Francisco “Paco” Robles, who has passed away at age 99, was among the last surviving members of a significant migration event in British history. On 23 May 1937, approximately 4,000 people arrived in Southampton aboard the Habana, a former cruise ship, fleeing conflict in Spain. The vessel carried roughly 3,800 children alongside volunteer educators, clergy, and supporters.
Robles was 10 years old at the time of the journey, traveling with his younger sister Maria Jesus. His parents had secured passage for the children following the bombing of Guernica in April 1937, which occurred as German and Italian aircraft supported nationalist forces under General Franco. Robles’ father worked in the chemical division of a steelworks in Bilbao, while his mother was employed as a domestic worker. The family had relocated to the Basque Country from León in northwestern Spain.
Upon arrival in Britain, the children faced considerable challenges as the UK government declined to provide public funding for their care. Robles was placed in volunteer-administered residential facilities known as “colonies,” where he developed a significant relationship with Chloe Vulliamy, a supporter of the refugee effort who became a maternal figure in his life. In 2017, Robles participated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Wherstead Park in Suffolk, one of the facilities where he had resided, and reflected on Vulliamy’s crucial role in his upbringing.
Following Franco’s victory in the Spanish civil war, authorities demanded the return of the refugee children, though many had nowhere to return to. In Robles’ situation, his father had been imprisoned, the family home had been confiscated, and his mother faced severe hardship. He remained in Britain, working throughout his life in various roles including munitions manufacturing, bakery operations, and agricultural labor. Robles married Maria Román, a factory worker, in 1949 and remained engaged with Spanish cultural organizations in London throughout his lifetime. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. His wife passed away in 2012.
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