We’ll all stand together

Oldham Mayor, Councillor Shoab Akhtar, will lead the Holocaust Memorial Service at Gallery Oldham on Tuesday at 11am.

Packed with representatives from various faiths, the event will remember the victims of the Holocaust and all acts of genocide committed since the end of the Second World War.

The day of remembrance will also give the borough an opportunity to unite against prejudice, discrimination and racism.

Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes said: “The council sees it as its duty to support Holocaust Day to ensure this terrible episode is never forgotten and to ensure that racism and victimisation carried out against individuals or groups must never be allowed to happen again.” The theme for this year’s memorial day is “Stand up to Hatred”, which will provide the opportunity for Oldham to promote the “There’s No Place for Hate in Oldham” campaign.

Other commemorative events also take place on Tuesday. They are at Shaw War Memorial (9.45am), Royton Park (10.30am) and The Square, Uppermill (5pm).

Earlier this week, Gordon Brown signed a book of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust.

The Prime Minister was presented with the book of commitment by Holocaust survivors Ben Helfgott and his sister, Mala Tribich, the only members of their family in Poland to escape the Nazi genocide of the Jews.

Signing the book, Mr Brown wrote: “The whole world should remember and never forget — remember the courageous men and women and also remember the evil that was done.”