Hermann Hirschberger, a longstanding member of the AJR and former chairman of its Kindertransport Special Interest Group, has been awarded an MBE for services to the Jewish community and Kindertransport evacuees in the New Year’s Honours list.

Hermann, 84, originally from Karlsruhe, Germany, said he was ‘so proud to have been appreciated in this way.’

In 2008 Hermann won a long battle to secure a change in the pension law, enabling several hundred Kinder to receive improved annuities from the German government. In 2009 he oversaw the Kindertransport Questionnaire project, which broke new ground in recording the experiences and personal information of some 1,400 Kinder who fled to the UK.

AJR Chairman Andrew Kaufman said: ‘Everyone at AJR joins me in congratulating Hermann on this wonderful award, which is rightful recognition of his dedication and determination to help others and to fight for justice. His efforts have improved the lives of so many people and, like other refugees who fled from Nazi oppression, he has made an invaluable contribution to life in Britain.’