A memorial service in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day will take place in the Princess Diana Gardens, Radipole Park Drive, Weymouth on Friday, January 26.

The service will begin at 10am at the Holocaust memorial tree, planted near to Alexandra Bridge and donated by local resident Tony Hamm.

The memorial service will be hosted by Deputy Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Gill Taylor with prayers and a reading being led by the Mayor’s Chaplin, Rev Philip Elliott, of West Ridgeway Churches, and joined by religious faith representatives from the local community.

All members of the public are welcome to attend the Weymouth Holocaust Memorial Service.

Local councillors and Friends of the Parks will also be represented.

Holocaust Memorial Day is the annual day of remembrance for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and Tibet and others around the world

It marks the day in 1945 when the Auschwitz–Birkenau extermination camp was liberated.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year is The Power of Words.

Spoken and written words from individuals, corporations, community organisations or the state, can have a huge impact, whether good or bad. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2018 explores how language has been used in the past, and how it is used in the present day.

Cllr Kevin Brookes, Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, said: “This annual service is a chance for local people to come along and join members of the community to recognise Holocaust Memorial Day and pay their respects to the victims of the Holocaust and other international genocides.”

As well as the service on Friday, January 26, a Holocaust Memorial Day display will be on show at Weymouth Library from Monday, January 22 to Monday, January 29.

The display has been set up by Barbara Cohen of the South West Dorset Multicultural Network and friends.