Milada Němcová, the last of the three original trustees of VELEHRAD London died at St Teresa’s Care Home: Under the shelter of the Spanish Sisters with devoted carers and nurses from Poland, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Spain Somalia, Ethiopia, Chile, Africa and UK. Her grandson Marc was with her the past days.
While a girl at the Convent of Svatý Karel Boromajky in Česky Budějovice. Milada witnessed the nighttime invasion by Hitler.
The girls woke to see Swastika flags draped across the town windows.
Their courtyard kitchen garden was well concealed within the ancient walls. It was not revealed to the invaders. Skills harvested food for years of survival. Cooing pigeons nesting in the eaves provided eggs. Bones from pigeon pies replicated the soups of the Middle Ages.
Under the guise of repairs brother Fr Vaclav plastered church treasure into the walls of village churches. He concealed baptismal records while issuing Certificates for escaping Jewish families hastily ‘converting’.
Milada married returning 2nd Lieutenant Jan Kuttelwascher from his years at the French front line fighting for his homeland. After only three days of courtship, at the tender age of 18 she accepted his proposal offering him her hand to shake which he kissed before jumping onto a departing train.
As the first wedding after the war surrounding villagers came with help. The Romanesque village church had a celebration archway of tank barrels. The ‘going away’ vehicle was a Tank with children clinging to every corner.
As a young family they escaped together when the Stalinist Government overran the country. With their wounded little daughter they crossed to safety after hours of nighttime driving through Bohemian forests only minutes ahead of the secret police.
With an enlarging CzSlvk emigré's community in London her skills were soon recognised by
Fr Jan Lang who enlisted her as the first female Trustee of Velehrad: With Count Josef Czernin this team now organised Velehrad at 22 Ladbroke Square.
Shoulder to Shoulder this threesome solved challenges for fellow emigré's. With expanding spiritual, social and cultural activities it grew into a formidable ‘Raft of Safety’ for fellow refugees during the decades of The Cold War: The first Czech School on the rooftop of the nearby Brompton Oratory Prep school preserved their CzSlvk traditions and values: Weekly Mass at Farm Street followed with gatherings shepherded by Fr Jan Lang. S.J.
This team lay the foundation for Velehrad which still stands today as testament to all who contributed. Creating a bulwark against the communist oppression that imprisoned their families and fellow countrymen behind the Iron Curtain. Velehrad doors were open to all faiths and all of no faiths.
With the demolishing of The Berlin Wall and self-destruction of Communism suppressed families were being reunited throughout the Soviet Socialist occupied lands.
As tribute to these Trustees of Velehrad we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder lest we forget that our Freedom was, and is Not Free
Milada ‘Babi ‘ Kuttelwscherova
Mother Grandmother & Great-grandmother
1925-2024
R. I. P.
While a girl at the Convent of Svatý Karel Boromajky in Česky Budějovice. Milada witnessed the nighttime invasion by Hitler.
The girls woke to see Swastika flags draped across the town windows.
Their courtyard kitchen garden was well concealed within the ancient walls. It was not revealed to the invaders. Skills harvested food for years of survival. Cooing pigeons nesting in the eaves provided eggs. Bones from pigeon pies replicated the soups of the Middle Ages.
Under the guise of repairs brother Fr Vaclav plastered church treasure into the walls of village churches. He concealed baptismal records while issuing Certificates for escaping Jewish families hastily ‘converting’.
Milada married returning 2nd Lieutenant Jan Kuttelwascher from his years at the French front line fighting for his homeland. After only three days of courtship, at the tender age of 18 she accepted his proposal offering him her hand to shake which he kissed before jumping onto a departing train.
As the first wedding after the war surrounding villagers came with help. The Romanesque village church had a celebration archway of tank barrels. The ‘going away’ vehicle was a Tank with children clinging to every corner.
As a young family they escaped together when the Stalinist Government overran the country. With their wounded little daughter they crossed to safety after hours of nighttime driving through Bohemian forests only minutes ahead of the secret police.
With an enlarging CzSlvk emigré's community in London her skills were soon recognised by
Fr Jan Lang who enlisted her as the first female Trustee of Velehrad: With Count Josef Czernin this team now organised Velehrad at 22 Ladbroke Square.
Shoulder to Shoulder this threesome solved challenges for fellow emigré's. With expanding spiritual, social and cultural activities it grew into a formidable ‘Raft of Safety’ for fellow refugees during the decades of The Cold War: The first Czech School on the rooftop of the nearby Brompton Oratory Prep school preserved their CzSlvk traditions and values: Weekly Mass at Farm Street followed with gatherings shepherded by Fr Jan Lang. S.J.
This team lay the foundation for Velehrad which still stands today as testament to all who contributed. Creating a bulwark against the communist oppression that imprisoned their families and fellow countrymen behind the Iron Curtain. Velehrad doors were open to all faiths and all of no faiths.
With the demolishing of The Berlin Wall and self-destruction of Communism suppressed families were being reunited throughout the Soviet Socialist occupied lands.
As tribute to these Trustees of Velehrad we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder lest we forget that our Freedom was, and is Not Free
Milada ‘Babi ‘ Kuttelwscherova
Mother Grandmother & Great-grandmother
1925-2024
R. I. P.
