Oakmoor School marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Karen Neville

Activities & Events, Alton, Community & Charity, Fleet, Hampshire, Petersfield & Villages, Round and About

Students design a candle as part of 80 Candles for 80 Years project

Students at Oakmoor School in Bordon took part in a project to design a special candle holder to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January which remembers the 6 million Jews murdered.

Oakmoor School, part of the University of Chichester Academy Trust, was one of 80 communities across the UK to be asked by the Holocaust Memorial Trust to produce a candle holder as part of its “80 Candles for 80 years” project.

The project is a nationwide arts and education initiative which marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of imprisoned Jews, and other prisoners, from Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945.

The 80 bespoke candle holder designs focus on the life of an individual or a community persecuted by the Nazis and feature a range of drawings, pictures, words and objects.

Oakmoor’s candle holder, which was designed by students in Year 8, reflects on the life of Sam Gardner, a Holocaust survivor who survived transportation between many camps.

Last year, Sam Gardner’s daughter, Maralyn Turgel, visited Oakmoor School to tell them about her father’s experiences.

The Year 8 students’ design consisted of images reflecting the life of Sam Gardner.

The school also wanted to hold its own tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and held a commemorative event at the school, with the candle design on display.

Nigel Wright, Headteacher at Oakmoor School, said: “Oakmoor School is honoured to have been selected to take part in the Holocaust Memorial Trust’s ‘80 Candles for 80 years’ project and we are very proud of our students’ stunning design work.

“We were also very pleased to come together as a school community to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and I would like to thank everyone who came along to support us.

“Holocaust Memorial Day is a moment not just of reflection on the past, but also of learning for the future, and Oakmoor School is committed to continuing to educate our young people about these tragic events.”