Sandwell joins together to remember the Holocaust

The borough is staging two key events to coincide with international Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) - and everyone is welcome to attend.

On Thursday (26 January), Sandwell's Mayor Councillor Joyce Underhill will host local leaders from all major faith groups, as well as school children, families and local residents, at the Holocaust Memorial Event in West Bromwich.

Well-known sitar player Rupinder Panesar will join over 650 Sandwell school children who will be performing music, dance and drama at the event, which is being presented by Sandwell Council's Music & Arts Service.

Delegates from Sandwell's twin town Le Blanc Mesnil, in France, will also be taking part as they are in Sandwell this week to organise a Summer project for French children to visit the borough.

Thursday's event starts at 7pm at the Bethel Convention Centre, Kelvin Way. A Holocaust-themed art and literature exhibition will be on display in the foyer from 6pm.

Entry is free and people can get tickets from Sandwell Music & Arts Service during office hours at West Bromwich town hall or by calling 0121 569 8502. People can also get tickets on the door on the night.

And on Sunday (29 January), the Mayor will be leading a service for the community to honour the memory of genocide victims worldwide. The remembrance service starts at 10.30am at the Memorial Gardens, Highfields, High Street, West Bromwich.

Councillor Underhill said: "It is very good to see Sandwell marking International Holocaust Memorial Day and I would encourage people to attend these events.

"It's important to teach each generation that persecuting others for their religion, nationality, faith or personal belief is unacceptable.

"International Holocaust Memorial Day was set up by the United Nations to educate new generations and to emphasise the importance of human rights.

"We aim to ensure that those who suffered did not die in vain and that we can all learn from history and that Sandwell continues to be a united and welcoming community."

Schools involved in singing at Thursday's event are:

• Harvills Hawthorn Primary, West Bromwich
• Whitecrest Primary, Great Barr
• Tameside Primary, Wednesbury
• St Mary's RC Primary, Wednesbury
• Park Hill Primary, Wednesbury
• Newtown Primary, West Bromwich
• Stuart Bathurst Catholic High, College of Performing Arts, Wednesbury
• St Michael's CE High Business & Enterprise College, Rowley Regis

Moorlands Primary, West Bromwich, and Sacred Heart Primary, Tipton, are preparing displays and Galton Valley Primary, Smethwick, is putting on performance poetry.

You can also find out more information about Holocaust Memorial Day at the Holocaust Memorial Day website.