Gerd Ledermann

In May 2016 Gerd Ledermann, a Jew, a Kindertransport survivor of the Nazi holocaust, was laid to rest in a Buddhist ceremony on a Welsh hillside. Eulogies from friends around the world were read, celebrating his character and his unique life.

Although a year has passed, my feelings of missing Gerd are not getting easier. He was everything to me: teacher, friend, soulmate, even parent and a very loving, kind husband to me and father to Lea. Each day everything reminds me of him, and I often find myself talking about him to friends and family, about places, philosophy, religion, travels and much more. I learned a lot from him and still feel I didn’t make enough effort to learn more about everything! When we first met I used to listen to hours of him talking, as it was interesting and he always praised me for being a good listener. Despite the big difference in our ages and background, we got on very well, often thinking about the same things: we might say “That’s funny! I am thinking about that too……” He was a person who could manage “simple living and higher thinking”. May he truly rest in peace.

Lakpa Doma Sherpa (Kamala) November 2017

Timeline

1928 Born in Bad Salzbrunn, Silesia, South Eastern Germany, near the Czech border (the town is today Szczawno-Zdrój, in Poland)

1933 Hitler comes to power in Germany

1939 Gerd leaves Germany on the Kindertransport He is taken in by the Green Family, Glasgow, the family evacuate to Ayr during the Blitz1940

Sent to live at The Garnethill Hostel for Jewish refuges, 125, Hill Street, Glasgow1950

Leaves Britain for Israel, by bicycle1955

Leaves Israel, crosses Europe by bicycle continuing through Scandinavia to Lapland1956 – 60

Based in Canada, travelling extensively in the USA and Mexico. Meets Ilse in San Diego, 19581960

Based at Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico Marriage to Ilse Homeymoon exploring the Baja California Journey to the Yucatan Peninsula Studies at the Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende in Central Mexico

1961 Travels in Mexico, Central and South America Crossing the Pacific and arrival in Australia Electrification project in the Indus Valley, West Pakistan

1962 Visit to the Mir of Hunza Sets off on a drive from London to Singapore across Eastern Europe and Iran

1963 & 1964 Exploring India, Nepal and Sri Lanka Time spent in Indian ashrams Boat from Singapore to Darwin, and overland Perth to Sydney

1964 – 1977 Creates Shalom, a self-sufficient farm and retreat in Queensland Travels in South East Asia

1977 Leaves Australia Travels in Israel

1978 Works in Tehran,

Iran 1979 – 1985 Ockenden Venture, England and Wales Interludes in India, Israel and New York

1985 Journeys by rail from London to Hong Kong through Siberia Overland through China and Tibet to Nepal

1986 Around the World journey India, Israel, UK, USA and Japan Settles in Nepal

1987 Travels again to Tibet Journey into the Himalayas from Namche Bazaar Buys ‘Shanti’, a barren 10 acre hillside near Kaule Thana village 16 miles north of Kathmandu

1987 - 1990 Establishing Shanti Visits to India, Bangladesh, Australia, and the UK Meets Kamala in Junbesi village in the Himalayas.

1990 - 1994 Develops Shanti and works to restore local school, Shree Kaule Devee Kamala joins Gerd at Shanti Kamala works as a volunteer for Ockenden, UK Tours Israel with Kamala With his oldest friend, Gerda, returns to their childhood village, now in Poland Kamala returns to Nepal to care for refugees Takes part in a peace pilgrimage through Bosnia Travels to Vietnam

1994 - 2004 Extensive travels in the USA, Asia and Australia with Kamala 1998 marries Kamala in Australia 15 September 1999 Lea Doma born Leave Nepal during the Maoist insurgency, travel in India and UK. Settles in Harlech, Wales.

2004 - 2010 Travels in India, USA, Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe Cycles from Harlech to Glasgow with Lea (9) and Kamala 2009 attempt to re-settle in Nepal Walks the Annapurna Circuit, Nepal, with Lea and Kamala Leaves Nepal amid Maoist threats

2010 - 2016 Settles back in Harlech Lea attends school in Harlech Shanti placed in a Trust Passes on 5 May 2016, Criccieth, Wales Buried at the Hermitage of the Awakened Heart, Ynys Graianog, North Wales.