Help me to publish my Dad’s autobiography

MY name is Peggy Toon (nee Lewinsohn). I am the eldest daughter of Eric Lewinsohn.

My father and his family escaped from Berlin and Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime in 1938. My father entered England as a refugee in 1939.

His parents were murdered in Auschwitz.

My father moved from London to Hinckley in 1941 and remained a resident of the town until his death in March 2006.

After he retired from the workforce, my father became an accredited teacher and taught German both privately and in colleges.

He became a student at the University of Leicester, first gaining an honours degree and later achieving a masters degree in philosophy. His chosen area of study was the Holocaust.

He became quite involved with various schools and community gatherings in Hinckley and Leicestershire, giving talks and educating people about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Both the Leicester Mercury and the Hinckley Times printed several articles about my father and his achievements during his later life.

I am sure that you are by now wondering why I am writing to you, as it is 16 years since my father passed away, so I will now explain my quest – and request.

In 1982, my father began to write his autobiography.

I do not know whether he finished it or not as I do not have the autobiographical end of his story and I have not been able to source this.

If anyone out there knows if Dad finished his story or has a copy of the end, then I would love for them to contact me.

I know that several people helped Dad when he was writing his autobiography, including Theresa (who typed his manuscript), Ann (a teacher of Dad’s), and Cosi.

Unfortunately, I do not know the surnames of these people.

Dad desperately wanted to have his autobiography published, but this did not happen.

I intend to have his story published as a mark of my love and respect for my father and also because I am proud of him and his achievements.

It would be great if I were able to source the latter part of Dad’s story, if he wrote it down.

When I get the book published, I intend to include memories/testimonials and so on from people who knew Dad, particularly people who feel that they gained something from their interactions with him.

As I live in Australia (I emigrated here in 1972) I do not know, and am unable to source, many of Dad’s friends, colleagues, students and so on.

I am asking if you would print this letter in the Leicester Mercury, and that I would appreciate it if people who knew Dad would contact me, even if they do not want their memories to be included in the publication.

Obviously, I hope that people will be willing to write a testimonial for inclusion in the publication.

But this is not essential. I want to learn as much as I can about Dad’s interaction with, and influence upon, as many people as possible.

I request that people communicate with me as soon as possible and definitely before the end of October.

I can be reached via e-mail at: peggylewinsohn@gmail.com My postal details are as follows: Peggy Toon, 3 Fernilee Court, Onkaparinga Hills, South Australia, 5163