Lord Mayor to lead city Holocaust Memorial Day service

A city civic commemoration event marking Holocaust Memorial Day will be held on Sunday 22 January at Leeds Town Hall from 2pm.

Remembering those who were persecuted and died during the Holocaust and other genocides, the event hosted by the Lord Mayor Cllr Gerry Harper will also include a keynote speech by MP for Leeds North East, Fabian Hamilton.

Featuring on the programme will be music performed by the Clothworkers Consort of the University of Leeds and a performance of ‘Light the Dark’ by the Carriageworks Young Theatre Makers. Inspired by the testimony of Holocaust survivors, the young people have created a performance which honours those accounts while offering their personal reflections and responses to this year’s national theme for Holocaust Memorial Day, 'How can life go on’? As is tradition, candles will also be lit to commemorate all those who have been affected by the Holocaust and more recent genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur.

The aftermath of the Holocaust and of subsequent genocides continue to raise challenging questions for individuals, communities and nations, and this will be explored through this year’s theme. The vision of Holocaust Memorial Day is to learn from the past in order to create a safer, better future.

Members of the public are invited to join the Lord Mayor at the commemoration service, which is coordinated by the council’s Arts Development team and the Holocaust Memorial Day steering group.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Gerry Harper said:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is a chance for people to come together to remember the Holocaust and also genocides in different parts of the world. The theme of ‘How can life go on’ prompts us to think about what happens after genocide and of our own responsibilities in the wake of such a crime.”

The event is coordinated in Leeds by the Arts Development team, Leeds City Council, and the Holocaust Memorial Day steering group.

To find out more, please visit: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Arts-Development.aspx

Notes to editors:

About Holocaust Memorial Day:

Holocaust Memorial Day on 27^th January 2017 is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

About the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust:

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is the charity established by the Government to promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day, encouraging and inspiring individuals and organisations across the UK to play their part in learning lessons from the past and creating a safer, better future.

www.hmd.org.uk

Fabian Hamilton MP:

Fabian Hamilton MP has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds North East since 1997. Born in London in 1955, he went to school in Brentwood, Essex and the University of York where he graduated with a BA in Politics, Sociology and Economics in 1977. In 1987, he became Councillor for Wortley ward in west Leeds and chaired Leeds City Council’s Race Equality Committee amongst other roles. He has been a member of many Parliamentary Select Committees, including Foreign Affairs from 2001 to 2010.

Carriageworks Young Theatre Makers:

The Carriageworks Young Theatre Makers are an ensemble of young people working collaboratively as performers, writers and directors by creating original, thoughtful theatre.

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk