Havant marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Posted: 21st January 2022

Havant Borough Council invites residents to remember victims of the Holocaust during a short non-religious commemorative service being held on Thursday 27 January.

[Holocaust]

The outdoor ceremony, starting at 11am, will be held at the Holocaust Memorial at the Havant Cemetery, Eastern Road, Havant, PO9 2JQ.

The date marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and the service, led by Councillor Leah Turner, will include a reading by the Mayor of Havant, Councillor Rosy Raines, and will include local students from secondary schools around the borough.

Councillor Leah Turner said: “The theme for this year’s commemoration is ‘One Day’ and there are many ways to interpret this. One day in history, one day when life changed or one day to remember.  

“The Holocaust and subsequent atrocities should not be consigned to history without comment. The language of hate and prejudice must be challenged by all of us and by standing together we can create a safer future for those of all faiths and none.

“By welcoming our young people to the commemoration in remembering all those who lost their lives, we hope that such atrocities may be prevented from happening again.”

The Mayor of Havant, Cllr Rosy Raines, added: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to reflect and live in the hope of this year’s theme - One Day - that there may be ‘one day’ in the future with no genocide. 

“There is no place for hate in this world, country, county or borough.  We must learn from the past to reflect and fight for a peaceful future.” 

The service will conclude with the laying of wreaths at the Memorial.

As with so many events over the last few months, the service has been adapted in light of coronavirus guidelines, and social distancing will be observed. 

Each year thousands of activities take place around the UK to mark the date.  More information about Holocaust Memorial Day can be found at the website  www.hmd.org.uk

About the Holocaust Memorial

Placed in Havant Cemetery, Eastern Road, Havant, PO9 2JQ since 2007 by Havant Borough Council.

The memorial is made from a block of Welsh Slate and has a stainless steel ‘flame’ mounted in a hollowed out section. The ‘flame’, which is the symbol of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, is to represent warmth, hope and remembrance emerging from the cold of the slate.