2nd February 2012

WEYMOUTH: The importance of remembering

Respect for Holocause victims shown by Weymouth residents

By Harry Walton

HEADS bowed in respect when the annual Holocaust service was held in Weymouth.

It was taken by the Reverend Brian Ellis in the Diana Princess of Wales Gardens off Radipole Park Drive and among those who attended was Weymouth and Portland Mayor Councillor Graham Winter and Lord Mendoza who lost his family in the Holocaust concentration camps of World War II.

He said: “I feel this service is very important, particularly as an aunt of mine died last November and she had survived five years in Auschwitz.

“We hope to establish a formal Jewish community in Weymouth this year and to join in the 2013 Holocaust service as a community.”

Mr Winter said: “This is a very important day when we remember what happened in the past to try and ensure that it never happens again in the future.”

Mr Ellis said: “We have got to remember that events similar to the Holocaust are still happening now. It hasn’t stopped and we have to cross faiths to speak out about it now.”

• A HOLOCAUST display to mark Holocaust Memorial Day was held at Weymouth Library.

The 2012 theme was Speak Up Speak Out and organiser Barbara Cohen said that the public response to it had been very positive.

She added: “It encouraged people to remember, to try and ensure that all prejudices are made unacceptable whether they are aimed at the colour of a person’s skin, their sexuality, their religion or their nationality.

“It is important to ensure that something like the Holocaust never happens again although it is happening in Tibet with China.

“So many countries trade with China but they don’t speak out against what is happening in Tibet because they don’t want to rock the boat.”

PICTURE 1: Part of the congregation at the Holocaust service

PICTURE 2: SPEAK OUT - Barbara Cohen adjusts the Holocaust display in Weymouth Library