Service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

Published: Thu 16th January, 2025

An annual service to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day will take place at the bandstand in Queen’s Park in Loughborough.

The event on Monday, 27 January at 12pm, will see the Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE read a statement of commitment.

Members of the public are invited to attend the service and lay a pebble on the commemoration stone as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives during the Holocaust.

The day is recognised across the world to remember the six million Jews that were murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the millions of other people killed from 1933-1945 under the Nazi persecution and in genocides across the world since.

The Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE said: “It is so important that we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and remember those who were killed in genocides throughout the world.

“As well as being an opportunity to reflect on past events, it is also a chance for us to come together and stand against all instances of hatred, prejudice and discrimination – from race, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.

“Many of our residents have personal, powerful connections to Holocaust Memorial Day, and it is important that we show them our full support.”

The statement of commitment that will be read by the Mayor, talks about the need to remember holocausts of the past, those who died and to ensure that we educate future generations.

The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘For a Better Future’ encouraging people to reflect on how we can learn both from and about the Holocaust and more recent genocides, for a better future.

This year will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

Communities around the UK will come together to pledge not to take freedom for granted and consider what they can do to strengthen freedoms around the world.

More information about this year’s theme can be found on the Holocaust Memorial Day website.

A nationwide online ceremony called Curated Moments will take place on Monday, 27 January. The ceremony is organised by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and people can register to watch the ceremony online.