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Previous HMD North Somerset
Events

Portishead Tree Planting
17 November 2022

Our lead volunteer welcomed everyone and briefly explained what HMD is about and the relevance of the tree.  The Chair the Councillor, Patricia , spoke about keeping memories alive and referred to her grandfather and father both of whom were Jewish and South African; the former had been a successful big band leader during WW2.  She then completed the planting of the tree 

 

The Jewish mourning prayer, the Kadish was read in Hebrew and this was followed our Lead Volunteer thanking everyone for their participation. 

 

Our thanks also go to Portishead Town Council for  fixing the plaque to its mounting and the metal stave. 

  Holocaust Memorial Event - Clevedon
28 October 2022
(supported by Clevedon Town Council)

(Music was provided by a local singer/song writer

Our keynote speakers

Poetry reading by a HMDNS Volunteer

St Mary's Church, Portishead
Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

Gordano School, Portishead
Poetry Competition 2022

 

Gordano School, PortisheadPoetry Competition 2022

 

 

 (Winning Poem)

I once had a tree in my garden,

A tree my father said would grow.

Stretch out of its root confinement, 

Stretch up and over our home.

And stroke and hold the hands of the people,

They’d become my brothers and sisters.

The world would be a peaceful bliss,

For as long as the world would continue to exist.

 

And although my tree is gone now,

His hope for peace remains.

In the heart of me and my people,

It sings as clear as day.

Of course before it’s been demolished,

But peace can never be abolished.

I and we shall continue to persist,

For as long as the world would continue to exist

 

Runner Up 

Their lives destroyed and their freedom banned,

One day all their stories washed up on the sand.

Waiting to be found by those passing by,

But nobody stopped not even to cry.

One day you couldn’t have felt so alone,

When you’d given all of your blood, sweat and bone,

To the people who would’ve had you dead in a day,

You wanted the darkness to just go away.

They were locked up, beaten and battered and broken,

Now one day their stories are finally spoken,

And now that we’re here they don’t have to be scared,

The measure of their bravery cannot be compared.

Runner Up

Run or hide? This is genocide

Jewish families were petrified.

Tricked, taken and tortured for days

Starved and abused in horrendous ways

Walking round camps, a tensionless mood

Empty, expressionless, silent, subdued

Chilling chambers filled with gas

Death was slow, but fear was fast

Millions died, there was no relief 

Beaten and butchered for their belief 

Vile and vermin in Nazi eyes

The real vermin - Hitlers spies

This why, every year

We remember what should be so clear

World discrimination must be drained

Young Persons Schools' Art Competition 2020

Nailsea Tree Planting January 2020


Holocaust Memorial Day North Somerset Event - Portishead 
27 January 2020

 

How, where and when HMD North Somerset began

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