The German President, Joachim Gauck and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, both struck appropriate notes at a moving memorial service in Dresden on 13 February marking the 70th anniversary of the devastating World War II Allied bombing of that historic German city.

A film about the amazing life of Eric Lomax has just opened with Colin Firth playing the part of this terribly tortured World War II prisoner of the Japanese who turned a hated enemy into a friend. Lomax died in 2012 at the age of 93 and was a soldier who in the words of an article in the Daily Telegraph made 'the choice of reconciliation over retribution'. His experience indicates that there may be a time and season for forgiveness that sometimes cannot and should not be rushed.

Tianethone Chantharasy has published a paper in Australia on elements that blend Buddhism and Initiatives of Change. He wrote, ‘Apart from being born in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos where the Buddhist teachings have flourished and where I learned to meditate on the life of the Buddha and on his doctrine, the Dhamma, I am privileged to know how to listen to my conscience or inner voice. (This) listening has given a new dimension in my spiritual growth, sharpening my intuition.’

Hope after despairA lasting image from World War II is Auschwitz twins, who had been experimented on by Dr Joseph Mengele, moving out of the death camp. Eva Kor’s willingness to forgive after such suffering has been an inspiration to millions. The New York Times has written, ‘Whether you agree or not with her decision to forgive her torturers, it’s impossible not to be moved by her fierce capacity for life.’

In 1993 Edith Staton was named as a consultant to a new committee for curing racial bias at her integrated Episcopal church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The appointment would not be surprising but for the fact that she was then 97 years old.

Michael Henderson has written a major article about the generous actions of two American companies who in 1940 took in children of their English companies during World War II. Their initiative was singled out as an example by The New York Times on the first of September, 1940.

On the launch of his new website, author Michael Henderson reflects on the way communication has changed―and not changed―during his time as a writer.

Flight Lieutenant David Howell DFC who died in January aged 97 was one of another band of brothers who after World War II together took on to build bridges with their former enemies. I am fortunate in having had the chance to work alongside them. Obituaries in The Guardian and other papers have described his service as a navigator in the RAF’s Bomber Command. But led me add more detail on a story that illustrates his commitment which began even in the midst of hostilities.

Canadian political inspirationThe Willcocks side of my family, from Chapelizod, though distant, is the most interesting to me because at times it intersects with national events in both Ireland and Canada. It is also the best documented, both in papers we have in our possession and in numerous books and archives. My grandmother was a Willcocks.

I have for years been keen to learn more about my family, whether close or distant relations, whether of good or ill repute. I find research of the Irish/Canadian side of the family the most productive area. I discovered two of my most interesting and probably scandalous women relatives in the nineteenth and twentieth century are described in The 'It' Girls, Elinor Glyn, Novelist, and Lucile, Couturière, written by Meredith Everington Smith and Jeremy Pilcher. These two sisters were my second cousins twice removed. Our shared direct ancestors are Sir Richard and Lady Willcocks, their Irish great grandparents who were my great, great, great grandparents.