EVERY year on 27 January, Thurrock marks international Holocaust Day at the High View Avenue Memorial Gardens in Grays.
The event was marked by the laying of white pebbles, but until last year the “mound” was removed after the ceremony.
In 2014 a permanent memorial marker of stones was created. Young people attending the service in 2012 did not think it right the pebbles were laid on the day and then put away and raised £600 towards a permanent memorial.
East Tilbury stonemasons Madstone Ltd contributed their skills free of charge and the memorial also has a plaque stating: “In remembrance of the millions of people killed in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides throughout the world. We honour the survivors from regimes of hatred and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today.”
Now Mo Darr, from Madstone has added to the firm’s gift, creating an area with flowers to go with the thought-provoking memorial.
Mo said: “These flowers all mean something special – a lot of thought went into this piece.
“We’ve got some long grass at the back symbolising the soldiers and on either side are purple thistles representing the barbed wire within the concentration camps.
“The two red plants – the ones bigger than the others – symbolise the families and the single red plant at the front is in homage to the girl in the red coat seen in the filmed version of Schindler’s List.
“The two plants either side are called blood plants and represent the blood that was spilled.
“I don’t want this space to be my project – it is just my gift to Thurrock. I want local people to use this space as if it were theirs; to look after it as if it was their own.”
Mayor of Thurrock Cllr Sue Gray was delighted at the latest addition to the memorial. She said: “The space has always been beautiful, but this addition really sets this garden apart as something really special.
“We are all aware of the council’s financial difficulties; it’s no secret, so I’m always so proud to hear local businesses and community champions, such as Mo, use their time investing in Thurrock.
“I encourage everybody to look after our public spaces and gardens but especially, to try and take the time to visit the memorial – it truly is remarkable garden.”
