Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) this year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 is ‘For a Better Future’, encouraging us to come together, learn from and about the past, and take action to make a better future for all.

The week started with a whole school assembly introducing the week, before several of our students attended the public memorial at St Peter Mancroft.

Throughout the week, students and staff were also invited to visit the Holocaust Memorial display in L1, which included information, music and space for reflection.

On Wednesday evening, Mr Emerson-Moering hosted a moving and thought-provoking Holocaust Memorial event in the DBS, bringing together over 70 guests, including Deputy Lieutenant Paris Back, for an evening of reflection, music and powerful testimonies.

The evening featured a series of insightful talks from guest speakers, each offering a unique and deeply personal perspective:

• Matt Bradshaw explored Norwich High School’s historical connections to the Jewish community, including the legacy of Francesca Bettleheim (after whom our library is named) and alumna Mariette Soman, within the wider context of Jewish history in Norfolk.
• Bee Korn, a longstanding friend of the school and grandmother to former pupils, reflected on her ties to the school and the local Jewish community, as well as her work with the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ).
• Diana Cook shared the story of her mother, Margot Hodge, a Holocaust survivor and refugee who worked as a nurse in Britain. Diana only uncovered the full extent of her Jewish ancestry after her mother’s passing, and now sees herself as a voice for her mother and an advocate against Holocaust denial and trivialisation—an essential role for the future of Holocaust remembrance.
• Roxanne de Bastion, a London-based singer and writer, spoke about her grandfather, Stephen de Bastion, a professional pianist and Holocaust victim. Roxanne has preserved his legacy by publishing his story in The Pianoplayer from Budapest and shared rare recordings and compositions of his music.

Through these four powerful perspectives, the audience gained intimate insights into the Holocaust, with one unified message: Learn, Remember, and Take Action for a better future against Holocaust denial and distortion today.

Interwoven with these reflections, our talented Year 12 students — Bella, Hannah, Eleanor and Ava — performed beautifully moving musical pieces, supported by Mr Hall, Director of Music. Their performances provided moments of contemplation and tribute, enhancing the evening’s profound impact.

Mr Emerson-Moering closed the event with a reference to the White Rose, the anti-Nazi resistance movement: “We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will not leave you in peace.”

At the end of the week, Year 8 and Year 9 took part in art workshops, creating hand painted pebbles and rocks which would serve as memorial stones. The stones were placed outside by the crinkle crankle wall as a physical reminder of the importance of stopping, reflecting and learning from the past.

A big thank you to Mr Emerson-Moering and the rest of the Philosophy and Religion department for creating such a significant week of memorial activities.