Rochford District Council to hold Holocaust Memorial Day event

A Holocaust Memorial Day Service, hosted by Rochford District Council’s Chairman Councillor David Merrick and featuring guest speaker Holocaust survivor Mr Leslie Kleinman, will be held at the Mill Arts and Events Centre, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh  on Friday, January 25.

The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is “Torn from home” and, at 12.30pm, a Service will be held next to Rochford District Council’s specially commissioned Memorial to Victims of Persecution, outside the Mill Arts and Events Centre, conducted by The Reverend David Oxtoby, Chaplain to the Chairman of Rochford District Council.  Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Held to remember the victims of the Holocaust and all other genocides that have occurred since, the Service will feature readings by students from the district’s secondary schools and other invited guests. 

Following the Service, attendees will move to the Mill Arts and Events Centre to hear a moving talk by Holocaust survivor Leslie Kleinman, who was one of 1,000 child survivors who were chosen to come to the UK following the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, in a group known as ‘The Boys’. There will also be a presentation by Sweyne Park School students, who will be sharing their reflections of visiting Poland and Auschwitz as part of their GCSE history studies. 

The Chairman of Rochford District Council, Councillor David Merrick said “I am honoured to host this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day event.  This year’s theme of “Torn from Home” resonates with people of all ages as to the importance of home and the poignancy of communities having to leave to escape certain death.

The talks from the Sweyne Park School students and guest speaker Mr Leslie Kleinman will help attendees reflect on this theme”.