Radclyffe School hosts Holocaust Memorial Day commemorative assembly

The Radclyffe School in Chadderton hosted a poignant and enlightening assembly to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The event was organised in partnership with Oldham Council, Oldham Youth Council, the Oldham Interfaith Forum, and Stuart Ferster from the Northern Holocaust Education Group.

The ceremony began with a welcome from Headteacher John Cregg, followed by an opening speech from the Deputy Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Eddie Moores.

In his address, Councillor Moores reflected on the significance of Holocaust Memorial Day and the importance of remembering the atrocities committed during the Holocaust to ensure they are never repeated.

A key part of the event involved Year 9 students from The Radclyffe School, who have been studying the Sho’ah as part of their curriculum.

Several pupils shared their reflections on the impact that learning about the Holocaust has had on them.

The Oldham Youth Service and Oldham Theatre Workshop also contributed to the event with their presentation of The Listen to the Earth Project, a collaborative multimedia initiative created by young people from Oldham to address the issues they face today.

As part of the project, participants took part in a five-day trip to Poland, where they visited Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau.

This trip allowed the young people to bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust and return home with a renewed sense of responsibility to challenge discrimination and hatred.

Year 9 student Le Prince gave a moving performance of Golden Hour by Jvke on the piano, displaying remarkable talent and emotion.

A particularly powerful moment came when Stuart Ferster, representing the Northern Holocaust Education Group, shared the story of his father, Chaim Ferster, a Holocaust survivor.

Chaim was imprisoned in multiple concentration camps between March 1943 and April 1945, and he and his younger sister were the only members of their immediate family to survive.

Stuart expressed the importance of sharing his father’s story, saying: “It’s important to tell my father’s story in the hope that we can change humanity for the better, that we can learn to live, to get along together, in peace and harmony.”

He continued, “There are eight billion people on the planet.

"We have all got the same colour blood running through our veins.”

Father Phil, a representative from the Oldham Interfaith Forum, brought the commemorative event to a close with a thoughtful message on the continued relevance of Holocaust remembrance.

He spoke of the need to fight discrimination and hatred in all forms, emphasising that these issues are just as prevalent today as they were in the past.

Headteacher Mr Cregg reflected on the importance of the event for both the school and the wider community, adding: “It was a real privilege for us at The Radclyffe School to be asked to host the Holocaust Memorial Event this morning.

“It gave us the opportunity to reflect on what had happened in history and the story of the Holocaust, but also provided a clear message about why it’s so important to remain vigilant against all types of hate, and to make sure that we are all, as this year’s theme says, working together for a better future.”

Sue Webb, Chair of Governors at The Radclyffe School, underscored the importance of passing on the stories of Holocaust survivors, adding: “The few remaining survivors of this dreadful point in time can tell their story, but that story needs to be passed on by the younger generation.”

The event was a solemn reminder of the importance of remembrance and the continued need to fight discrimination and hatred in all its forms.

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