Manchester remembers the Holocaust victims

High school children from Manchester will learn first hand about the experience of a holocaust survivor at a special event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January 2012.

Taking place at the Cornerhouse, a special screening of the powerful and moving film 'Nicky's family' tells the story of a unique and courageous figure, Sir Nicholas Winton and his remarkable rescue mission that remained untold for nearly half a century.

 This special event is organised by Manchester City Council and UK Jewish Film to an invited audience of school children and community groups.

Lord Mayor of Manchester, Harry Lyons will introduce the event and guest speaker, Lady Milena Grenfell Baines, who was nine years old when Sir Nicholas Winton organised the train which saved her life, will recount her experiences in an interview with Judy Ironside, Founder and Director of the UK Jewish Film Festival.

The film highlights the importance of this year's theme Speak Up, Speak Out. Sir Nicholas Winton, called 'Britain’s Schindler' by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, was the brains behind the Czech Kindertransport that saved 669 children in the first six months of 1939. A stockbroker of German-Jewish heritage, he refused to stand by when he saw the injustice happening and not only spoke out but helped to save the lives of hundreds of children.

This is one of a number events happening in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day. At Manchester Town Hall on 25 January, Holocaust survivor Jack aged 83, and the only member of his family to survive, will share his story at an event supported by Hill Dickinson and hosted by Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.

At the Manchester Jewish Museum a number of events are planned including a temporary exhibition, The Windermere Boys which will open to the public on January 29 and runs until 31 May 2012.

The exhibition tells the compelling story of the 300 Jewish children who were sent to the UK for recuperation and stayed in the village of Calgarth which stood near Windermere. These children eventually found homes in the UK and many of them came to settle in Manchester.

Finally at a special ceremony on the eve of Holocaust Day the 'Souvenir d'Anne Frank' rose will be planted in the grounds of the Jewish Museum. The rose will be planted by theatre company Ensemble who will also premier a new production at the Zion Arts Centre in Hulme which tells the story about Anne, her father and the rose.