An evening of reflection to remember victims of the Holocaust will be held at the Civic Offices on Wednesday, January 23.

The event, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, will feature speakers, poetry, choral performances and an address from keynote speaker Dame Stephanie Shirley CH.

Dame Shirley, a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, will be talking about her experiences since coming to Britain as an unaccompanied child refugee in 1939.

She arrived in the UK from Germany on KinderTransport aged five, and went on to become a successful businesswoman and now philanthropist.

The evening will also feature local ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust Chloe Smith, who will give a young person's perspective, while 'Lessons from Auschwitz', the poetry of Nazi Germany refugee Beata Duncan, will be read by her family.

There will also be songs from Maidenhead Synagogue Choir.

Councillor Jo Lovelock, leader of Reading Borough Council, said: "Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember the victims of the Holocaust under Nazi persecution and of the genocides around the world which have followed.

"It is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past, be vigilant for any acts of discrimination, racism and hatred today and ensure everyone works together to create a safer, better future."

Victor Koroma, general manager at the Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE), said: "Economic pressures, political forces and misinformation can cause serious strains on relationships within society, as happened in Nazi Germany.

"With Brexit still being a divisive issue in the UK, we must all be vigilant in recognising discord and addressing the causes as a community with the benefit of creating a peaceful and harmonious society for all.”

Holocaust Memorial Day is an annual event which actually falls on January 27 to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

Reading Holocaust Memorial Evening on January 23 is organised by Reading Borough Council and ACRE, and supported by Reading Hebrew Congregation, Maidenhead Synagogue, Reading Refugee Support Group and Berkshire Rwandese Community.

Entry to the event in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices in Bridge Street, Reading, is free. The programme starts at 6.30pm with registration from 6pm.

For more information, call Victor Koroma at ACRE on (0118) 951 0279 or email info@acre-reading.org.