In the last edition we promised to write about the Aris brothers having been asked about them by Sarah Dyer. They were two Jewish brothers who escaped from Nazi Germany in 1939 leaving their parents behind. Hans Helmut Aris was at school from1939-1943 and Ernst Gunter Aris from1939-1944.
Arthur Dyer was headmaster at the school during the 30s and 40s when the brothers were at the school. When his grand-daughter got in touch with us, she told us that her father David, recalled being in the room when the Aris boys spoke to their parents in Germany. Apparently the younger brother was so excited to speak that he accidently hung-up the phone and that was the last time they spoke to their parents.
We were last in contact with the Aris bothers in 2004 when Ernst wrote, "We came to England from East Prussia on January 6tb. 1939 by “Kindertransport” and under the auspices of foster parents, including A.C.Dyer. the then headmaster who guaranteed to take us in at the school. We were soon deposited at Lord Williams Grammar School, as boarders. It was very difficult at first, as we knew no English language, but we were soon made to feel part of things there. Although I was far from being the best pupil at LWGS, the discipline, training and teaching stood me in good stead in later life. I shall always be grateful to my foster parents, 3 wonderful families in Long Crendon, and Mr. AC.Dyer, for giving my brother Helmut and me an excellent start in life, which our parents were unfortunately not able to do, because of Hitler. Helmut left school in 1943, and after due appraisal of my educational prowess, it was decided that I would not benefit from another year at LWGS, so I left there in 1944.
Having a great interest in motor cars, it was decided that Birmingham, the centre of the motor industry at that time, was for me. I began training as a motor mechanic, by day, and studied at Technical college 4 evenings a week and attained Higher National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering. I then went into engineering and worked my way up to become Works Director in a small engineering company employing about 200 people. I retired in October 1993 when I was 65.
Helmut will be 77 in August and I will be 76 in October. We have attended several reunions of the Old Tamensians over the years, but both feel that our contemporaries are fast fading away! And so we will not be attending any more. The above is a short summary of my life in this country to date, which you may wish to print. I send my best wishes to all.
While we haven't been in direct contact, we know that both are still alive: Ernst is living in the Midlands and Helmut near Cheltenham.
Back to Sarah Dyer: her father David Dyer moved to Australia (and this is where she writes from as she now lives in Melbourne) and he too became an educationist and was principal of schools in Victoria (he is now 88.)
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