King’s Ely Senior’s Ely Cathedral Service on Friday, January 26th was a moving act of remembrance to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
Holocaust Memorial Day, which fell on January 27th this year, is the day to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
During our service, Senior students and staff (Years 9 to 13) heard about the remarkable life of Sir Nicholas Winton MBE, a British stockbroker and humanitarian, who helped to rescue more than 600 Jewish children who were at risk of being murdered during the Holocaust.
Although Sir Winton did not hide what he did, it was not well-known publicly, and he did not think he had done anything particularly extraordinary. He has subsequently been awarded many honours, including a Knighthood and the Order of the White Lion (the Czech Republic’s highest honour). His story is now the subject of the film, ‘One Life’.
Year 13 Wilkinson House students, Sam Trueman and Robert Banwell, told Sir Winton’s story with eloquence. Thomas Alderton, who is also in Year 13 and Wilkinson House, read the prayers, and our wonderful String Orchestra played music from the score for Schindler’s List, composed by John Williams. The solo was performed beautifully by Year 10 student, Julian Mak.