Welcome
Welcome to the official website for the Basque Children of '37 Association UK!
In 1937, during the Spanish civil war, a group of almost 4,000 children were evacuated from Bilbao in the Basque region of Spain. They embarked from Santurce, Bilbao, on the ‘Habana’ on Friday 21st May and dropped anchor at Fawley, at the entrance to Southampton Water, on Saturday evening. The following morning, Sunday 23rd, they docked at Southampton.
Our main aim is to remember and preserve the story of these children, the niños vascos, in its proper historical context.
Through this website you will be able to find a wealth of historical information about the Basque children, including information about the different colonies the children were sent to. You will also find our newsletters, forms for joining the Association.
See information about current events below, and past events here.
To find out more about the Association, go here
To contact us, go here
We hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to hearing from you!
Latest News, Coming Soon and Current Events
Saturday, 26th Februaury 2012
Our AGM twill be held at Consejería de trabajo e inmigración, 52 Peel Street, London
Followed by lunch at Sugo's, Notting Hill Gate.
75th ANNIVERSARY EVENT
12th and 13th May 2012
at Southampton University
The Basque Children of '37 Association together with the University of Southampton are producing a two day event to commemorate the arrival at Southampton of the Habana carrying its cargo of 4,000 children evacuated from the Basque port of Bilbao during the Spanish Civil War.
Saturday 12th will be centred on the Niños de la Guerra (Children of the War) and will include speeches by attending dignitaries, an exhibition, a meal and entertainment.
Sunday 13th will be a series of events including talks, discussion and an exhibition, organised by Southampton University.
People will be able to attend either or both days.
More details will be publicised here as they become available.
To register a preliminary interest in attending (no commitment), please contact our secretary Natalia Banjamin on secretary@basquechildren.org
Monday, 12th December 2011 at 6.30pm
"Hear voices from a distance": The news, Niños Vascos and Brigadistas in south east London
Speaker: Andy Brockman.
Marx Memorial Libraray. Entrance £2.50 or £1 concessionary rate.
For more information follow this link http://www.marx-memorial-library.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=3
Until 23rd December 2011
The musical "Goodbye Barcelona"
Arcola Theatre London.
For more information follow this link;
15th October 2011 at 2.30 pm
BC'37A UK Annual Lecture
Nick Rankin (writer and broadcaster, author of Telegram from Guernica will give a lecture entitled "George Steer, the War in the Basque country and the Basque refugee children"
To be held at Kensington and Chelsea Library Lecture theatre, Philmore Walk, London W8 7RX (nearest tube: High Street Kensington).
Spaces are limited, so if you intend to come, please contact Secretary Natalia Benjamin on 01865 459744, or, secretary@basquechildren.org
Entry is free, but we would ask you, please, to make a donation of £3.00 towards our costs.
Our award winning documentary "The Children of Guernica" by Steve Bowles and our book 
“Recuerdos” edited by Natalia Benjamin, will both be available for sale at £15 each , cash only.
Latest articles:
- The Inaugural lecture of the "BC'37A UK Annual Lectures", was given by Dr Tom Buchanan of Oxford University on 3rd October 2009 entitled " The Basque Refugee Children in Britain 1937 -1939; Personal Memory and Public History". A transcript is now available.
Comments and corrections to webmaster@basquechildren.org
Website last updated 28-09-2011