COULD I kindly express our appreciation for the support at the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony.

Like many other places throughout the country, we also held the annual ceremony locally which remembers the victims of such inhumane atrocities by the Nazis.

Our event held once again at the new University Technical College Bolton was very well supported by elected members of Bolton Council, faith- community groups, the Bishop of Bolton, Rabbi Lever, Rabbi Warren Elf, the Rev Matt Thompson, and many others from communities.

As over the years, one of the positive aspects of this remembrance ceremony is the contribution of school children. Somehow children are so inspirational which is good for the future. We had a number of schools participating with poems, readings and art work displays which were simply amazing. Bolton School Boys’ division’s violin quartet played wonderful music. Carl Austin a gifted musician also played two excellent pieces of music.

The theme this year was “How life can go on?” was very much focused on the survivors who had to bear the loss of loved ones, being displaced and all the hardship they had to endure to make a life in new surroundings. Sadly, we are seeing the same in today’s troubled world.

Despite the negative headlines we hear and see about communities, once again for us at Bolton Interfaith Council events like the Holocaust Memorial Day and the support to participate requires goodness of our community members, school staff, pupils and real commitment to show solidarity and understanding about past historical events from which we need to learn to live in peace with respect for all people.

On behalf of everyone at Bolton Interfaith Council, we truly appreciate and value all the support we were given by many individuals, groups, schools and in particular by the University Technical College Bolton and its excellent staff.

Many thanks to everyone.

Chan Parmar

Bolton interfaith Council