SCHOOLCHILDREN from across the borough marked this year's Holocaust Memorial Day with services and treeplantings.

The event was was themed around children and Ealing Borough Council marked the 58th anniversary of the Holocaust with a memorial service at Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford.

Local schools were invited to play a part in remembering the victims in the holocaust, especially those who died young. Small ceremonies in seven of the borough's parks were carried out where trees were planted by children of all ages.

The service on Monday was attended by representatives from local community organisations and councillors and was opened by the Ealing Deputy Mayor Cllr Gurcharan Singh.

Schoolchildren read out the names of other children who suffered in the holocaust and a poem was read out, which was especially written by an Israeli poet to remember the victims.

Cllr Michael Elliot, cabinet member for leisure and learning, said: "I have visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland which had a huge personal impact. I regard it extremely important that Ealing Council commemorates the Holocaust in such a special way and I am proud to be associated with it. It is important that the memory is always kept alive."

Invited speakers who attended the memorial service included Misak Ohanian who represented the Armenian community and Clifford Lawton of the Ealing United Synagogue.

January 29, 2003 18:30