Manchester remembers National Holocaust Memorial Day

High school children from Manchester will learn first hand about the experience of a holocaust survivor at a special event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2012.

Taking place at the Cornerhouse, a special screening of the powerful and moving film 'Nicky's family' tells the story of a unique and courageous figure, Sir Nicholas Winton and his remarkable rescue mission that remained untold for nearly half a century.

This special event is organised by Manchester City Council and UK Jewish Film to an invited audience of school children and community groups.

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Harry Lyons will introduce the event and guest speaker, Lady Milena Grenfell Baines, who was nine years old when Sir Nicholas Winton organised the train which saved her life, will recount her experiences in an interview with Judy Ironside, Founder and Director of the UK Jewish Film Festival.

The film highlights the importance of this year's theme Speak Up, Speak Out. Sir Nicholas Winton, called 'Britain's Schindler' by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, was the brains behind the Czech Kindertransport that saved 669 children in the first six months of 1939. A stockbroker of German-Jewish heritage, he refused to stand by when he saw the injustice happening and not only spoke out but helped to save the lives of hundreds of children.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: "Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember the victims of the Holocaust and other atrocities. They should never be forgotten and it is important that we continue to remember and educate our young people. As time passes there are less survivors to talk about their experience and it is a privilege to hear survivors recount their stories first hand. All of the events that are taking place give us the opportunity to learn the lessons from the Holocaust, nazi persecution and subsequent genocides and to promote the message of peace, respect and tolerance."

Judy Ironside, Founder and Director of Uk Jewish Film said: "Through the medium of film we can make a very important connection to the history of Holocaust and Genocide and, when this experience is linked with contact with a Survivor, it is enhanced and becomes more personal. We need these connections to empower us to guard against injustice in our own life experiences and to ensure that we try to play our part to counteract persecution and do not repeat the errors of the past. It is vital that we take time in our lives, both to acknowledge these historical events, and also to pause and think about our own roles in preventing further experiences of hatred and Genocide."

This is one of a number events happening in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day. At Manchester Town Hall on 25 January, Holocaust survivor Jack aged 83, and the only member of his family to survive, will share his story at an event supported by Hill Dickinson and hosted by Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.

At the Manchester Jewish Museum a number of events are planned including a temporary exhibition, The Windermere Boys which will open to the public on January 29 and runs until 31 May 2012. The exhibition tells the compelling story of the 300 Jewish children who were sent to the UK for recuperation and stayed in the village of Calgarth which stood near Windermere. These children eventually found homes in the UK and many of them came to settle in Manchester. And at a special ceremony on the eve of Holocaust Day the 'Souvenir d'Anne Frank' rose will be planted in the grounds of the Jewish Museum. The rose will be planted by theatre company Ensemble who will also premier a new production at the Zion Arts Centre in Hulme which tells the story about Anne, her father and the rose.