton have?
She had three children: Nicholas Jr., Barbara, and Robin.
8. Who was Barbara Winton?
Barbara was Grete and Nicholas’s daughter and the author of a biography about her father.
9. What happened to Grete Winton’s son Robin?
Robin died of meningitis in 1962, shortly before his sixth birthday.
10. What did Grete Winton discover in 1988?
She discovered a scrapbook containing records of the children Nicholas had helped rescue in 1939.
11. Did Grete Winton help rescue children during World War II?
She was not part of Nicholas’s original 1939 rescue operation, which took place before they met.
12. When did Grete Winton die?
She died on August 28, 1999.
13. How old was Grete Winton when she died?
She was 79 years old.
14. Did Nicholas Winton remarry after Grete’s death?
No. He remained unmarried until his death in 2015.
15. Why is Grete Winton remembered?
She is remembered for her marriage to Nicholas Winton, their family life, and especially her discovery of documents that helped reveal his historic rescue operation.
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