STOURBRIDGE hero Major Frank Foley – dubbed "the British Schindler" for his role in saving thousands of Jews from the holocaust – is to get a lasting memorial in a local park.

A tree will be planted, with an accompanying plaque, in his memory near the war memorial in Mary Stevens Park on Saturday (January 30).

Major Foley, who lived in Eveson Road, Norton, after the war until his death in 1958, worked as passport controller in the British Embassy in Berlin during the 1920s and 30s.

When the Nazi persecution of the Jewish people began he started to issue passports and travel documents to families so that they could flee the country.

He even hid escapees in his home to spare them from the gas chambers, putting himself at great personal risk.

The Holocaust Educational Trust has already honoured Major Foley with the status "Righteous Among the Nations" at the International Holocaust Museum and Memorial at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, where trees were planted to pay tribute to the first people granted that honour.

Now Jack Austin, ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust, has organised the tree planting tribute in Stourbridge.

Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Steve Waltho, and council leader Councillor Pete Lowe will help to plant the tree at 11am on Saturday and members of Major Foley's family, as well as his biographer, author Michael Smith, will be among those present at the ceremony.

Mr Austin said: "It is great so many people will pay tribute to this Stourbridge hero, who took huge risks to save thousands of people from the Nazi concentration camps.

"His bravery teaches us all to do everything we can to oppose racism and prejudice, which is why we want to honour him by planting this tree."