Light a candle
The Council will join with others over the next week in remembering the Holocaust and other genocides, marking the 80th year since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp from the Nazis.
Schoolchildren at Ludlow Primary School will plant a memorial cherry tree on the morning of Holocaust Memorial Day, Monday 27 January. This will involve South Shropshire Interfaith Forum, the school itself, and the local Shropshire Council councillors. Children will think about the theme for the year, “for a better future”, say prayers and light a candle, and the school will make a promise to look after their tree.
Ahead of this, South Shropshire Interfaith Forum are holding an event to which all are welcome, on Saturday 25 January at 5pm. This will involve presentations, discussion, and remembrance. The location is Church Stretton United Reformed Church, 75 High Street, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 6BY
Councillor Kirstie Hurst Knight, Cabinet member for children and education, said:
“Here in Shropshire, our aim is to help primary school children to learn about the Holocaust and other genocides in a way that will be age-appropriate and memorable, and that will help them to grow in their understanding of and respect for world faiths as well. I am really pleased that the children of Ludlow Primary will be helping us to grow our cherry tree orchard of remembrance across Shropshire, through planting what will be our twentieth tree.
“At every school where we have planted these trees, children have enjoyed being part of this and have shown a great understanding when planting the trees as to their meaning and importance. I am sure that the children at Ludlow Primary will be no different, and that they will gain a great deal from their participation.
“This year, we are thinking in particular about the theme “For a better future” and how this links with helping children and young people in Shropshire to grow up with a deeper understanding of the need for acceptance of each other as we are, and the need to work together across all our communities to ensure that there is a better future for all.”
Beverley Waite, the Mayor of Ludlow, has also sent the following message of support:
“Please know that my thoughts are very much with you all on this day of remembrance. The Holocaust Memorial Day and its commemorations hold great significance to me, and I am saddened to miss this opportunity to honour and remember the victims and survivors. I extend my heartfelt best wishes for a successful and impactful event.”
Shropshire Council is also encouraging everyone to join in with the national moment of remembrance later that day. This is at 8pm.
People across the nation will light candles and put them safely in their windows to:
- remember those who were murdered for who they were
- stand against prejudice and hatred today
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place on 27 January each year and is a time to remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It marks the Holocaust and other atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis, including against the six million Jews who were murdered, and atrocities against people with disabilities, Sinti and Roma communities, people who were black or Slavic eg from Poland, and people who were gay.
This year is also the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
80 years on, antisemitism (anti-Jewish hatred) has increased significantly in the UK and across the world. Extremists are exploiting the situation to stir up anti-Muslim hatred in the UK. Many UK communities are feeling vulnerable, with hostility and suspicion of others rising. The hope articulated by the HMD Trust is that HMD 2025 can be an opportunity for people to come together, learn both from and about the past, and take actions to make a better future for all.
More about the trees
As well as sourcing the trees through kind support from our arboriculturist team here, John Blessington from the team is helping with practicalities including guidance on looking after the trees as they grow alongside the children of the schools involved.
They are Black Oliver flowering cherries, a variety native to the West Midlands, chosen to link in with the importance of fruiting trees in Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and to illustrate our wish to show welcome for different faiths within our local area.
We also have a special Remembering Srebrenica tree planted in July 2021 at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, to coincide with Remembering Srebrenica Day on 11 July. This commemorates the humanitarian role of the armed forces, and brings the total number to 20 trees including the one to be planted in 2025 in Ludlow.
There is more about the role of the local armed forces, in blogs produced by Shropshire Archives Team, at https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/
We return each July to the Remembering Srebrenica tree, and will do so again this year. Mereside School, with whom we planted our first tree in 2015, take part in ceremonies here, as do the Shrewsbury Interfaith Forum and South Shropshire Interfaith Forum.
Local activities and events
Date and time: Saturday 25 January 5.00pm
Title: HMD 2025 – For a better future: remembering past genocides
Location: Church Stretton United Reformed Church, 75 High Street, Church Stretton, Shropshire SY6 6BY
Presentations, discussion, remembrance. Organised by South Shropshire Interfaith Forum. All Welcome
Date and time: Monday 27 January 10.30am to 12 noon
Title: Poetry for Holocaust Memorial Day
Location: Shrewsbury Abbey, Shrewsbury
A recital of poems from the Holocaust and other genocides, and some poems of hope. On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the victims of the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945, when 6 million Jews were systematically murdered, as were thousands of disabled people, Roma people, gay men, political opponents of the Nazis, and many others. We remember that genocide did not stop in 1945, and so we also recall more recent events in Cambodia, Bosnia, and elsewhere. By hearing poems written by victims of genocide and atrocity, we can think of the individuals behind the statistics, and also try to feel hope for a better future.
Date and time: Monday 27 January 1030am to 1130am
Title: Telford and Wrekin Civic Ceremony
Location: AFC Telford United, Telford, TF1 2NW
An event to honour the survivors of the Holocaust and other genocides, and remember those that were murdered.
Telford and Wrekin Council and Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council are involved.
We will honour the survivors of these regimes and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experiences to inform our lives today. This year’s theme, ‘A better Future’, looks forward to what actions we can take to avoid and prevent these horrendous acts from occurring again.
To attend please register – Telford and Wrekin HMD Commemoration
The closest accessible car park is on site at AFC Telford United, SEAH Stadium, Haybridge Road, Wellington, TF1 2NW. Detailed parking instructions will be supplied once confirmation of attendance has been confirmed. Should you require any assistance, more information or wish to let us know about any needs, please get in touch via yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk
On behalf of Cllr Ian Preece, Mayor of the Borough of Telford & Wrekin
