Harwich to Commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day
Since the unveiling of the ‘Safe Haven’ memorial to the Kindertransport in September 2022, Harwich Town Council, in conjunction with the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust, has used the location on Harwich Quay for a commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January, the date being the day in 1945 that the Auschwitz extermination camp was liberated.
This year’s commemoration has the theme of ‘Bridging Generations’ and will take place at 11AM on Tuesday 27th January. As in previous years, Harwich Town Council will act as facilitators to ensure that the Jewish community is able to mark the anniversary in a fitting manner and the commemoration will include readings from local school children and representatives of the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust. Everyone who wishes to attend is most welcome.
Mayor of Harwich, Cllr. Pam Morrison, says, “The wonderful ‘Safe Haven’ memorial to the Kindertransport on Harwich Quay offers the perfect focus for the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. Harwich Town Council is pleased to be able to facilitate this and to join the Jewish community alongside all local residents in marking this very important and poignant anniversary.”
As a further mark of respect Harwich Town Council will be illuminating the Harwich High Lighthouse in purple on the evening of January 27th. In conjunction with the Harwich Society and Tendring District Council, Harwich Town council has recently installed lighting to enable the illumination of the High Lighthouse and this will be the first commemoration on which this will occur.
Cllr. Garry Calver who led the project to install the lighting and who is the council’s lead member for Holocaust Memorial Day, says, “We are very pleased that the first time our new lighting will be used is as a mark of respect on Holocaust Memorial Day. Harwich is very proud of its role in the Kindertransport and the messages on Holocaust memorial Day are as important today as they were in 1945.”
For further information please contact
Lucy Ballard, clerk to the council, on 01255 507211
Sue Daish, Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust, on 07917 574168
Cllr. Garry Calver on 01255 551940