The theme of this year's Holocaust Memorial Day has been announced.

Taking place on Tuesday 27 January, the theme is 'Bridging Generations', and in Warwick it will be marked by the involvement of more of the town's primary and secondary schools than ever before.

The annual event will be at Warwick War Memorial in Church Street at 11am for a short service of remembrance

Children from Westgate Primary, Coten End Primary, Myton, Aylesford and Oakley Schools will join the Mayor of Warwick, Cllr. Jackie D'Arcy, and other civic leaders from the wider area.

There will be poetry readings by pupils from King's High, Myton School and Warwick School.

With the day marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, in-school activities have included discussions with Holocaust survivors, the 'Lessons from Auschwitz project' organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust, and talks in assemblies. Secondary school children have been studying the factors leading up to more recent genocides as part of their curriculum. 

Organiser Dave Sternberg said: "The theme of Bridging Generations is particularly poignant, emphasising how important it is for younger generations to know about the past and the terrible things that can happen when there is widespread prejudice and discrimination.

"We are proud that this annual Warwick event has such strong support from local schools. It is important that we learn from the awful events of the past, and never forget the Holocaust and other genocides such as those in Rwanda, Bosnia, Cambodia and Darfur. Talking to the younger generations about the horrors of the past and the terrible things humans can do to each other if we are not vigilant, helps to ensure that we will always be respectful and kind to others." 

For more information about the national commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, visit https://www.hmd.org.uk