YEAR six pupils were joined by around 60 members of the public at a holocaust ceremony held in Victoria Park.
The 60 pupils from Lansdowne Primary School wrote their feelings about the holocaust on cards and put these on the railings of the park bandstand.
During the 20-minute ceremony last Wednesday, the children read out holocaust victims’ stories and sang a song for peace.
Canton resident Keith Hamber, 76, said: “I thought the whole time I was there it was very moving. It was very dignified and all the children who took part were very sombre and spoke with feeling.
“The singing was very emotional to me as I envisaged the terrible suffering that the Jewish nation experienced. We should never forget the cruelty that mankind has inflicted upon innocent people.”
Another attendee, Diane Norris, 77, said: “It was a lovely remembrance ceremony, the children spoke very well and loud enough for us to hear, especially when some workmen had machines running.
“I was so glad that I could be there to support it and also to be a part of remembering the terrible suffering of those poor people. We must never forget.
“The children had written their feelings about the holocaust on one side of the cards and on the other side they wrote the sort of children they were hoping to be – kind, thoughtful and not bullies.
“Last year I went to the school to talk to the class about my childhood years living through the war and so I felt that it was nice that I could attend this ceremony which was also about the war.”
Year six teacher, Bruce McInnes, said he was moved by the experience. There was a mix of parents and members of the community at the ceremony.
The head-teacher, Louisa Monro-Morris, thanked all those who attended.
Read more about the school’s Holocaust lessons here.