The county town came together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, in what the mayor described as a ‘moving event.’

Dorchester commemorated the day with an event titled ‘The Fragility of Freedom’ held at the Corn Exchange on High East Street on Friday.

With doors opening from 12pm, visitors got the chance to see an array of art on display from Year 8 students at Dorchester Middle School.

Each student was asked to create a piece which represents the fragility of freedom, symbolising their emotional responses to learning about Holocaust Memorial Day.

The works varied from models, paintings and posters to music, videos, and cardboard cut-outs.

Dorset Echo: Some of the artwork on display made by Dorchester Middle School in the exhibition to mark HolocaustOver fifty pieces of work were chosen to be displayed at the exhibition, voted for by a panel of elected officials; Cllrs Janet Hewitt, David Leper, Kate Reid, Les Fry, Richard Biggs, Robin Potter and Stella Jones. 

Dorset Echo: Some of the artwork on display made by Dorchester Middle School in the exhibition to mark Holocaust

The service was standing room only, with all seats filled. Beginning at 12.30pm and was opened by Emma Scott, before Cllr Alistair Chisholm - the mayor of Dorchester introduced the theme of the event.

Pupils from the Sunninghill school then read Reflections on the Holocaust and the Fragility of Freedom, which consisted of poetry from victims of the Holocaust.

Next came a talk from Rocca Holly-Nambi titled Queer Abstraction, which detailed the story of art in zines portraying LGBT culture in Kenya and Uganda.

The Cloud 9 Chorus then gave a performance of a song taken by a Chinese proverb from Confucious directed by Kathy Prince called ‘let there be light.’ Geoff Edge accompanied the music by piano.

Students from the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester then gave a talk on the Rwandan genocide, of which the date of the event coincided to mark the thirtieth anniversary.

Rachelle Smith then gave a talk on Esther Brunstein, a Holocaust survivor who moved to Dorset. She spoke about her connection to the area, with her children attending what is now the Wey Valley School in Weymouth.

Dorset Echo: Rachelle Smith gives a talk on Esther BrunsteinBetty Smith-Billington then gave a talk titled the Reflection on Zigeunernacht- The Night of The Gypsies with Kushti Bok, before Cllr Chisholm read the famous poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller, First They Came.

This was followed by a lighting of candles with music from Matt Tarling.

Cllr Chisholm said: “It was a very important event. It’s highly important to reflect and learn.

“I was struck by the Year 8 pupils’ art. These responses on the topics from these young people made me think there is hope in the world in a time where you see very little.”