Grete Winton: The Full Story of Nicholas Winton’s Wife

Nicholas Winton is known as a hero who helped save 669 children from Nazi danger. His brave work saved many lives. But did you know that his wife also played an important part in bringing his story to the world?

Her name was Grete Winton. She lived a quiet life with her husband and children. She never tried to become famous. Yet one day, she found something in their home that helped the world learn about her husband’s past.

In this article, we will explore Grete Winton’s early life, family, career, and marriage. We will also learn about her children and the sad loss she faced. Her story is full of love, care, and history.

Grete Winton Quick Bio


Full Name	Grete Winton
Maiden Name	Grete Gjelstrup
Known As	Nicholas Winton’s wife
Birthday	December 21, 1919
Birthplace	Vejle, Denmark
Nationality	Danish
Ethnicity	Danish
Father	Ejnar Gjelstrup
Mother	Anna Marie Gjelstrup
Siblings	Poul Herman, Kirsten
Profession	Secretary
Husband	Sir Nicholas Winton
Married	October 31, 1948
Children	Barbara, Robin, Nick
Son Robin	Died in 1962
Famous For	Helping reveal Nicholas Winton’s rescue story
Death	August 28, 1999
Age at Death	79 years
Cause of Death	Not publicly known
Husband’s Death	July 1, 2015
Net Worth	Not publicly known

Who Was Grete Winton?

Grete Winton was the wife of Sir Nicholas Winton, a British man who helped children escape Nazi danger before World War II. She was born in Denmark and later made her home in England. Her life was mostly private.

Before marriage, her name was Grete Gjelstrup. She became known as Lady Grete Winton through her husband’s title. But she was much more than the wife of a famous man. She was also a mother who cared deeply for her family.

Many people first learned about Grete because of an old scrapbook. She helped bring her husband’s rescue work to public attention. Today, in 2026, her part in this moving story is still worth remembering.

Grete Winton’s Early Life

Grete Winton was reportedly born on December 21, 1919, in Vejle, Denmark. Her early years were spent in her home country. She grew up at a time when life was very different from the world we know today.

Her father was reportedly Ejnar Gjelstrup, who worked as an accountant. Her mother was Anna Marie Gjelstrup. Family records also name two siblings, Poul Herman and Kirsten. However, little public information is available about their daily family life.

Not much is known about Grete’s childhood hobbies or school days. She grew up between two world wars. Later, her life would become linked to one of the most moving rescue stories from that time in history.

Grete Winton’s Education and Career

Grete Winton did not become famous through her job. Before marriage, she worked as a secretary. This kind of work involved keeping records, writing letters, and helping an office run well. It was a useful job that needed care.

Reports say she worked at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Paris. This took her from Denmark to France. Her exact school history is not well known, but her office work became an important part of her early adult life.

Living in Paris gave Grete a new chapter in life. She was away from her home country and building her career. It was also where she reportedly met Nicholas Winton, the man she would later marry.

How Grete Winton Met Nicholas Winton

Grete Winton reportedly met Nicholas while she was working in Paris. Nicholas was British and had worked in banking and finance. Years before their meeting, he had helped children escape danger as war was coming to Europe.

Their first meeting was the start of a long relationship. Few public details tell us about their early dates or private talks. Still, we know that they formed a close bond and later chose to build a family together.

Think about meeting someone without knowing how much they had done for others. Grete would later help bring Nicholas’s rescue story into the public eye. But first, they began their life as a married couple.

Grete Winton and Nicholas Winton’s Marriage

Grete Winton married Nicholas Winton on October 31, 1948, in Vejle, Denmark, according to biographical accounts. The wedding took place a few years after World War II ended. It marked the start of their long life together.

After their wedding, the couple made their home in England. Nicholas continued his work, while Grete helped build their family life. They were not known as a famous couple during those early years of marriage.

Their marriage lasted more than 50 years. They shared happy family moments and also faced deep sadness. Grete remained Nicholas’s wife until her death in 1999. Their long marriage became an important part of both their lives.

Grete Winton’s Children and Family Life

Grete Winton and Nicholas had three children named Barbara, Robin, and Nick. Their home was filled with the usual needs of family life. Like many parents, they had children to raise and many daily duties to manage.

