By Liam Sahai 12GA

On Monday 27th January, our school was privileged enough to hold the yearly Sutton Holocaust memorial event. The afternoon started with a speech about Croydon Airport and its role in the kindertransport program during the late 1930s. We learnt that the Croydon airport was built in WWI and during the interwar period became the biggest airport in the world. However, when the horrors of WWII were beginning it became a key transport hub for refugees from Europe. I, for one, did not know about the active role our local area took in supporting the refugee children.

The afternoon progressed with a segment about Eve Gill who moved to England as part of the kindertransport program. We learnt of her relatively normal life in Austria growing up in a supportive community. But we were also reminded of how quickly it can all change with her father disappearing overnight, their shop being occupied, and being outcast from the community. Unfortunately, some of the tragic stories of her life sound too similar to events in the world right now. I personally reflected deeply on how much she had valued the small acts of kindness even when her world had been turned upside down.

The afternoon concluded with Rev Cantor David Rome using some amazing vocals to sing a song that the prisoners used to sing about hope. We then had a prayer before the day was over. Thank you to Mr Robson for organising the afternoon and to everyone who attended such an important event that we should never forget.