Gerda Sainer Collection

Gerda Sainer Collection 

Born 14 October 1914 in Berlin as Gerda Federmann, daughter of Eve nee Kroner and Paul Federmann. Gerda's parents divorced in 1926 and her mother re-married Max Liebert later that year. Gerda's father, Paul Federmann moved to Mannheim after the divorce but remained in close contact with his daughter in Berlin. Gerda finished school in early 1933 and intended to study dentistry but as antisemitism in Germany grew her mother sent her to Pitman's College in London for a typing course and to improve her English. One year, in 1934 later Gerda's mother Eve also emigrated to London. Once Gerda had completed her courses at Pitman's, Gerda studied massage, medical gymnastics and a number of different therapy approaches at the Westmister Hospital School of Massage and became an established physiotherapist. In July 1936 on holiday in Belgium Gerda met Haydn Watkins and they married 6 months later. The marriage was unsuccessful; Haydn suffered from tuberculosis and they separated soon after their wedding. In late 1937 Gerda met Henry Sainer at a Jewish graduates club and after Haydn Watkins granted Gerda a divorce she married Henry Sainer in 1946. In 1948 they had their first son, and in 1953 a second son who suffered from autism. Gerda Sainer died in London. 

Gerda Sainer Collection