Special commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day hosted by district council Chair

Three local MPs were among the guests who attended a special Holocaust Memorial Day event hosted by the Chair of Three Rivers District Council in Rickmansworth on Friday.

Cllr Debbie Morris welcomed Gagan Mohindra, MP for South West Hertfordshire; Dean Russell, MP for Watford and Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans to the event at Three Rivers House.

The special commemoration featured guest speakers Barbara Cohen, Chair of Holocaust Learning UK, Dr Dave Rich, Director of Policy, Community Security Trust and Robert Voss CBE CStJ, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.

The event also featured a screening of a film telling the story of the Holocaust through the eyes of a number of survivors.

Cllr Morris said: “This event was a first for the council, involving a wide range of community leaders in the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. It was really important to me to host this event because I'm Jewish and my family was directly impacted by the Holocaust. I was keen to include community representation so that they could share what they heard and saw with those they represent."

The Lord Lieutenant – whose own family was impacted by the Holocaust – concluded the commemoration by lighting a memorial candle, a key part of Holocaust Memorial Day, remembering those who were murdered for who they were and as a symbol of standing against prejudice and hatred today.

Seventy-five guests attended the event including mayors and chairs from across Hertfordshire, the London Borough of Hillingdon, the headteachers and senior staff from five local secondary schools and parish, representatives from residents' associations across the district as well as district and county councillors.

Photos:

Top: Guest speakers Barbara Cohen, Chair of Holocaust Learning UK, Robert Voss CBE CStJ, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Dr Dave Rich, Director of Policy, Community Security Trust and Cllr Debbie Morris, Chair of Three Rivers District Council.

Bottom: Cllr Debbie Morris speaking at the event.