YOUNG and old gathered today in landmark gardens to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust.

Laurence Cawley

YOUNG and old gathered today in landmark gardens to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust.

Led by Canon Cedric Catton, of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and Liberal Jew Peter Watson, the theme of the Holocaust Memorial Day service in the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds was “standing up to hatred”.

Amid readings and prayers, St James's Middle School's chamber choir sang a traditional Jewish song while children from the Guildhall Feoffment School in Bury planted snowdrops in the Holocaust Memorial Garden, which is between the Abbey Gate and the Cathedral herb garden.

Members of St Edmundsbury Borough Council read lines from the Home Office Race Equality Unit's statement of commitment.

Cabinet member Paul Farmer said: “We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.”

The mayor of St Edmundsbury Bob Cockle read a poem by Karen Gershon, called “Race”.

The service culminated with a minute's silence as a mark of respect for all those affected by the Holocaust.

The borough council marked the first Holocaust Memorial Day in 2001 with the creation of a white memorial garden in the Abbey Gardens and a blessing ceremony.