Holocaust Memorial Day: Peterborough pays tribute to the millions killed in genocide
“Never again is now far more than an abstract idea”
Residents have joined with politicians, civic leaders, community figures and religious representatives in Peterborough to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27).
The annual commemoration took on particular significance year as it marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945.
The ceremony began at 11:40am with a procession of dignitaries from Town Hall to Cathedral Square for a powerful performance on the impact of the holocaust on Jewish children by students of St John Fisher Catholic High School.
The procession then arrived at St John’s Church for a ceremony of remembrance.
Led by The Reverend Michelle Dalliston, Vicar of Peterborough, the ceremony heard from representatives from the Jewish faith, the Islamic faith and the Roma community.
Janet Berkman, Chair of Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community read aloud a poem by Lotte Kramer, the oldest living member of the community at the age of 101, entitled ‘Exodus.
Mayor Marco Cereste also addressed those in attendance. He said: “This is a tremendous city to live in because we have a huge cultural diversity and we enjoy it. We live together in peace, harmony and friendship. It creates a light that other people look to.
"The memory of the Holocaust is the memory that reminds us what could happen if we don’t stay on that path.
We should think of ourselves who can actively play a part in stopping any type of discrimination, persecution, prejudice and injustice that we may witness happening around us in our everyday lives.”
Deputy Lieutenant Benjamyn Damazer FIMC JP DL added: “Never again is now far more than an abstract idea. It has a real, vital message that Jews must be defended from those seeking to kill us.
"This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is for more than a commemoration, it is an urgent and essential demand that never again should the world turn its back on the quest to murder Jews.”
Following the conclusion of the service, both Mayor Cereste and Deputy Lieutenant Damazer laid ceremonial wreaths at the Holocaust memorial on St John’s Square.