Published: June 3, 2009
Cherie Blair meets Frank Foley committee during plaque unveiling

Cherie Blair, the wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, met members of Highbridge's Frank Foley committee this week during the unveiling of a brand new plaque in memory of the wartime hero.

Reverend Robin Lodge and seven other members of Highbridge's Southwell Gardens Memorial Trust attended a special ceremony at the Sternberg Centre in Finchley, North London, on Sunday (May 31st).

Pam Lyes, the secretary of the commitee, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "Cherie was wonderful and spoke to us at length about the story behind the Frank Foley statue in Highbridge."

"During the plaque unveiling, she also spoke about how religious divisions should be put aside and explained why people should live together as one united community."

Among the 80 people at the ceremony was movie producer Timothy Haas, who has recently begun work on creating a new blockbuster film about the life of Frank Foley.

The new plaque honours Highbridge-born Frank Foley, who was employed as a Passport Control Officer in Berlin from 1920 until 1939. In his role, he was able to help hundreds of Jews escape from Nazi Germany before the outbreak of World War Two. He had no diplomatic immunity and put himself at great risk by helping others.

The Sternberg Centre was founded to help a number of Reform and Liberal Jewish institutions. Opened in 1981, it is named after Sir Sigmund Sternberg, a British philanthropist and businessman, who was born in Hungary, a member of the Jewish community, and emigrated to Britain in 1939.

Lord Janner and Cherie Blair with several members of Highbridge's Frank Foley Committee at Sunday's event

The new plaque unveiled at this week's ceremony in memory of Frank Foley

Cherie Blair met John Curtis and his grandson during the event

Movie producer Timothy Haas (centre) with John Curtis and his grandson, Frank Foley committee Secretary Pam Lyes, Treasurer Phil Lyes, Rev Robin Lodge, Shirley Adams, Rosemary Parsons, Ray Reddish, Joyce Curtis and Joyce Beard

Cherie Blair with John Curtis and Lord Janner at Sunday's plaque unveiling