On Monday 27th January, Derby held a series of events on Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme this year was “Torn from home”. Guests including the Bosnian Ambassador and representatives of the Armenian and Ukrainian Embassies were welcomed to a civic reception by the Mayor at the Council House. We are grateful to Derby City Council who have this year officially recognised acts of genocide in both countries. There was a service at the Bridge Chapel including a stone laying ceremony at the two trees planted to remember Anne Frank and Olga Nahlak (a Derby resident who had sheltered Jewish victims during the holocaust). There was also a Service of Remembrance and Commemoration at the Cathedral, a presentation by the Bosnian community at the Bosnian Centre and a major event at QUAD. This included a presentation from Crich junior school given a sanctuary award last year, a schools poetry competition, music and dance. There were talks from survivors, and an interview with someone who had fled his country as a refugee describing the difficulties he had faced.

All these events are illustrated by a series of photographs taken by Russell Pollard which are available here.