25th January at 12 noon: Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration – Fragility of Freedom

Peterborough residents are invited to remember the suffering and sacrifice of millions of people killed in genocides across the world including the Holocaust, at a commemoration service to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The event will take place in St John’s on Thursday 25 January 2024 at 12 noon.
The Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Nick Sandford will lead a civic procession from the Town Hall at around 11.40am to Cathedral Square. Here, drama students from St Fisher Catholic High School in Park Lane, Peterborough, will perform a piece on the Guildhall, based on this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme ‘Fragility of Freedom’.

The procession and students will then move to St John’s Church for the service at 12noon. Following the service, the Mayor will give an address before the commemoration concludes with the laying of a wreath at the Holocaust memorial in St John’s Square.
The event will be broadcast on the council’s Facebook and YouTube channels for anyone who wants to watch it live.

Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated worldwide on January 27 to remember the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and the millions involved in genocides across the world. January 27 marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Peterborough, has for a number of years, held its own commemoration as a public and inter-faith act of remembrance.

Councillor Nick Sandford, said: “The events taking place in Peterborough give us all the chance to remember the victims of genocide. Holocaust Memorial Day is a significant and poignant event in the world’s calendar providing the opportunity to reflect on the atrocities of the past and share their stories with future generations.”
To find out more about Holocaust Memorial Day visit https://www.hmd.org.uk/what-is…/this-years-theme/

26th January at 6.30pm: Unforgettable — Remembering the Holocaust

Following the city’s civic Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration earlier in the day, join us at this free hour long event including readings, poetry, music and other performance recalling the experiences, hopes, and fears of some of those affected by the Holocaust, and reflecting on parallels in present-day society.

Participants and performers will include representatives from Peterborough Liberal Jewish Community, Bedazzle Arts, High Heritage, YT Academy, and BLM Peterborough. We’ll also hear the first performance of a poem especially written for the event by Kat Beeton, the current Peterborough Poet Laureate.

After the performances please join us for refreshments and a chance to chat or network.

26th January at 12noon: Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration – Ordinary People

Holocaust Memorial Day is commemorated nationally and internationally each year on 27th January, the day Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated by the USSR’s Red Army in 1945. Each year Peterborough holds its own commemoration, which this year takes place the day before on 26^th January, offering a public and inter-faith act of remembrance, not only of the Holocaust of World War II but for all acts of genocide, discrimination and oppression worldwide since then.

Each year the Holocaust Memorial Trust announces a specific theme that will steer events towards a shared focus and provide the stimulus for exhibitions, services and a range of commemorative activities. This year’s theme is ‘Ordinary People’.
This year’s commemoration will include readings and contributions from a number of the city’s communities and schools, as well as statutory and voluntary organisations. You are invited to join us in remembering all those individuals persecuted and killed in atrocities that we must never ever forget.

Following the commemoration, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony with prayers in in English and Hebrew.

Prior to the service there will be a procession from outside the Town Hall to the west door of St John’s beginning at 11.40am. Also at 11.40am, students from St John Fisher School will be performing in Cathedral Square.

This year there will also be an evening Holocaust Memorial Day event at 6.30pm in St John’s.

24th January: 12pm – Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration “Torn From Home”

Peterborough’s annual civic event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day will be held on 24th January 2019, three days before the day is observed nationally. The memorial remembers the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and the millions involved in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo and Darfur. On 27th January 1945 Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated by the USSR’s Red Army.

The commemoration, based on this year’s HMD theme of “Torn From Home”, will feature readings from many of the city’s communities and local schools. Readers/speakers will include Chuck Salamon of the Hebrew Congregation, Reverend Canon Ian Black (vicar of Peterborough), and the Mayor. A piece of music specially written for the commemoration by Leon King will be played by the composer. Further details of the event will be added nearer to the date.

Following the service, a wreath will be laid at the Holocaust Memorial stone in St John’s Square by the Mayor, Councillor John Fox, and prayers will said in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

Prior to the service there will be a procession from outside the Town Hall to the west door of St John’s beginning at 11.40am. Also at 11.40am, Year 9 drama students from St John Fisher School will be performing in Cathedral Square.