TRIBUTES have been paid to a Holocaust survivor from Westcliff who has died at the age of 92.

Leslie Kleinman BEM passed away this week, his family have announced.

Leslie was born in 1929 into an Orthodox Jewish family, and lived in a small village called Ambud in Romania.

During the Holocaust he was a prisoner in the Auschwitz-Birkenau, Sachsenhausen and Flossenburg concentration camps, and was on two death marches.

After the Holocaust he was one of the 1,000 child survivors, known as “The Boys”, who were invited by the British government to come to the UK.

Leslie went on to marry and settled in Canada, having two children.

Echo: Leslie and his wife MiriamLeslie and his wife Miriam

He later returned to the UK and made his home in Westcliff.

In a statement, Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, described him as "an inspiration to all" at the trust.

She added he worked "tirelessly" to share his experiences of the horrors of the Holocause with the next generation.

“Leslie also accompanied groups on educational visits to Poland and was passionate that the Second and Third Generation continue the hard work of courageous survivors," she added.

“He was a religious man, who often spoke of nearly losing faith in G-d during the Holocaust. His commitment to Judaism and the Jewish community was unstinting.

“A deeply kind and generous man, Leslie exuded warmth and compassion, always with an infectious smile.

“He will be very sadly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Miriam and his family.”

Leslie's work on Holocaust remembrance was honoured in the Queen's Honours.

Echo: 3) Leslie at a Holocaust Memorial Day talk at Southend Civic Centre3) Leslie at a Holocaust Memorial Day talk at Southend Civic Centre

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Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, added: "So very sorry to learn the news about the death of an absolute hero. A survivor who will never be forgotten."

Echo: Leslie with pupils at St Thomas More High School during a visit in 2012Leslie with pupils at St Thomas More High School during a visit in 2012

The Wiener Holocaust Library said on Twitter: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Leslie Kleinman, a friend of the Library who will be sorely missed.

"For #FateUnknown, Leslie spoke about his experiences during the Holocaust and his story of survival. Our thoughts are with his family."