WHITEFIELD'S very first Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration took place on Sunday.

Despite the damp January evening more than 40 people gathered at the Millennium Flagpole Garden for the event.

The commemoration had the theme The Power of Words, and those who gathered in Bury New Road heard moving readings including, Mothers Sing a Lullaby by Ugandan poet, Susan Kiguli and Will You Kill Me? by Manchester's David Puller.

Readings were led by Cllr Rishi Shori, the Labour leader of Bury Council, who said: “It was an incredibly poignant Holocaust Memorial Day event, organised by local trade unionist and political activists. I hope that this is the first of many to come”.

Pat McDonagh, chair of Manchester UNISON local government branch praised his fellow local residents. He said: "The community of Whitefield today showed its support for all people oppressed, persecuted and murdered by evil regimes around the world."

Event organiser Eddy Redmond voiced optimism regarding future HMD events in Whitefield “I’d really like to see this become a community owned event that reflects the diverse local population.

"It’s incumbent on current generations to keep the lessons of the past in focus in order to help create a safer, better future for all."

After a minute silence, there was a candle lighting ceremony and those gathered took the time to remember and reflect on those who were murdered during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27, is marked by thousands of people every year.