Holocaust memorial unveiled in Telford Town Park

Almost 100 people attended the official unveiling this morning and listened to talks by Telford people whose lives were affected by the genocide.

The new wooden statue of an acorn was officially unveiled in the park, followed by a two minute's silence to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

The unveiling took place at 10.30am and was followed by an exhibition commemorating victims of the Holocaust, in Telford Town Park Visitor Centre.

Dr Eve Clevenger was part of the steering group who worked to have the memorial put up in the park.

Her parents both originated from the former Czechoslovakia and her grandmother, whose last name was Sternfeld, was taken away during the Second World War and never seen again.

Dr Clevenger said: "It is a great place to come and think and remember.

"It will be a lasting memorial, hopefully it will be more than just today.

"It is vital to remember those people who were put to death, it must not be forgtten and the circumstances that allowed the Holocaust to happen must not be forgotten, we must learn the lessons to combat intolerance and prejudice by telling these stories."

Local children from the Lakeside Academy in Stirchley also attended the event and tied parcel tags, on which they had written their hopes and thoughts, to a willow arch in the memorial garden.

Also present was Telford MP David Wright, who said: "It offers us the opportunity to remember those who died in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides which happened across the world."

Councillor Leon Murray, mayor of Telford & Wrekin, said: "I think it is a wonderful memorial, it reminds us that we must not take things for granted."