Holocaust Memorial Day services will be held in Clacton and Harwich later this month, providing a moment of reflection to remember the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.
A solemn service will be hosted by Tendring District Council (TDC) at the Sunken Rose Garden on Marine Parade West, Clacton, on Tuesday, 27 January, from 11am to 11.30am.
It will be led by Harvey Newman, from the Colchester and District Jewish Community, and will be attended by local dignitaries, including TDC Chairman, Bill Davidson.
This year marks the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp – and continues to honour the memory of victims from more recent genocides around the world.
The national theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 — set by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust — is ‘Bridging Generations’, encouraging us all to listen, learn, and shape a better future by connecting past and present.
Councillor Davidson said: “On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside those who were persecuted and killed under the Nazi regime and in genocides since — from Bosnia to Rwanda, Darfur and beyond.
“This day is a solemn reminder of where hatred and prejudice can lead if left unchecked.
“The theme ‘Bridging Generations’ calls on us all to ensure these stories and lessons are passed on, so that future generations understand the consequences of division and intolerance.
“By coming together in reflection, we honour those who were lost and reaffirm our shared responsibility to stand against discrimination and violence in all its forms.”
“It is our duty to keep their memory alive and to learn from the past so that such atrocities are never repeated.”
This service will be the second to take place since the installation of a Holocaust Memorial Stone in September 2024 – facilitated by the Colchester and District Jewish Community Synagogue – to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.
For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed via the Tendring District Council Facebook page.
A Holocaust Memorial Day service, organised by Harwich Town Council, will also take place at the ‘Safe Haven’ Kindertransport memorial at The Quay, in Harwich, on 27 January at 11am.
