Page 11
History
The playwas followed by a hard-hitting filmabout how an individual
reacted to the horrors of the camps. This film was made eight years
ago by some KEVICC students when they had the privilege of
interviewing Elizabeth Dearden.
As a Quaker Care Worker, she had been one of the first civilians
to enter the Belsen Concentration Camp at the end of the Second
World War. Staff and students saw some shocking images of the
suffering Elizabeth encountered and were moved to hear her
describe the simple acts of compassion with which she tried to
alleviate the suffering.
Following the film, four members of Kennicott Sixth Form, Katie
Ashmore-Marsh, Freddie Barratt, Chloe Hockings and Rosie Issit,
presented a link that sadly explained how the Second World War
did not bring an end to genocide. They explained how, despite
everything that should have been learnt from the Holocaust, there
had been further genocides, providing examples from Cambodia,
Rwanda, Kosovo and the Congo.
Reflecting on their involvement in the HMD, Rosie Issit described
the experience as thought-provoking, and said:
It meant a great deal to me to
take part. It humanised a subject
which I have been studying for five
years which can be quite difficult
to contextualise because it is easy
to become desensitised to it when
studying it academically.
I think the HMD assembly is a
good event as it stands but may
benefit from being more intimate,
perhaps by smaller groups engaged
in elements of the subject to be
presented as part of Holocaust
Memorial Day - maybe an
afternoon rather than just the one
commemorative hour.’
Finally, a memorial service lead by the
students and the History Department
gave a focus to the assembly as the
college lit a candle of hope to fight off
the darkness of genocide, before the
college re-affirmed its commitment to
the aims of the annual day.
This, for Hannah Blackwell, was the
most powerful part of the assembly:
I think the Memorial Day was very
well executed, but especially the
building of the jig-saw and lighting
the candles, which I found taught me
a few things in a creative way.
Rowan Hard added that, although
performing in front of the year was
a nervous situation, and the topics
covered were difficult, she was:
pleased to be part of the day. I think
it is very important to let people
know what had happened.
Despite the lack of rehearsals, and
the nerves involved in delivering such
a emotive piece to their peers, the
students delivered a very moving and
impressive performance that impacted
not only the audience but also the
actors themselves.
Derek Davies
The assembly ended with
links into our present and
hopes for the future - pushing
for greater toleration and
understanding, but also for
the courage to stand up and
speak out against injustice.
A quote from Martin Luther
King Jr reminded us all that:
In the end, we will remember
not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends.
