THE COMMUNITY of Bromsgrove came together in a poignant act of remembrance yesterday (Monday, January 27) on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Members of the community gathered to honour the millions of people who lost their lives under Nazi persecution for Bromsgrove’s Holocaust Memorial Service at the district council’s Parkside Suite.
The service, which began at 11am, was led by Bromsgrove District Council’s vice-chairman, councillor Bakul Kumar, and leader, Coun Karen May.
Coun Kumar said: “We honour the surviviors of these regimes of hatred and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today.”
During the service, students from and pupils from schools across the district took part in the service through candle lighting, prayer readings and musical accompaniment.
Pupils from Parkside Middle School, Bromsgrove School, Rigby Hall School, Woodrush High School, South Bromsgrove High School, St John’s Middle School, Catshill Middle School, Alvechurch Middle School, and Waseley Hills High School were in attendance.
Following prayers from pupils, Worcestershire County councillor, Adrian Kriss, presented a speech discussing his own family’s persecution during the Holocaust.
His grandparents had been killed during the genocide in Germany with his mother managing to escape on the Kindertransport and arriving in the UK.
Coun Kriss added: “I stand here to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the place where my grandmother was murdered in 1942.
“Before the war my family lived in the town of Forst, to the east of Berlin. Last September, my recently found mother and I, alongside with 25 members of my international family returned to Forst on the invitation of the mayor.
“I have translated part of the mayor’s speech to my family and the community of Forst for you.
“‘The history of persecution and terror must never be pushed into the background especially at a time when antisemitism, racism and xenophobia are on the rise once again.
“‘It is therefore our duty to stand together for humanity, tolerance, and justice. Only by being aware of the past, can we shape a better, fairer future.'”
Coun May reminded attendees that there is still much to do to create a safer future and added that ‘Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to start this process.’
The event was also supported by Worcestershire’s deputy lord lieutenant, Sir Nicholas Lechmere Bt DL, Reverend Ann Cogle, Bromsgrove District Council, chief executive, Sue Hanley, town crier Kevin Ward and Pradeep Chaudhari.
Visit https://bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/rubery-mans-family-reunion-to-remember-holocaust-victims/ to read our reporting on Coun Kriss’ family history.
