James Foucar is world-renowned problem solver, counsellor and advocate. His exceptional communications skills mean he is regularly in demand as a speaker, writer and broadcaster.
He works for the leading global specialty insurer and reinsurer based in London.
Born in London, England of Huguenot and English (Anglo-Saxon) ancestry, he was educated at Millfield and the Open University, and is a former member of MENSA and Intertel, the high IQ societies (with an IQ that puts him above 99.6% of the population). He is a graduate of the Hoffman Process. He is an active member of the Merton Adult Dyslexia Support group (part of Merton & South West London Dyslexia Association). He serves as a Trustee (Director) of Boarding Concern.
In May 2003, whilst waiting for an evening event to start at London’s Imperial War Museum, Lena (born Helena Bankier in Warsaw, Poland), Britain’s longest imprisoned Auschwitz survivor, spoke to him of her past.
Lena and James met regularly and shared their stories. She told him the story of Maria Kotarba, her fellow Auschwitz prisoner who repeatedly saved her life in that camp. Lena also told him about her unsuccessful attempt to get Maria recognised as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Inspired by his childhood experiences, James promised to get Maria recognised and to write up their incredible story. After further setbacks, James visited Yad Vashem in 2005 to present the case for Maria.
Lena heard in December 2005 that Yad Vashem recognised Maria as one of the Righteous.
In October 2006, Maria’s niece visited London to collect Maria’s honorary diploma and medal from the Israeli Ambassador. James organised the ceremony, assisted by Yad Vashem UK and hosted at the Polish Embassy.
James is now writing the book, with the working title of "Hold On - the true story of the Angels of Auschwitz".
More information below "Latest News"...
Having hit a writing wall, I looked for "non-fiction writing" books on Amazon.
I found a book by Canadian writer Paul Lima entitled "How To Write A Non-Fiction Book in 60 Days" - this is a wonderful little book containing a straight-forward system to produce a solid first draft in 60 days. All I need to do now is complete all my research. A great book, highly recommended.
| Exam Date | Version | Exam Level | Subject Area | Candidate Number | Name | Surname | Trained By | Result |
| 20/2/2009 | 3 | Foundation | ITIL/***947 | James | Foucar | DATRIX | Pass |
Yad Vashem now recognise Wilm Hosenfeld, who aided Władysław Szpilman in Warsaw, as one of the Righteous Among the Nations. This story became the Oscar-winning motion picture, "The Pianist." A difficult case that Yad Vashem had previously rejected. Congratulations to all those involved for their perseverance.
Season's Greeting to all visitors. I am finishing the rough draft of "Hold On!" over the holiday period and plan to send it to members of Lena and Maria's families early in the New Year.
James passed his Lloyd's & London Market Introductory Test.
Yad Vashem have revamped their Righteous pages on their website: http://www1.yadvashem.org/righteous_new/index.html. I am so glad as the additional information will be very useful to those pursuing Righteous cases today. (If only I had this information in 2003-2005!)
Yad Vashem UK invited me to their annual Yom HaShoah commemoration in London. This year, the theme is remembering the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. My thanks to all the participants for such a moving and memorable service.
I am in Israel, staying in Tel Aviv and meeting again with Lena's sister Guta and their friend Henia. This is my first visit to Israel since 2005. I have meetings at Yad Vashem and discuss Maria's case. Guta loaned me some photographs from her collection that I will use in the book. She also introduced me to "Here There is No Why", a Holocaust memoir by Rachel Chencinski Roth.
Whilst visiting Yad Vashem, I took some photos of Maria's name, inscribed on the Polish wall in the Garden of the Righteous.
You can find some photos of my visit here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jfoucar/KLAuschwitzBirkenauVisit
Maria's Diploma and Medal from Yad Vashem: http://picasaweb.google.com/jfoucar/MariaKotarbaYadVashemDiplomaAndMedal
UK & PL news media coverage of the story:
The Righteous ceremony for Maria Kotarba: http://picasaweb.google.com/jfoucar/MariaKotarbaRighteousCeremony
At a very moving ceremony on 24 October 2006 at the Polish Embassy in London, the family of Maria Kotarba 'Righteous Among the Nations' received the medal and diploma from His Excellency the Israeli Ambassador on behalf of the State of Israel and Yad Vashem.
Here is the ceremony programme:
and here is my Testimony of Appreciation:
Yad Vashem recognised Maria Kotarba as one of the 'Righteous among the Nations' on 18 September 2005 and they notified the Rescued on 8 December 2005: http://www1.yadvashem.org/righteous_new/index.html (Please note: Maria was betrayed and then arrested - she was never "caught" as such.)
Here are the two letters from Yad Vashem, notifying the parties
of their decision:
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This page was last updated on
15 March 2009.