The Important Personalities of Vamberk
Antonín Bednář, born on 1 September 1896 in Vamberk, died on 2 March 1949 in Vamberk - he was the son of the owner of lace producing factory, a piano virtuoso, the conductor of Czech teachers´choir, a composer of scene and piano music, a conductor of philharmonic orchestra.
Bohumil Ditrt, born on 5 September 1911 in Vamberk, died on 16 March 2000 in Vamberk - he was a photographer, a faithful and active member of the sports organization called Sokol. He saved the Sokol flag against the Nazi and communists, he shared to build the construction of the sports hall in Vamberk the foundation stone was put on 21st August 1938.
František Hajniš, born on 31 March 1815 in Vamberk, died on 27 December 1885 in Prague - he was a philosopher and solicitor, writer and humorist; he published in the magazines called Květy (1834) / Paleček (1841 - 1846). He used to write under the pseudonym Zdobnický. He worked as the post consultant (1873). There has been a memory plaque on his native house since 28 September 1896.
Oldřich Hlavsa, born on 1 November 1889 in Rybná nad Zdobnicí, died on 11 February 1936 in Prague - he lived in Vamberk where he was buried; he attended and graduated special drawing courses in Vienna, the Academy of Arts in Munich, the Academy in Prague (prof. Ženíšek´s disciple). He was also disciple of prof. Hynais; he used to paint mainly the scenery of the Eagle Mountains. He was at the Russian legions during the -World War I.
Alois Kareš, born on 9 June 1822 in Vamberk, died on 13 July 1885 in Triest (buried in Vamberk) - a businessman in Bremen; in the revolution year of 1848 he had to emigrate. He was a generous sponsor of many Czech clubs, a charity man of emigrants.
PhDr. Josef Kalousek, born on 2 April 1838 in Vamberk, died on 22 Noveber 1915 in Prague - a significant Czech historian, philosophy doctor, senior lecturer of Czech history at Charles University in Prague, one of the founding members of the Czech Academy. In 1874 he was the editor of the Archaeologic and topographic monuments, in 1889 - 1900 he worked as the main secretary of the historic-philosophical class, František Palacký´s cooperator. His most important book is called „Czech Law (1871)“. He shared the publication of the historical map of Bohemia (1874).
Matěj Kopecký, died on 16 February 1946 in Vamberk - a marionette actor and a member of the legions; he died during his performance in Vamberk and his wife Zdena shares his tomb in the Vamberk cemetery. In the old Vamberk cemetery there were buried some other members of this famous marionette family founded by the legendary Matěj Kopecký.
František Koukol, born on 7 May 1915 in Vamberk, died on 1 October 1940 in Elton-Peterborough (England) - a member of the 311th Czech bombing RAF wing in England - sergeant.
Josef František Král, born on 29 July 1860 in Čáslav, died in 1934 in Prague - from 1879 he lived and taught (for 45 years) in Vamberk, wrote historical essays and articles from the history of Vamberk to regional newspapers. In 1927 he worked out Memories of Vamberk-upon-Zdobnice; he was a member of various Vamberk cultural clubs.
Jindřich Kubias, born on 24 March 1850 in Vamberk, died on 15 September 1930 in Vamberk - he was an industrial manager, founder of the famous prospering production of Vamberk sausages, well-know all over Europe. He managed all negotiations to permit and construct the local rail-road. In 1889 he assisted to establish the first bobbin-lace school in Vamberk. He was the member of the Town Council and co-founder of the sports organization called Sokol.
Jan Lakmayer, born on 7 October 1929 in Želánky (district Most), died on 1 September 2003; he studied at the painters Cyril Bouda, Zábranský and Kašpar. He was a teacher in Vamberk and Slatina nad Zdobnicí. He wrote the chronicles of Vamberk and was very active in the cultural life in Vamberk; he was one of the members of the editorial board of the Town Bulletin, he commented motorcycle and cycling races. He worked for the Czech Tourist Club and he is also famous as a painter, graphic artist and model makers.
Dr. František count Lützow, born on 21 March 1849 in Hamburg, died on 13 January 1916 in Teriftet (Switzerland), buried in the tomb in Vamberk - he was a diplomat in Rome, Holland, England; he was a member of the Empire Council (1885 - 1889), writer, senior lecturer of Charles and Oxford Universities, promoter of the Vamberk bobbin-lace (e. g. the exhibition in London in 1906). In 1912 he realized a lecture tournament in America about Czech history, literature and nation. He shared a lot the break-up of the Austria-Hungarian monarchy and foundation of Czechoslovakia, a honoured citizen of Prague and Vamberk.
Jan Malý, born on 2 September 1900 in Vamberk, died on 26 April 1988 in Vamberk - he was a violinist, conductor, violin teacher.
František Jan Melnický, born on 13 November 1822 in Vamberk, died on 1 February 1876 in Vienna - he was a stone sculptor, a member of a very big family of Vamberk sculptors. He studied this art at the Emperor Academy in Vienna where he later settled and founded a sculptor workshop of a great fame. He used to exhibit his works at the World Exhibition in Vienna and his statues can be seen in the Emperor´s castle in Vienna, in St. Margaret Temple in Vienna. In the front of the railway station in Vienna there are allegories of the cities like Vienna, Brno, Budapest and Prague. He decorated the Vienna conservatory. He made many works in the country of Austria and Germany; he was a member of the Academy of Arts and that of sculptor commission.
