Peterborough gathers to remember six million Jews killed in Holocaust - and send message that atrocities must never happen again

A service was held at St John’s Church in the city centre on Thursday (January 29), where a strong message was sent out to people of all generations.

Wreaths were laid at the Holocaust Memorial, just outside the church.

Pupils from a number of different schools across Peterborough took part in the service – either performing drama pieces, music, or readings in the church.

There were also speeches from faith and community leaders.

Speaking after the service, Janet Berkman, chair of the Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community, said: “Today it was my privilege, my honour, my duty to be involved in commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day.

“It is, as most people will know, very significant for Jews. It is something significant for other people as well.

"The Holocaust was an event that we should never forget. It is profoundly disturbing to know that there have been genocides since the Holocaust. And it does seem that history teaches us that although we should remember, we should learn – but we so often don’t.

"Today has been very inspiring, because the theme this year has been bridging generations, and it has been so important that so many young people have participated, have created original pieces, to show their appreciation and their remembering and learning from the lessons of the Holocaust. It has been impressive today.”

Revd Michelle Dalliston, who led the service, said: “We must be an example of mutual respect, tolerance and kindness.”

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes, speaking after the service, said: “It is really important that we bring all of our communities together to remember the lessons from the Holocaust, the centrality of the six million Jews who lost their lives, and also those who suffered in latter genocides.

"I was really pleased to see so many young people today, but also those from all different faiths. We are one community made up of so many great faiths in the city, to come together to support our Jewish colleagues, particularly with the rise in anti-sematism – but all of our communities and faiths coming together – it was a really important moment for the city.”

One of those to lay a wreath was Philip Collins, whose father was one of the first into Belsen Camp, a Nazi Concentration Camp.

He said: “My dad, Frederick Collins, joined the Royal Marines in 1942, and he was made a commando in 1943. He was one of the Commandos at D-Day, and then he was part of the troop who was first into Belsen Camp.

"It was very harrowing.

"He caught diptheria and typhus, was blind and paralysed. He went to Ostend hospital, and the nurse used to get letters typed back to my mum, Nancy Collins, back in England. She was really worried about him, because he was blind and paralysed, and everything he had seen in Belsen.

"It stayed with him. God bless him, he was an amazing man.

"I like to keep his memory alive.”