Royton and Crompton Academy host commemorative event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

A scene from the Holocaust Memorial Day event at E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy

E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy held a commemorative event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide.

They promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides. 

The school welcomed the Mayor of Oldham Metropolitan Borough, Cllr Zahid Chauhan OBE, guest speaker Leah Burman, a member of the Northern Holocaust Education Group, Father Phil Sumner and representatives from Oldham Youth Council and Oldham Theatre Workshop along to the event. 

During the event, students listened to a speech from the Mayor and were encouraged to reflect on those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and discuss how they can take action to make sure the future is a safer and brighter place. 

The students also heard from the representatives of Oldham Youth Council and Oldham Theatre Workshop about their recent trip to the Auschwitz and Birkenau camps and from Leah Burnam, a second-generation Holocaust survivor whose parents were born in Poland. 

Her father survived three concentration camps and forced marches.

Andrea Atkinson, Headteacher at E-ACT Royton and Crompton Academy, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is such an important day, and it was only right that our students’ spent some time reflecting on it. 

"These are difficult issues, but I believe that young people need to learn about atrocities such as the Holocaust and I am grateful for everyone who came together at our commemorative event to share their thoughts and experiences.” 

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.