HMD 2026

Survivor Steven Frank, British Empire Medal (born Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1938)

“I am lucky to be here. I want this generation and future generations to remember what happened in the past, because if we let people forget, it will surely happen again”.

Survivor Annick Lever, BEM (born Thenac, Nazi-occupied France, in 1943)

“We cannot change the past, but we can influence the future. We are all human beings, and we need to respect each other for who and what we are.”

Survivor Peter Summerfield, BEM (born Berlin, Germany in 1933)

“If refugees come here and need help, then it's important that we give it to them. We came here with nothing and depended on charity. But we survived. Let us give a chance to everyone, whatever their beliefs.”

Survivor John Fieldsend, BEM (born Dresden, Germany in 1931)

“This is still basically a good world. Have fun going to school and being with friends, but look out for people having a hard time - those who are a bit lonely and not quite fitting in. Give them your time and care and you can help mend this broken world.”

Students around an open Torah scroll with Rabbi Deborah Blausten (above, far right)
and looking closely at the Torah scrolls in the Ark with educator Louise Heibron (below)

Survivor Peter Lantos, BEM (born Mako, Hungary in 1939)

“The biggest lesson is: don't hate. Hate is like a boomerang. It goes round and then comes back and hits you.”

Students participating in a workshop

John Hajdu, Member of the Order of the British Empire (born Budapest, Hungary in 1937)
“A man who hardly knew us, hid us. I’ll never forget that he risked his life for people he hardly knew.”

Survivor Hedi Argent, MBE (born Vienna, Austria 1929).

The BBC visited us and filmed her testimony which was shown on BBC London on Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January.

”Racism attacks us for who we are. Antisemitism is the oldest form of racism and it never really goes away. If you ever have a refugee in your school, ask them how it feels to have had to leave home. And ask them ‘what did you bring and what did you leave behind?

“We all have stories and asking each other about them is the way to understand each other.”

Students queueing to meet Hedi at the end of her talk, before returning to school

Students listening to Laura Fox, one of the educators

Survivor Eva Clarke, BEM (born in Mauthausen Concentration Camp, Austria in 1945)

“Just think about all the genocide since the Holocaust.The only way we can counteract all these things is through education.”

Candle lighting ceremony – The Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Danny Rich, John Hajdu, MBE (survivor speaker),
Louise Heilbron, (educator), students and their Headteacher

Teachers and visitors taking part in the workshop alongside the students

Educators

The senior Team welcoming students to the synagogue

And comments from some of our visitors

Antony Lishak, MBE, Founder and Chief Educational Consultant of the charity Learning from the Righteous

“FRS HMD workshops are the leading survivor led Holocaust Education programme in the country.”

Tasnima Khatun, Middlesex University Student

“It was truly amazing to witness people from different religions and backgrounds coming together in such a respectful and welcoming environment, to learn from one another. Experiences like this show just how powerful education and open dialogue can be in bringing communities together."

“We often learn about the Holocaust through books or lessons but hearing a survivor speak brings an entirely different level of understanding, you can truly feel the pain, strength and resilience behind those words."

“I was honestly very close to tears. It was a reminder that everybody deserves to live the way they wish that we all belong in this world and that the world is always better when we live in harmony with one another.”

Ms M. Calderon, Head of Year 9, Mill Hill County School.

“Thank you, the two mornings went really well. It was a great experience and definitely something we should continue with next year. The students were genuinely engaged and seemed to get a lot out of it. I particularly liked how the facilitators encouraged students to sit together at the same table and gave them time to talk before the session began. This was amazing and really helped them feel comfortable and connected from the start."

“The speakers were very well prepared and the delivery was excellent. The content was pitched appropriately, and students responded positively throughout. Thank you again for organising it.”

Phil Jefferies, BA Primary Education Programme Leader, Faculty of Health & Education, University of Middlesex

“Many thanks for the outstanding experience you were able to offer our students. We thought that the layout of the sessions on round tables and supported by a volunteer worked so well, as the students were engaged straight away and continued that engagement throughout the morning."

“Having resources on the table as well as the screens allowed for greater interaction. The guidance of the volunteers supported the students understanding of the activities and the importance of the day.

“Having the practical activities at the start and finishing with the talk worked really well. Eva was inspirational as always and we were so pleased with the student reactions."

“The calm and clear delivery by all speakers was a real asset to the event and everyone was so welcoming on both days.

“Many of our students have commented on how useful they found the days. The key terms they have shared with me were, ‘thought provoking’ and ‘important for everyone to experience’."

“Overall we consider this year to be one of the best we have had due to how engaged our students were from the start.”

Ngaire Bushell, Producer, Learning and Engagement, Imperial War Museum, London & HMS Belfast

“I thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to talk with so many of your volunteers over the course of the morning and I found the workshop with the trainee teachers incredibly interesting. I did speak to the gentleman who was your digital wizard and commended his use of the slides, especially the ability to zoom in on specific features when they were mentioned by the students, such as the trophy in front of the Jewish football team."

“Your table arrangement and facilitators were excellent at ensuring a high degree of participation and I really liked the availability of microphones to ensure that responses could be heard by all."

“It was a thoroughly creative workshop. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend it, and to have had the privilege of listening to Eva’s story."

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