OPTICIAN CATCHES CAMERON’S EYE
A retired optician who wanted to give something back to the charity that saved him from the Nazis has been honoured with a Point of Light award from David Cameron, recognising “outstanding volunteers”.
Now 83, retired optician Harry Heber was seven years old when he was brought to Britain from Austria by World Jewish Relief, when it was known as the Central British Fund.
In thanks — and “to do something for people who are in similar situations to where I was in 1938” — the St John’s Wood resident has collected 50,000 pairs of prescription glasses for WJR clients in 15 countries.
“I was nearing retirement in 1997 when I found out that it was WJR who implemented the Kindertransport,” he said.
“When I heard they wanted volunteers, I immediately applied. Then I found out that they wanted to send old reading glasses to communities, and I thought: ‘I can do better than that.’
“I organised proper eye testing and getting prescription glasses to people, rather than just second-hand reading glasses.”
Mr Heber professed himself “a bit surprised, but very pleased to have been given this award”.
Mr Cameron said that “Harry has selflessly dedicated himself to supporting World Jewish Relief, the organisation that was there for him when he was a child in danger. Thanks to his incredible efforts setting up and running WJR’s optical programme, over 50,000 pairs of glasses have reached people in desperate need.”
WJR chief executive Paul Anticoni added: “His selfless voluntary commitment to assist others to have the gift of good sight has been an inspiration to us all. There is no more worthy recipient of this fabulous award within our midst.”