On Monday 27 January 2025, a commemoration service was held in the Town of Folkestone to mark the annual Holocaust Memorial Day, an internationally recognised day to remember the millions of people who were murdered or whose lives were changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

Held in the The Garden of Remembrance, Sandgate Road, Folkestone, and led by Reverend Chris Johnson, the service was attended by the Town Mayor, Town Councillors, local dignitaries and students from local schools and colleges.  Students had undertaken their own research and took part in the commemorations to remember those who died in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

Town Mayor, Councillor Abena Akuffo-Kelly said; “This year is 80 years since the wider world was shown the horrors of genocide when Auschwitz was liberated. We must be more mindful now than ever, to ensure that neither our Jewish community, nor any other people group are ever subjected to a process of dehumanising treatment again. Our freedom is indeed fragile and we must speak out when injustice is seen.”

The theme set by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for 2025 was ‘For a Better Future’.  There are many things we can all do to create a better future.  We can speak up against Holocaust and genocide denial and distortion; we can challenge prejudice; we can encourage others to learn about the Holocaust and more recent genocides.

The Town Mayor wanted to thank all of those who took part in the Service, pupils from the Harvey Grammar School, Brockhill Park School and Turner Free School as well as all the members of the public who attended the service.

For further information please contact the Folkestone Town Council office on 01303 257946 or email georgina.wilson@folkestone-tc.gov.uk