On Friday, Helen Edward, Father Martin Hislop DL and Kingston Group Leader Cllr Rowena Bass convened with members of the Royal British Legion and Kingston Faith and Belief Forum at the Kingston Memorial Gardens to observe the Holocaust Act of Remembrance.
The Holocaust Act of Remembrance read out by Father Martin Hislop DL Representative Deputy Lieutenant:
''We stand together to observe this day and honour the lives of victims of persecution and genocide.
We remember the victims of Nazi persecution and all genocides.
We give thanks for all those who have survived genocide and have shared their stories.
We acknowledge those who who stood up against injustice and those who saved lives during this Holocaust and other genocides. We give thanks for their example.
We pledge to try to make our society a better place today - free from the evils of hatred, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination.''
The Programme was hosted by Royal British Legion and Kingston Faith and Belief Forum and opened with a moving tribute by David Cheesman (Chair, Malden & Coombe, Kingston upon Thames Branch Royal British Legion) and Rabbi Rene Pfertzel (Kingston Liberal Synagogue and Chair of Kingston Faith and Belief Forum). The Poem 'A Wish' by Maxina Kendall was read by Lynne Finnerty, Royal British Legion.
A two minute silence was observed and wreaths were laid by The Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston, Councillor Diane White
and The Mayor of Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey RBL Chairman, Cllr Shannon Saise-Marshall. Poem 'I Kept on Walking' by Mark Hayward Poem read by RashidAli Laher Faith and Belief Forum Ambassador and Retired Major.
Helen Edward said
"Set in the heart of our Kingston Heritage Memorial Gardens, it was a sombre and moving ceremony of Remembrance for the Holocaust - made all the more moving for recent events and my family ties to the Jewish community."
