A memorial service in recognition of National Holocaust Day will take place in the Princess Diana Gardens, Radipole Park Drive, Weymouth.

A memorial service in recognition of National Holocaust Day will take place in the Princess Diana Gardens, Radipole Park Drive, Weymouth on Friday 25 January at 10am.

The service will start at 10am with an official blessing of a new memorial tree, planted near to Alexandra Bridge, which has been donated by local resident Tony Hamm.

Rev Chris Briggs, Mayor Chaplin will lead the service supported by the Mayor of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Cllr Margaret Leicester, Lord Morris Mendoza and local Rabbi Anna Gerrard.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the Holocaust service. Local councilors, local event volunteer Barbara Cohen and Friends of the Parks will also be present.

Brief Holder for Social Inclusion, Cllr Kate Wheller said: “The service will give people an opportunity to pause and reflect on the continuing importance of social inclusion, tolerance and equality in today’s society”.

Holocaust Memorial Day is an annual international day of remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and Tibet. It marks the day in 1945 when the Auschwitz–Birkenau extermination camp was liberated and this year is the 68^th anniversary of this date.

Further Holocaust memorial events taking place in and around the borough include:

• A Holocaust Memorial event on Friday 25 January at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. Hosted by the South West Dorset Multicultural Network there will be song, dance, art work and readings from local school children.  All are welcome (for more information please contact Emma Scott on 01305 252204)
• A Holocaust Memorial display from 21 to 25 January at Weymouth Library. A display set up by Barbara Cohen of the South West Dorset Multicultural Network and friends

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