Residents across Basingstoke and Deane are being encouraged to remember the victims of the Holocaust and other acts of genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.

A service to mark the day will take place at 10am at the War Memorial by the Civic Offices on Friday 27 January to remember those who suffered and died as well as those still living who have lost family, friends and loved ones to genocide.

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Paul Miller will lead tributes on behalf of the borough and, together with the Deputy Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cllr John Izett, will lay a wreath on behalf of the borough. A bugler will mark a one-minute silence.

The theme for this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘Ordinary People’, which invites people to reflect on the actions of ordinary people during the Holocaust and other genocides. This includes those who rescued or hid others and stood up to the hatred but also those who ignored or who wouldn't or couldn't act

Cllr Paul Miller said: “Once again, we invite our residents to pause and remember the victims of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.

“By marking this important day, we seek to learn the lessons of the past and recognise that these events do not just happen. In particular, this year’s 'Ordinary People' theme gives us a powerful opportunity to consider how we can all play a part in challenging prejudice now and in the future to avoid terrible events like these from happening again.”

Holocaust Memorial Day has been commemorated worldwide since 2000 on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, in 1945.

To find out more about National Holocaust Day, visit www.hmd.org.uk