CHILDREN from three Thurrock schools took leading roles in a Holocaust memorial day event in Thurrock - appropriately themed as 'Bridging the Generations'.

The service at the Herbert E. Brooks Memorial Garden in Grays was led by Mayor's chaplain, Rev Dr Kate Carter and borough mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick opened the event with her speech. Among others to speak were Cllrs John Kent and Qaisar Abbas

Genocide survivor Almedina Kahrimanoic and Bosnian youngster Adisa Kenjarmade made moving presentations to the rain-soaked audience.

Adisa, said: "I did not live through the Holocaust or the genocide in Srebrenica. But I carry their memory in my heart because I believe that remembering is how we protect the future.

"When I think about Srebrenica, I feel a deep sadness. But I also feel something else - hope.

"Because the fact that we are here today, remembering, means that we are not letting their stories disappear. It means that we refuse to allow hate to win."

Children from Woodside Primary, Hathaway Academy and Grays Convent took part in the ceremony and stone-laying.

Cllr Kent paid tribute to the young people's commitment, saying: "Children get a bad press, but most of them are actually sensational."

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Later in the day, Grays Library hosted a special Shared Reading session, which offered residents an opportunity to reflect on literature, including: 

• An excerpt from Night by Elie Wiesel 
• First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller 
• Belsen Silence by Iolo Lewis