The following is a synopsis of Milena Grenfell-Baines’ book which recounts her life before, during and after the Holocaust.
Milena was born Milena Fleischmann on 11 November 1929 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She lived, together with her father, stepmother and half-sister Eva, in the small, mainly Catholic village of Proseč. Living with her socialist-leaning grandparents, Milena was exposed to anti-Nazi ideology and recalls her father organising papers that would allow Thomas Mann, a renowned writer who had been cast out of Germany, to obtain honorary Czech citizenship.
At the age of seven, Milena and her family moved to Prague. There she excelled at sport and the arts at school. In March 1939 life changed when Milena’s father Rudolf was warned of his impending arrest for being both a Jew and a supporter of Thomas Mann. By two twists of fate, he was able to escape to safety in England.
In March 1939, after being baptised for ‘safety’, Milena and her sister Eva were sent on the last Kindertransport train to England, arranged by Nicholas Winton.
On arrival in England, Milena and her sister were met by Mr and Mrs Radcliffe who took them in as foster children for over a year, living in Ashton-under-Lyne near Manchester. The family were reunited when Milena’s mother arrived in 1940.
After the war, Milena and her family slowly found out the fate of their extended family members; some had been fortunate to survive, whilst many other relatives were murdered in concentration camps.
Following youthful adventures, Milena married George Grenfell-Baines, an established architect, in 1954. In addition to George’s two daughters, they went on to have a son and daughter. Milena devoted much time to organising performances and social occasions for established and rising stars of the classical music world. Her involvement with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra allowed opportunities for international travel, and in 2016 Milena was awarded an MBE for services to music.
In addition to running international cookery demonstrations, Milena was also involved with promoting Czech cuisine, culture and music. She also arranged for a Holocaust memorial in her childhood town.
In 1988 Milena’s life changed considerably when she was reunited with her Kindertransport saviour, Sir Nicholas Winton. This opened a new chapter of knowledge, reflection and ultimately Holocaust education, as Milena became acquainted with her roots and her journey to freedom.
Through music, art and education Milena has ensured that a part of the Czech Holocaust is not forgotten. She was proud to be depicted in the 2023 film ‘One Life’ starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as Sir Nicholas Winton. Through press interviews and television appearances, Milena has used her voice to promote knowledge of the Holocaust and its subsequent power to ensure that this dark period of history is not repeated.
