Information on Loughborough

Exhibition highlights lives of young Holocaust survivors

Posted on 21/01/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

19 January 2009

Exhibition highlights lives of young Holocaust survivors

Photo Opportunity: Charnwood Museum is hosting an exhibition to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day - the exhibition entitled The Boys: Triumph over Adversity, will run from 27th January - 1st March 2009.  Tony Kershaw, the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council,  will officially open it at 12.30pm on Tuesday 27th January.

The exhibition tells the story of a group of young Holocaust survivors who came to Britain after the Second World War and is based on the book by eminent historian Sir Martin Gilbert.  The exhibition has been created by the Jewish Museum in London.

Following the war, Britain agreed to take in 1,000 young Holocaust survivors - in fact only 732 could be found.  This close-knit group of young people, boys and girls, have become known simply as The Boys.  The exhibition tells the inspirational story of how they survived and rebuilt their lives, going on to take their place in Londons vibrant community.

Susan Cooke, Keeper of Charnwood Museum and Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Organising Committee, said:

"It is important that we remember the horrors of the past, both those committed in the Holocaust and also other genocides before and since.  We need to strive to prevent future genocides and to promote love, peace and tolerance between all people."

Tony Kershaw, Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, said:

"The exhibition highlights the atrocities that were committed during the Holocaust but also gives us hope by seeing how these young people were able to re-build their lives after suffering so much.  It is an important exhibition and one that in particular, the younger generation ought to come along and see to get a better understanding of the horrors of genocide.  It also highlights the importance of how we should all live in peace and harmony with each other."

Charnwood Museum is situated in Queen’s Park in the centre of Loughborough. Opening hours are 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and 1pm to 4pm on Sundays. Entry is free.

Charnwood Museum is run as a partnership between Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council.

For more information please contact Susan Cooke, Keeper of Charnwood Museum on 01509 233737 or email scooke@leics.gov.uk