Welcome
Welcome to the official website for the Basque Children of '37 Association UK!
In 1937, during the Spanish civil war, a group of almost 4,000 children were evacuated from Bilbao in the Basque region of Spain. They embarked from Santurce, Bilbao, on the ‘Habana’ on Friday 21st May and dropped anchor at Fawley, at the entrance to Southampton Water, on Saturday evening. The following morning, Sunday 23rd, they docked at Southampton.
Our main aim is to remember and preserve the story of these children, the niños vascos, in its proper historical context.
Through this website you will be able to find a wealth of historical information about the Basque children, including information about the different colonies the children were sent to. You will also find our newsletters, forms for joining the Association.
See information about current events below, and past events here.
To find out more about the Association, go here
To contact us, go here
We hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to hearing from you!
Latest News, Coming Soon and Current Events
Thursday, 24th May 2012, Santurce
75th anniversary commemoration for Niños de la Guerra
Our counterpart in Bilbao, Niños Vascos Evacuados del ’37, will be holding an anniverary lunch in Santurce on 24 May, and niños are cordially invited to attend. It starts at 12.00pm in the Casa Palacio del Marques de Casa Torre, with a reception from the authorities and distinguished guests. At 2.30 there is the lunch at the Palacio Oriol, also in Santurce. The cost is 43.20 euros. Those wanting to go should contact the President, José Vicente Cañada on 0034 944 442 745 telefax: 0034 944 442 745,
or email itxura.bil@euskalnet.net or itxura.jvc@euskalnet.net
75th ANNIVERSARY EVENT
12th and 13th May 2012
at Southampton University
The Basque Children of '37 Association UK together with the University of Southampton produced a two-day event to commemorate the arrival at Southampton of the Habana carrying its cargo of 4,000 children evacuated from the Basque port of Bilbao during the Spanish Civil War.
PRESS COVERAGE OF THE EVENT
www.youtube.com/watch by Basque Government
ENGLISH
12 May Basque Government (also in Spanish and Basque) - videos, photos, report and speech by Idoia Mendia, spokesperson of Basque Government
12 May Meridian News/ITV - video and article
www.itv.com/news/meridian/2012-05-12/basque-children-return/
12 May BBC - article
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18045100
11 May The Guardian -article
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/11/forgotten-children-spain-civil-war
7 May El País - article in English
elpais.com/elpais/2012/04/26/inenglish/1335442794_068867.html
25 March The Guardian - article
www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/25/basque-children-civil-war-refugees-reunion
CASTELLANO
12 mayo Gobierno Vasco - videos, fotos, reportage e intervención de Idoia Menida, portavoz del gobierno vasco
17 mayo El Correo - reportage
www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20120517/guipuzcoa/kezka-vivio-emocion-ninos-20120517.html
12 mayo El Imparcial - articulo
www.elimparcial.es/sociedad/los-ninos-vascos-104127.html
12 mayo El ABC- artículo
www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp
12 mayo El Diario Vasco - reportage
www.diariovasco.com/v/20120514/politica/homenajean-southampton-ninos-guerra-20120514.html
EUSKARA
www.dantzan.com/blogak/kezka/southamptonera
PLEASE LET US KNOW OF ANY PRESS COVERAGE THAT WE HAVEN'T ENTERED HERE
Saturday 12th was centred on the Niños de la Guerra (Children of the War) and included speeches by attending dignitaries, exhibitions, anniversary lunch and entertainment by the folk duo na-mara and Kezka Dantza Taldea throughout the day
Sunday 13th event was entitled When History meets Memory and the Arts: the story of the Spanish Civil War evacuees in film. It included talks by Carlos Iglesias, Steve Bowles, Luis Argeo, Izaskun Arandia and Matt Richards, discussions, and an exhibition organised by Southampton University. More information - www.southampton.ac.uk/humanities/news/events/2012/05/13_spanish_civil_war_evacuees_film.page
In a few weeks we will be setting up a 75th Anniversary page, accessible from the menu on the left
It will contain:
- transcripts of most of the speeches in both English and Spanish.
(Note Speech by Idoia Mendia (Basque Govt Spokesperson and Minister of Justice) is already available on irekia.euskadi links given above)
- links to film made on the day
- collection of comments received by mail and email from those attending - keep them coming, good and bad
- photos of the events and, if we can work out how to do it, how to add your photos!
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Saturday, 21st April 2012, Oxford
The first event in the Association's commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the niños' arrival to UK, was a day school organised by Dr Tom Buchanan
This day school marked the 75th anniversary of the arrival of almost 4000 Basque refugee children in Britain, fleeing Franco's offensive against the Basque country during the Spanish Civil War. The day examined topics such as the reasons for the children's evacuation and their experiences while in Britain, and placed this episode within the wider context of British responses to refugees from fascist persecution in the later 1930s. The day was organised in association with the "Basque Children of '37 Association".
We hope that transcripts or summaries of the talks given at this excellent event will be available soon.
Saturday, 25th February 2012, 12.00pm
Our AGM was held at the Consejería de trabajo e inmigración, 52 Peel Street, London
Followed by lunch at Sugo's, Notting Hill Gate W8 7PD
Monday, 12th December 2011 at 6.30pm
"Hear voices from a distance": The news, Niños Vascos and Brigadistas in south east London
Speaker: Andy Brockman.
Marx Memorial Libraray. Entrance £2.50 or £1 concessionary rate.
For more information follow this link http://www.marx-memorial-library.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=3
Until 23rd December 2011
The musical "Goodbye Barcelona"
Arcola Theatre London.
For more information follow this link;
15th October 2011 at 2.30 pm
BC'37A UK Annual Lecture
Nick Rankin (writer and broadcaster, author of Telegram from Guernica will give a lecture entitled "George Steer, the War in the Basque country and the Basque refugee children"
To be held at Kensington and Chelsea Library Lecture theatre, Philmore Walk, London W8 7RX (nearest tube: High Street Kensington).
Spaces are limited, so if you intend to come, please contact Secretary Natalia Benjamin on 01865 459744, or, secretary@basquechildren.org
Entry is free, but we would ask you, please, to make a donation of £3.00 towards our costs.
Our award winning documentary "The Children of Guernica" by Steve Bowles and our book 
“Recuerdos” edited by Natalia Benjamin, will both be available for sale at £15 each , cash only.
Latest articles:
- The Inaugural lecture of the "BC'37A UK Annual Lectures", was given by Dr Tom Buchanan of Oxford University on 3rd October 2009 entitled " The Basque Refugee Children in Britain 1937 -1939; Personal Memory and Public History". A transcript is now available.
Comments and corrections to webmaster@basquechildren.org
Website last updated 17-05-2012