Retford: Anne Frank’s stepsister Eva Schloss and former Dambuster Johnny Johnson both coming to town

On Wednesday, 7th May, 84 year old Eva Schloss, MBE, will be giving an inspiring and thought-provoking talk about her life.

Eva is the stepsister of Anne Frank, one of the last Auschwitz survivors, a bestselling author, and an in-demand speaker who since January has appeared at sell-out talks across America, Holland and South Africa.

She will talk about her childhood, her family’s time in hiding, their betrayal to the Nazis, her time in Auschwitz where her father and brother perished, Anne Frank and how she re-built her life, going on to marry and have three beautiful daughters.

During her time spent locally she is also meeting and giving a short talk to some of the pupils at Tuxford Academy.

Following on from Eva, and back by popular demand, is local Dambuster hero, 92 year old George ‘Johnny’ Johnson DFM, who is giving his only UK talk at Retford Town Hall on Friday, 23rd May to promote his memoir The Last British Dambuster, which is out on 8th May.

Johnny will talk about his life and the famous Dambusters raid during which 53 friends and colleagues died and their legacy.

He will also be joined on stage by other special guests including later members of 617 Squadron who sank the mighty Tirpitz battleship.

Johnny came to Tuxford last October and received such a warm welcome he said at the time he would love to come back again when his book was published.

Both Johnny and Eric Quinney (who flew a Lancaster bomber in the 1955 movie The Dam Busters movie) will be at Storytellers bookshop in Tuxford on Saturday, 24th May for a few hours around dinner time signing copies of his memoir.

Tickets for both events are priced at £12 each for adults and £6 for children (16 or under) and can be purchased or collected at Storytellers on Eldon Street, or Gosh gallery next door.