Holocaust Memorial Event

Today we were honoured to host Oldham's Holocaust Memorial Event at Newman Catholic College. We were reminded by The Worshipful, the Mayor of Oldham, of this year's theme: to bridge generations and ensure that the messages of the Holocaust are not forgotten by future generations.

We welcomed Marianne Phillips, a first-generation survivor from the Northern Holocaust Education Group, to speak to our guests from Oldham Council, Oldham Youth Council, Oldham Theatre Workshop, The Interfaith Forum, and our Year 10 Historians. Marianne’s story was inspirational. She described a world in which she often felt isolated because of her religion, yet protected from the worst by her parents. She shared her journey to England and the life she has built here since.

We then heard from members of Oldham Youth Council and Oldham Theatre Workshop, who recently visited Auschwitz. They delivered a powerful performance about speaking out and serving as witnesses to the past.

Finally, we heard from our own students, including Phoebe, who also took part in the visit to Auschwitz, as well as Year 9 students who have recently created reflective poems in their history lessons.

Today’s event was humbling, inspiring, and deeply motivational. It reminded all who attended, and all who will hear its messages, that it is our shared responsibility to stand against hate, to remember the past, and to work together for peace.