A man who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau will be visiting Dudley to speak at the town’s annual Holocaust Memorial Service on Friday January 25th.

Zigi Shipper BEM was born in 1930 to a Jewish family in Poland. In 1940 he and his grandparents were forced into a ghetto in his home town of Lodz, where he was forced to work in a metal factory. He was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944 and then to Stutthof Concentration camp until the end of the war. Zigi is now dedicated to travelling the country and sharing his testimony.

He was honoured with the British Empire Medal by the Queen in 2016 in recognisition of his work to educate young people about the Holocaust.

Zigi will be talking to hundreds of students and Dudley residents about his experiences at the commemoration, organised by Ian Austin MP and Dudley College Students’ Union, which has become a fixture in the town’s calendar.  

The commemoration is organised with the support of the Holocaust Educational Trust and has contributions from local religious and civic leaders. This year John Crabtree OBE, the West Midlands Lord Lieutenant, will also be attending.  

It will conclude with the ceremonial lighting of the Candle of Remembrance as the Bishop of Worcester leads local civic and faith leaders in a one-minute silence to honour the victims of the Holocaust. Ian Austin MP said:

“It is very good of Zigi to come to Dudley and share his experiences – it is always an honour to hear from those who survived such horrific events.

“The commemoration is always a very moving and dignified service which as well as honouring those who died, remembers the heroism of local heroes, such as Frank Foley and the many other war veterans who fought to free Europe of the Nazis and gives us the opportunity to dedicate ourselves to oppose racism and prejudice.

“I really hope that as many local people as possible will attend the event during their lunch hour, in between meetings, before going shopping in the town centre or picking the kids up from school. Residents can sign up to attend by going to: http://www.ianaustin.co.uk/holocaust_memorial_day_commemoration_2019

“The service was really well attended last year and I hope the same can happen this year, it is always a real privilege organising this even in Dudley and something I’m sure residents and students in the audience will never forget.”

The Commemoration is open to all residents in Dudley and will take place between at the Broadway Campus of Dudley College starting at 12:30 on Friday 25th January 2019.