Gwent marks Holocaust Memorial Day

The annual remembrance event is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the theme for the year is “keep the memory alive."

This event is one of over 2,400 local activities taking place across the UK to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, with people coming together in civic halls, public spaces, libraries, cinemas, workplaces, schools and universities. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is the charity established by the Government to promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK.

Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said:

“On Holocaust Memorial Day we honour the survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and challenge ourselves to learn important lessons from their experiences in order to create a safe and better future. This year we have an unprecedented number of activities taking place involving people of all ages, from all walks of life so a big thanks goes to the team for organising this event and helping us learn the lessons of the past.”

Abergavenny

Holocaust Memorial Day at St Mary’s Priory Church at 11am.

Pupils from King Henry VII School will help lead an act of remembrance to mark the day.

Newport

Holocaust Memorial Day service at Newport Cathedral mark at 11am.

Hosted by the Mayor of Newport, Councillor Matthew Evans, the service, which begins at 11am, will be conducted by the Dean of the cathedral, the Very Reverend Lister Tonge.

Bassaleg school choir and Gwent Youth Brass Ensemble will lead the music while during the service pupils from Clytha Primary School will light candles to remember those who died. There will also be readings by pupils from three city secondary schools.

Among those due to attend are the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, Newport City Council leader Councillor Bob Bright and former prisoner of war (POW) Ron Jones, of Newport.

Blaenau Gwent

The Holocaust Memorial Ceremony held at Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale, from 6.30pm has been cancelled.

Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire County Council will mark Holocaust Memorial Day with a service for councillors and staff at County Hall, Usk led by Leader Peter Fox from 11am. In addition, displays will be featured in the council’s main offices in Usk and Magor to raise awareness.

Caldicot Library will host an evening of readings from 7pm to 8pm with a short talk about Auschwitz and film clips of survivor stories.

Torfaen

A Holocaust Memorial Day Service will take place at St Gabriel’s Church, Cwmbran, at 10am.

Torfaen County Borough Council, working closely with St Gabriel’s Church and Torfaen Schools, is hosting the service.

Caerphilly

A Holocaust Memorial Day event will be held at Blackwood Miners’ Institute from 2pm to 3pm.

The Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council Cllr. Keith Reynolds, will be in attendance along with Newbridge School pupils and Lewis School Pengam.

The event will involve readings from, time for reflection and the lighting of a symbolic candle.

An event will also be held at the Newbridge Memo all day where the life story of Miep Gies will be told and there will be a screening of Dear Kitty: Remembering Anne Frank (1999) at 2.20pm.

Presiding Officers to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

The National Assembly for Wales’ Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemary Butler AM, and her Deputy, David Melding AM, will mark Holocaust Memorial Day at a ceremony in Cardiff at 11am.

“It is essential that we should take time to remember the dreadful events that took place during the middle part of the last century,” said Dame Rosemary.

“The atrocities committed by the Nazis remind us all of humanity’s capacity to heap unspeakable pain and suffering upon our fellow human beings.

“In order to stop future genocides we must ensure that we remember those who perished in the camps of Germany and Eastern Europe.”