Bohumil Pavel, born on 14 June 1901 in Vamberk, died on 19 April 1976 in Rychnov-upon-Kněžna - he was a teacher, painter, illustrator, founder of the marionette theatre in Vamberk; he himself made, painted, led and acted the marionettes. He managed to renovate the Town Museum in Vamberk and he was its director from 1958. He was also a musician, writer, photographer, film-maker and ethnographer.
Ludvík Poslušný, born on 24 August 1913 in Pluhův Žďár, died on 9 June 1995 in Vamberk - he was a teacher at Vamberk Primary school, he worked in sports organization Sokol, in tourism; he organized lectures, led the touristic trips. He acted at the theatre in Vamberk. In 1989 he wrote many articles into the Vamberk Bulletin; he studied the archive and worked out the history of Vamberk. He was nominated the honoured citizen of Vamberk.
ThDr. Alois Sedlařík, born on 23 June 1915 in Lipová (district Přerov), died on 26 October 2005 in Stará Boleslav. In 1935 he began studying theology in Rome; on 16 October 1940 he was ordained in Rome and he became the doctor of theology. On 1 August 1952 he was nominated the administrator in Vamberk where he worked for 40 years and he managed to maintain the local Czechoslovak People Party during the whole period of communism.
Otakar Sedloň, born on 20 August 1885 in Trpín by Polička, died on 18 October 1973 in Prague, buried in Vamberk. He attended the Primary school in Vamberk, graduated the Art School in Prague and became an art teacher in Brno, Kroměříž, Louny. Later on he only painted, mainly the scenery of the Eagle Mountains and their surroundings.
Jan Stöhr, born on 23 May 1822 in Vamberk, died on 3 May 1899 in Prague - he was the Mayor of Vamberk for ages. In 1866 he protected Vamberk against the Prussia Army and was awarded Prize by the Austrian government. He founded the fund for orphans. He motivated the foundation of the club called Měšťanská beseda, he was a member of Country Session (1878).
Vladimír Šichan, born on 31 December 1892 in Brno, died on 10 July 1970 in Prague - he lived in Vamberk for ages. In the World War II he helped people risking his own life, he did not ask any fees for treatment or medicine from old and poor people. He was a representative of the League against tuberculosis in Kostelec-upon-Orlice.
Josef Václav Telecký, born on 27 September 1897 in Týniště-upon-Orlice, died on 24 June 1969 in Ústí-upon-Orlice - from 1936 to 1962 he was the tenant of the cottage called „Na Vyhlídce“. He founded „Book of Visitors“, the chronicle of Merklovice. He painted and drew postcards with pictures from his native region (belfries, houses, monuments); during the World War II he participated in the revolt and was imprisoned for that.
Arnošt Vančura, he is said to be born in 1751 in Vamberk, died in 1802 in Petersberg - he was a colonel in the Emperor´s army, conductor of the orchestra, composer, later the director of Moscow theatres.
František Vích, born on 20 January 1872 in Vamberk, we do not know when he died. He worked as a teacher in Pěčín, Doudleby nad Orlicí, Merklovice and Vamberk. In 1925 he was nominated a definite teacher at town schools in Vamberk, he was a conductor of the local town band.
Josef Richard Vilímek, born on 1 April in 1835 in Vamberk, died on 16 April 1911 in Prague, buried in the tomb in the old cemetery - he was the founder of the famous Prague publishing house (Vilimek´s), the author and editor of Humorist bulletin which was one of the best-known ironic weeklies of that time. He founded the magazine called „Life pictures“(co-editor was Jan Neruda). In 1866 he was the member of the Czech Parliament for the election region Rychnov-Kostelec defending Czech rights against the Empire Parliament. His memory plaque is on his native house No. 84.
Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek, born on 11 May 1791 in Vamberk, died on 19 November 1825 in Vienna - he was a pianist, organ player and above all a composer whose works have not been appreciated yet. In 1818 he was a conductor of the Vienna orchestra, organ player and a conductor of the Vienna Emperor Court, music teacher of prince Napoleon. His top piece is D dur symphony dated 1821. He died of tuberculosis and was buried in Vamberk. There is a commemorate plaque on his native house No. 87.
Augustin Vyskočil, born on 4 August 1852 in Vamberk, died on 14 February 1902 in Prague - he studied playing the piano at Bedřich Smetana, in 1874 he was a concert singer in Lugano and Nizze. He married to the Czech opera singer Fr. Ludikarová. Then he was a conductor of the National Theatre, professor of the Prague Conservatoire, an exceptional singer and piano virtuoso. There is a commemorate plaque on his native house No. 98.
Pavel Ludikar Vyskočil, born on 3 March 1882 in Prague, died on 17 February 1970 in Vienna - an important world opera singer in the period before the World War II, a piano virtuoso, singer at the Chicago competition. He used to sing in the opera houses in Dresden, Milan; his top carrier was in the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He was engaged in America, Paris, Rome, Turin as a world top singer. He was a professor of University in Salzburg. At the end of the World War II. he lived in Vamberk at his relatives. Until 1949 he lived at his relative called Suchánková in the mill in Peklo and then he returned to Salzburg to become an opera school headmaster in Gratz.
Adolf Zábrodský, born on 11 January 1815 in Vamberk, died in 1852 in Prague - an organ player in St.Vitus´s Cathedral in Prague where he became the choir master later on.
