Series of Southend events to be held to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (From Echo)

Series of Southend events to be held to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

10:28am Monday 25th January 2010 in

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A survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp is to speak at a special service to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday.

Lesley Kleinman from Southend survived Auschwitz, Belsen-Bergen and the Death March and regularly relates his experiences to schoolchildren in the town.

He will address the congregation at a special service being held in the council chamber at Southend Civic Centre at 5.30pm on Wednesday.

This year is particularly poignant to the Jewish community as it marks the 65th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation by allied forces.

Wednesday’s service, which is open to all, will be chaired by councillor Derek Jarvis, chairman of the Honours and Holocaust Memorial Day Working Party.

The multi-faith event, which also commemorates other atrocities such as Rwanda and Darfur, will include choir music, prayers, poetry readings and hymns.

It will be preceded by a tree planting ceremony at Blenheim Park in Leigh at 1pm performed by Southend Mayor, Brian Smith.

For a full list of events see tomorrow's Echo.