The arc/ark of the years

Just about a week ago I 'found' a very old friend who I last saw at the age of 15 when she left my school and moved away. I've often regretted losing touch and have tried several times to find her, via the Internet. Suddenly, I did, in a matter of only a few steps and an intermediary contact, and within a day I received a long email from her. Since them we have been recapitulating our lives for one another.
(In this portion of a school photo I am third and she is fourth from the left.)

I knew her father had been a refugee but hadn't been aware that he had arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport, the trains organised by well-wishers that brought over-600 unaccompanied Jewish children out of Europe in the run-up to WW2 - until Germany closed the borders in 1940.

My long-lost friend has had a full and varied life as an artist, support worker, counsellor and now a grandmother. Her father was one of 10,000 children who were given a haven in Britain, in private homes or hostels adminstered by Jewish, Quaker and other charitable organisations. Many never saw their families again and several thousand remained here to make substantial contributions on all levels of society. One of them was Alfred Dubs, who became an MP and later a life peer. Last year he sponsored an amendment to the Immigration Act to allow unaccompanied children from the refugee camps in Europe safe passage to Britain. It was anticipated that 3000 could be relocated here. However a statement from the Home Office  today reveals the scheme is to be closed down after the entry of only 350 under-18s because no more can be accommodated. It's shocking that so many vulnerable young people are being abandoned to live unsupported in impoverished conditions in camps or on the streets of Europe where they will be vulnerable to criminal exploitation and trafficking. There's a grim irony in the fact that our rigorous child protection legislation makes the placement of  young people such as these so challenging that they end up being abandoned to whatever fate befalls them.

If you feel as strongly as I do please sign the petition.