Crowds turn out to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Pupils took time out of class to attend the public event at All Saints’ Square on Friday, where they performed songs and gave readings linked to this year's national theme, “How can life go on?”

Year 4 pupils from St Ann's Junior and Infant School gave a rendition of their school anthem, Can You Hear My Voice, and students from Oakwood High School sang Something Inside So Strong.

An original song, called How Can Life Go On?, was performed by Nic Harding, Reaching Communities Co-ordinator at the myPlace youth centre, while and Clifton School student Vaniya Farooq sang With You, from Ghost the Musical.

Speakers included The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Lindsay Pitchley, the Vicar of Rotherham, Canon David Bliss and Imam Zahid Hussain.

The Mayor, pictured above addressing the crowd, said she had been “overwhelmed” by the number of people wanting to speak at and support this year’s event.

A display at the town centre event included a hand-crafted angel, with wings made out of the written pledges which local people made at last year's Holocaust Memorial Day.  

It was created at a Festival of Angels workshop run earlier this year by Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REMA).

Rotherham Borough Council leader Cllr Chirs Read said: “Building a strong and supportive community where no-one is left behind is at the heart of the council's vision for the borough.  

“The sombre events to mark Holocaust Memorial Day give us all a chance to reflect on how important community is, and how we must continue to stand together against those who seek to divide us.”