Formby High School pupils' praised for Holocaust Memorial project

Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson has praised Formby High School for raising awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust.

The MP visited the school to attend a special assembly which was held by Sixth Formers Callum Jones and Lucy Smith, who were selected to take part in a special project to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Holocaust in Germany, after they both wrote essays on the subject.

Mr Esterson said he was honoured to have been invited to attend the special assembly, saying: “Seventy years is not that long. The fact that there are survivors still around who can tell the stories of what happened in places like Auschwitz shows the holocaust is a part of our modern history.

“That’s why it is invaluable that young people like Callum and Lucy get to hear the stories.

“Lucy and Callum held a very moving assembly which clearly touched many of the young people who attended.

“It is only by making sure that we pass down the stories of the holocausts on to younger generations that we ensure that these horrors are not forgotten and everything possible is done to avoid horrors like that in the future.”

As part of the programme, Lucy and Callum traveled to Poland where they were given a tour of Auschwitz concentration camp and met a Holocaust survivor.

Speaking after the assembly, Callum commented: “We were really honoured to have been given the chance to go Auschwitz and even more so to meet survivor Zigi Shipper.

“This is about making sure that we never forget and remember what so many people went through in the past - and sadly even now.

“Our project uncovered stories from people who were there. As part of the assembly we showed a video to the younger years which features some of the survivors from the holocaust in Germany.

“It is important we remember what happened 70 years ago and what the holocausts that are happening to this day, for instance in Nigeria.”

Formby High has dedicated part of the gardens at the Sixth Form Centre to a Holocaust Memorial with the installation of commemorative tree and bench.

Lucy added: “As well as holding the assemblies, we have had the special memorial service in the Sixth Form gardens on Holocaust Memorial Day itself where we have created a quiet place where people can sit and think.

“And we have created a pledge book for people to sign to promise to never forget, which Bill Esterson was the first to sign.

“This whole programme has been a very fulfilling project to work on.

“I am really proud of our school. We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of the whole school.

“It is just so important now to make sure that people of all ages, particularly younger people know about what has happened and take time to remember.”

Story and Photo Source: Southport Visitor