Holocaust Memorial Day Event at the Guildhall focused on the Fragility of Freedom

Last year, Salisbury City Council led its first Holocaust Memorial event, opening a Book of Remembrance, which will now be open each year on the 27th of January. In 2023 the event was a fitting reminder of the horrors of the past that we might learn from them and was embraced by the people of Salisbury. In 2024 the Council are once again reaching out to the community to make Salisbury’s Holocaust Memorial Day a response from the city itself to this year’s theme – “The Fragility of Freedom”.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday 27 January, at the Guildhall, starting at 10am. The event will include a 2-minute silence, music and video materials from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, local speaker’s personal accounts and contributions from local schools. This year, readings of selected poems from the Holocaust Memorial Day poetry competition, which invites local people to help us find words to express this year’s theme, will feature.

The City Council welcome contact from any local people who would like to attend or take part. Holocaust Memorial Day is a moment for local people to remember, reflect and increase understanding of the impacts of genocide across generations and borders. The City Council hosts the event, but it is essential that it is for and from the whole community.

An attendee of the event last year said, “Last year’s event was so well attended by lots of people from across the community and was a poignant moment of reflection in our busy life. The video on the 10 stages of Genocide still stays with me all year and makes me truly grateful for my own freedom.”

Cllr Ian Tomes, representing the City Council Leadership Group, said “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important day in the City Council calendar. I am honoured we are hosting the day at the Guildhall and enabling people to join us for the event or make a quiet contribution by signing the Book of Remembrance. Making this event part of our annual calendar is our commitment to stop and learn from our history.”

Anyone who would like to attend the Memorial Day event on Saturday 27th January can email corporate@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk

Anyone who wishes to be involved can contact the Communities Team on bhc@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk or call the office on 01722 417100.

To find out more about the Holocaust Memorial Day Poetry Competition (deadline 8th Jan), click here: Salisbury City Council launch a poetry competition for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024

All attendees of the event will be invited by the City Council to sign a memorial book, which will be opened annually on Holocaust Memorial Day from 2023 onwards. The book will be open for the public to sign after the event from 1 – 5pm on Saturday 27th.