Marking Holocaust Memorial Day, survivor launches project to tell a thousand ‘Untold Stories’
25 Jan 2011 – Today at the UK Holocaust Centre (home of the Aegis Trust), two days ahead of the UK’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day, Holocaust survivor Simon Winston launched a project inspired by the Day’s 2011 theme – ‘Untold Stories’ – to document the stories behind The Holocaust Centre’s memorial roses.
“Since 1995, over a thousand white roses have been planted in the Centre’s memorial gardens by visitors who lost loved ones during the Holocaust, each accompanied by a plaque bearing a few words in dedication,” says Dr James Smith, Chairman of The Holocaust Centre and Chief Executive, Aegis Trust. “Though an integral part of the Centre’s life, the human stories behind these dedications have until now remained largely untold.”
“The Holocaust Centre plans to document as many of these stories as possible,” says Centre Director Helen Whitney. “We will do this both on our website and in a new publication, ‘Behind the Rose,’ to be released in the autumn.”
Simon launched the project by becoming the first person who has dedicated a rose in the garden to present the story behind it for inclusion in the book. “I dedicated my rose to my mother and father, who saved my life,” he said. “They nursed and protected me through my darkest hours.”
Saved not least due to the remarkable foresight of his father, who converted his assets to the gold that secured the family’s escape and protection, Simon’s own account of survival as a child in hiding was recorded at The Holocaust Centre for the Holocaust Memorial Day website this year as part of a filming project conducted in association with the Aegis Trust (www.hmd.org.uk/untoldstories).
A memorial candle-lighting during the event was led by Centre co-founder Marina Smith. Candles were lit by Simon Winston; Manfred Dessau, a refugee from Nazi Germany; Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich (Nottingham Progressive Synagogue); Revd Chris Levy (the local Anglican vicar); and by Daniel Cohen and Jack Hutchinson, two students from Bury Grammar School in Lancashire, visiting The Holocaust Centre today.
They and their fellow students took part in the project launch, laying white roses on the Children’s Memorial after hearing from Simon. Standing in the heart of the rose garden, it commemorates the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered by the Nazis as part of the so-called ‘Final Solution’.
http://holocaustcentre.net/?p=2298
