27th January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Allies, has just been designated Holocaust Memorial Day by the Government; it was formally recognised for the first time this year.
Hastings Council was keen to play its part, and started to make arrangements late last year to ensure that the day was marked in an appropriate way.
A series of meetings, with the Hastings and District Jewish Society, Christian Friends of Israel and the Council of Christians and Jews followed. It was agreed that the day would be marked by a special service, which would remember what had happened, and look forward to a world in which atrocities could never take place again.
The wonderful St Mary in the Castle was chosen as the venue, and invitations were sent to civic leaders, church groups, and community groups.
Initially it had been thought that a ‘congregation’ of a few dozen would count as ‘success’ in the event, several hundred accepted the invitation!
And so the day dawned, with various groups putting up display material relating to the Holocaust, and other events such as ‘ethnic cleansing’ that have taken place through history. Unfortunately, we were reminded that these are still happening today.
The service itself was incredibly touching, no-one present could fail to be affected by the amazing talk by Dr Bruce Eton. A German Jew, he was initially evacuated to Switzerland in the early 1930s, then to Italy, and finally to England. Ironically he was the interned in 1940 as he was a German, before being allowed to enlist in the British Army as a medical officer, and help liberate his native Berlin. His attempts to become a doctor frustrated in Switzerland, Italy and, initially England were finally successful, and after the war Dr Eton went on to forge a highly successful career. Now long retired, Dr Eton remains very active, and sang solos in Hebrew during the service, to the admiration of everybody.
Other speakers also told of their experiences in the war, it was surprising just how many survivors of the Holocaust now live in and around Hastings & St. Leonards. Civic leaders also spoke closing with Michael Foster MP giving a short talk ‘Never Again’.
Sadly, though, terrible things are still going on around the world. We have heard of the ‘ethnic cleansing’ in ‘the former Yugoslavia’, but there are others, too as Alfred Gasaba-Rugagura, from Rwanda, reminded us. It would be naïve to think that remembering past atrocities on 27th January each year will solve the problem.
But there is much to look forward to, and above all the message from the Memorial Service was one of hope for the future. The wonderful ‘Bruderhof’ choir from Robertsbridge were inspirational, and the enthusiasm of the youngsters was infectious. Together, we really ought to be able to build a better future for everybody.
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This page last updated: 06/04/2001