Description
Discover the remarkable story of Jewish teenage twins who fled to Bradford from Nazi Germany in this poignant talk, which includes a short film.
The story of Fritz and Hans Toczek, who took the names Fred and John after settling in England, is told in a nine-minute film called Tvins. This was researched and co-produced by John’s eldest son, Nick. In 1938, sent by their father, the teenage twins left their Cologne hometown for the UK to escape growing anti-Semitism, eventually settling in Bradford. Both secured places at Bradford College to study textiles.
Their path to freedom wasn’t easy. As ‘enemy aliens’ they were interned in the Isle of Man, then sent to Canada, before eventually returning to Bradford.
The twins have since died, and this moving film is told through the eyes of their children. This fascinating talk by writer, Nick Toczek, will also discuss Bradford’s rich immigrant heritage and how he explored his Jewish family history in the city.
About the Author
Nick Toczek
Born in Shipley in 1950, Nick Toczek now lives less than four miles away in Greengates. As a Bradford writer and performer, he’s published around sixty books, released numerous albums of music and spoken word, and has worked in more than forty countries. He writes every day and this work has been his privilege and full-time living for more than half a century. He’s married to Gaynor. They’ve two grown children and two grandchildren. Life’s been kind to him. He’s a happy man. Not many of us get to turn a hobby into a lifelong job.
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