Students perform tribute to Holocaust survivors

Last night students from CORE Education Trust and the National Youth Musical Theatre (NYMT) performed a tribute to Holocaust survivors, at a commemorative event to mark the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport.

The tribute, written by NYMT, took place at St John’s Church in Waterloo Road, South Bank.

The nine-month Kindertransport rescue effort – authorised by the British government – saw about 10,000 children from Nazi-controlled territories given refuge in the UK. 

Amongst them was Marcel Anisfeld, a Polish Holocaust survivor who settled in London and went on to establish a successful smoked salmon business in the capital. 

Mr Anisfeld died in November, aged 89, his granddaughter opened last night’s performance. 

The performance is part of a series of events taking place during this year’s Echo Eternal, CORE Education Trust’s award-winning Holocaust education programme that partners schools with survivors to engage students with living history.    

Mr Anisfeld’s daughter, Candice Dwek, said: “My late father, Marcel Anisfeld’s tale of survival as a young Polish Jewish boy through deportation by the Russians to Siberia, then to Uzbekistan, was entrusted to Natasha Kaplinsky. 

“His one abiding wish was for future generations to learn lessons of tolerance and mutual respect.”

Pictured top: Birmingham students perform a tribute  to mark the 85th anniversary of Kindertransport in St John’s church last night (Picture: CORE Education Trust)