Final preparations are being made for a poignant memorial day in Lowestoft next week, as the town has been chosen to host two special ceremonies.
Events to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be held across the UK on Tuesday (January 27) as part of Holocaust memorial day – with a wreath-laying ceremony at Lowestoft railway station and a candle-lighting event at Ormiston Denes Academy.
On Tuesday, January 27 at 10am, people are invited to join with Waveney Youth Council, the mayor of Lowestoft Stephen Ardley, and the Chairman of Waveney District Council Peter Collecott, as they lay wreaths at the town's railway station as part of the commemorations. This will then be followed by a moment of reflection and prayer led by Capt Paul McDonaugh.
Mr Ardley said: 'I am honoured to be marking this occasion and pleased that for the first time we will be accompanied by Waveney Youth Council. Holocaust Memorial Day offers the opportunity for reflection and remembrance and also teaches future generations about these terrible events and the importance of ensuring they are never repeated.'
Wreaths are laid at the station each year in recognition of the arrival of a Kindertransport train in December 1938, carrying more than 200 Jewish children. The children were billeted at a number of places including Pontins in Pakefield and St Felix School near Southwold.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, a candle-lighting event will take place at Ormiston Denes Academy. The academy in Yarmouth Road was chosen to be one of 70 venues to host a candle-lighting ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The candle, which has been designed by internationally-renowned sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor, will be lit at Ormiston Denes and offers an opportunity for a moment of reflection honouring the survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.
As part of the event at Ormiston Denes, students from the school as well as students from the Ashley School Academy Trust and Sir John Leman High School, will give presentations focusing on this year's Holocaust Memorial Day theme, which is Keep the Memory Alive. An additional presentation will take place with children giving memory boxes to older residents. The boxes were made by pupils from St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School and Old Warren House School. The event will be officially closed by Waveney MP Peter Aldous.
? For more information about the Holocaust Memorial Day events in Lowestoft, please contact Waveney's Active Communities Team on 01502 523186 or email activecommunities@waveney.gov.uk
? Are you organising a community event? Tell The Journal by calling 01502 525825 or email lowestoft.journal@archant.co.uk
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