VICTIMS of atrocities will be remembered by the residents of Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester tomorrow.

An annual memorial service will be held in Weymouth for Holocaust Memorial Day.

The service will take place in the Princess Diana Gardens, Radipole Park Drive, tomorrow (Wednesday) beginning at 10.30am.

It will be held at the Holocaust memorial tree, planted near to Alexandra Bridge and donated by local resident Tony Hamm.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Christine James, will host the service. The Mayor's Chaplin, Father Richard of St Paul's Church, Westham, will provide prayers and a reading.

Both will be joined by religious faith representatives from the local community, local councillors and Friends of the Park.

Members of the public are also welcome to attend the event. The theme for this year's Holocaust Memorial Day is 'Don't Stand By'.

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

January 27 marks the day when the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp was liberated in 1945.

Cllr James, the borough council's briefholder for social inclusion, said: "This local service is a chance for people to come along and join members of the community in paying their respects to the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides."

Meanwhile, All Saints Church, Easton, will host a simple service of Holy Communion for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust tomorrow evening. The service will take place in the Lady Chapel beginning at 7pm.

In addition to these services, a Holocaust Memorial Day display remains on show at Weymouth Library until Monday, February 1.

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

The South West Dorset Multicultural Network has also organised a free event in Dorchester, featuring a range of speakers.

This will take place on Friday, January 29 at the Corn Exchange, High West Street from noon.

Local resident Harry Grenville, who escaped Nazi persecution by coming to the UK, and Dame Harriet Walter will be speaking.

Cllr Alan Thacker, West Dorset District Council's portfolio holder for community safety and access, said: "This event gives people the opportunity to learn about this terrible time from a more personal point of view. I am pleased that the council can facilitate learning about significant events such as this."

For more information about Holocaust Memorial Day visit hmd.org.uk

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