HOLOCAUST Memorial Day 2018 will be commemorated with two events in Barrow.

Barrow Trades Union Council’s annual commemorative event will be held on Friday at Cooke’s Studios, 104 Abbey Road from 7pm.

The first part of the evening will feature readings of extracts of Holocaust Survivor testimony, and the lighting of a memorial candle.

After a break for refreshments there will be a showing of three short films – the story of Holocaust survivor Bea Green, ‘Nazi Boots’ – a short film by Debs Paterson featuring the story of Holocaust survivor Janine Webber, and Gemma Green-Hope’s film about Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl.

On Saturday January 27 there will be a screening of the award-winning documentary film ‘Arek - How Did A Small Boy Survive The Nazi Holocaust?’ (cert PG), which tells the life story of Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh. The film follows the return of the man Arek Hersh to the places of his childhood, and follows his profoundly moving story from the streets of the Lodz Ghetto to Auschwitz and Birkenau. It will be screened at Cooke’s Studios, from 7pm.

Barrow MP John Woodcock today tweeted his support of Holocaust Memorial day, asserting vigilance will always be needed to stamp out the evil which led to such atrocities so many decades ago.

Holocaust Memorial Day is on January 27, although events to mark it are held in the weeks before and after, as well as on the day itself.

It is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and also subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

George Appleton, chairman of Barrow Trades Union Council, said “It is once again Barrow Trades Union Council’s privilege to commemorate Holocaust

Memorial Day with these two events. The continuing existence of racism and discrimination show the need for vigilance to prevent history from repeating itself.”

Last year more than 7,700 local activities took place across the UK to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, with people coming together in civic halls, public spaces, libraries, cinemas, workplaces, schools and universities. Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK is supported by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: "On Holocaust Memorial Day we honour the survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and challenge ourselves to learn important lessons from their experiences in order to create a safer, better future. This year we have an unprecedented number of activities taking place involving people of all ages and from all walks of life, challenging us all to think about what happens after genocide and of our own responsibilities in the wake of such a crime."

For more information about the Barrow events, or to book a seat, please e-mail georgew1945@hotmail.co.uk