Their daughter Barbara Winton later wrote a book about her father called If It’s Not Impossible. The book helped readers learn more about his life and rescue work. It also gave people a closer look at the Winton family.

For many years, Nicholas was not widely known for saving children before the war. Grete and their children lived away from the spotlight. Their family story was about more than fame. It included love, care, and loss.

Grete Winton’s Heartbreaking Loss of Robin

One of the saddest parts of Grete Winton’s life was losing her son Robin. He was born in 1956 with Down syndrome. Grete and Nicholas chose to raise him at home rather than send him away for care.

Sadly, Robin died from meningitis in 1962. He was still a young child. Losing a son was a painful event for the family. It was a loss that no parent would ever wish to face.

Grete and Nicholas continued raising their other children after Robin’s death. Nicholas also became involved in helping people with learning needs. This sad chapter helps us see that their family faced hard times, just like many others.

Grete Winton’s Amazing Scrapbook Discovery

In 1988, Grete Winton found an old scrapbook in her home. It belonged to her husband, Nicholas Winton. The book had been kept for many years. But it held a story that most people had never heard before.

Inside the book were names, photos, and letters about children Nicholas had helped save. These children had left their homes to escape Nazi danger. Many had to leave their parents behind. The old papers told their stories.

Grete knew the book was special. She did not want these stories to be lost. She helped share the papers with others. Soon, more people began to learn about the 669 children her husband had helped save.

How Grete Winton Helped Reveal the Rescue Story

Grete Winton helped bring the old papers to people who could share the story. One of them was Elisabeth Maxwell. She studied the Holocaust and knew why the papers were so important. She wanted others to learn about them.

Elisabeth’s husband, Robert Maxwell, owned newspapers. Soon, news about Nicholas and his rescue work began to spread. People learned that he had helped hundreds of children escape danger before World War II. His story touched many hearts.

In 1988, Nicholas appeared on a BBC show called That’s Life!. Some of the children he had saved were now adults. They were sitting in the audience. Nicholas did not know that he would meet them there.

The Emotional BBC Reunion

During the show, the host asked people who owed their lives to Nicholas to stand up. Many people around him stood. They were the same people he had helped save when they were young children.

Nicholas looked around and saw them standing. It was a very moving moment. These people had grown up and built their own lives. Some had children and grandchildren. His work had helped make those lives possible.

People still watch this special moment today. It shows how one kind act can change many lives. Grete Winton helped bring the old rescue story to light. Without those records, many people might never have heard about it.

Grete Winton’s Later Years and Death

After the rescue story became famous, Nicholas began getting more public attention. People wanted to meet him and hear about his work. He also met some of the people he had saved. His life became known around the world.

Grete Winton stayed a private person. She did not seek fame or spend much time in the news. She continued living in England with her family. Little is known about her daily life during her final years.

Sadly, Grete died on August 28, 1999. She was 79 years old. Her exact cause of death is not widely known. She had spent more than 50 years married to Nicholas. Together, they had raised three children.

What Happened to Nicholas Winton After Grete’s Death?

After Grete died, Nicholas continued sharing his story. He met people who had survived because of his help. Many thanked him for giving them a chance to live. His rescue work became known in many countries.

In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II made Nicholas a knight. He became Sir Nicholas Winton. This was a great honor for his work. Sadly, Grete was no longer alive to see him receive this special title.

Nicholas died on July 1, 2015. He was 106 years old. By then, many people knew about his brave work. His story showed how helping others can change lives, even many years after the good work is done.

Final Thoughts

Today, in 2026, people still remember Grete Winton. She is known for helping bring her husband’s rescue story to the world. She did not take part in saving the children, but she helped others learn what Nicholas had done.

The old papers helped people learn the names and stories of the rescued children. They also helped families learn more about their past. Books, films, and school lessons still share the story of Nicholas and his rescue work.

Their daughter Barbara Winton also helped keep the story alive. She wrote a book called If It’s Not Impossible. It tells the story of her father’s life. Barbara died in 2022, but her book still helps people learn.