Panorama An English village revisits its Czech history: The Benes years in Buckinghamshire
During the Second World War, the former Czechoslovak President Edvard Benes and his government were in exile in England. Originally they were based in London, but in late 1940, due to the blitz, the President and his Cabinet moved to a small village called Aston Abbotts, in the southern English county of Buckinghamshire. In addition to the government personnel, Czech, Slovak and Ruthenian presidential guards also stayed in the village. President Benes and his wife, along with the entire Czech community of the time left a deep impression in Aston Abbots and sixty years later, the villagers and diplomats came together to celebrate this history. Kate Barrette was in Aston Abbots for the Czechoslovak memorial festival.
Edvard Benes
Back
