Holocaust Memorial Day commemorated in Harwich
In a commemoration arranged by Harwich Town Council in conjunction with the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust, Harwich commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday, 27th January, the date being the day in 1945 that the extermination camp at Auschwitz was liberated.
The commemoration was due to be observed at the ‘Safe Haven’ Kindertransport memorial on Harwich Quay but because of the extreme weather, the event was moved inside to the Pier Hotel’s Angel annexe with tributes being laid at the memorial following the commemoration.
Mayor of Harwich, Cllr. Pam Morrison, says , “The ‘Safe Haven’ memorial provides a wonderful setting at which to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day but the awful weather meant that It could be more appropriately observed indoors. We are very grateful to the Pier Hotel for making this possible at very short notice.”
The commemoration included readings from students from the Harwich High School and tributes included those laid by students from Mayflower and Spring Meadow Primary schools. There were also readings from the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial Trust.
“In spite of the weather it was very moving to see how many people wished to attend the commemoration and how far some had travelled to be part of it,” continued Cllr. Pam Morrison. “I listened to people whose parents and grandparents had arrived in Harwich as part of the Kindertransport and their stories add to our awareness of how important the message is to this day.”
As part of the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, in conjunction with Tendring District Council and the Harwich Society, Harwich Town Council used its newly installed lighting equipment to illuminate Harwich’s High Lighthouse purple, the colour of Holocaust Memorial Day.
For further information please contact:
Lucy Ballard, clerk to the council, on 01255 507211