Harwich to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day
Following the installation of the Kindertransport memorial on Harwich Quay, Harwich Town Council realised that the memorial offered a fitting focal point for a commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. As a result the council took the decision to host an annual commemoration at the memorial and this happened for the first time in 2023.
Holocaust memorial Day is January 27th as this is the date on which the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated in 1945. The commemoration usually takes place on this date but, because Saturday is the Jewish sabbath, this year’s commemoration will take place on Friday 26th January.
The council works alongside the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust to arrange the commemoration and, in addition to the ceremony on Harwich Quay, Harwich Town Council has commissioned the illumination of Harwich’s High Lighthouse in purple over the nights of Friday 26th, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January. Harwich Town Council is grateful to the Harwich Society for its assistance in enabling the illumination of the lighthouse which is a Harwich Society visitor attraction.
The commemoration at the Kindertransport memorial will commence at 11AM and all are welcome.
Speaking on behalf of Harwich Town Council, Cllr. Garry Calver, says, “Harwich’s involvement in the Kindertransport is a proud part of our town’s history and resulted in the wonderful memorial on Harwich Quay. The memorial now offers us a fitting setting at which to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and we will welcome everyone who wishes to be part of that commemoration.”
In addition to the commemoration on 26th January, the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust is staging an exhibition about the Kindertransport at the Harwich Arts and Heritage Centre from Wednesday 24th to Wednesday 31st January (Closed on Sunday 28th). The exhibition follows the extraordinary life story of Leslie Brent (born Lothar Baruch) who arrived at Harwich on the very first Kindertransport on 2nd December 1938 and spent many weeks at the Warners’ Dovercourt Bay holiday camp.
The exhibition is free of charge and the opening times are:
Wed. 24th – 1100-1545
Thu. 25th.- 1000-1545
Fri. 26th.- 1000-1545
Sat. 27th.- 1000-1500
Mon. 29th.- 1000-1545
Tue. 30th. – 1000-1545
Wed.31st. – 1000-1530
For further information please contact
Lucy Ballard, clerk to Harwich Town Council, on 01255 507211
Sue Daish of the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial and Learning Trust at sue.daish@yahoo.co.uk
Harwich Kindertransport Memorial – Photo Maria Fowler