Poole school students hear testimony of Holocaust survivor

More than 100 students from St Edward’s School in Poole have heard the testimony of a Holocaust survivor.

Uri Winterstein, who was born in Bratislava, Slovakia, in October 1943, spoke to the sixth form and year 10 students on Wednesday, January 15.

The visit was organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

Year 13 student Lucy Gibbs described it as "an emotionally provoking talk."

She said: "Uri's words really made me rethink my perspective on life, society and humanity as a whole and motivated me even further to study history at university.

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Holocaust survivor educates students on history and humanity (Image: St Edward's School) "It was an amazing experience to be able to hear these often untold stories, and I am so grateful that Uri took the time to visit St Edward's and speak to us."

Uri was separated from his family when he was just a month old, as his parents feared they would need to go into hiding.

He was not reunited with his family until after the war.

Nine of Uri's wider family were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where they were killed.

After hearing his story, St Edward's students had the opportunity to ask questions.

Year 10 student Joel Tidey described the event as "really inspiring and educational."

He said: "It's not every day you get the opportunity to talk to someone who has been so close to such awful experiences.

"We'll never be able to fathom the true extent of the Holocaust, and it's so important to listen to these stories while we still can and pay close attention to the warning signs so that nothing like this ever happens again."

Uri's visit to St Edward's comes ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Monday, January 27, which this year commemorates the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Executive headteacher at St Edward's School, Michael Antram, said: "It was a privilege to welcome Uri and give St Edward's students the opportunity to hear his powerful testimony.

"I have no doubt that this experience will have had a lasting impact, deepening their understanding of the Holocaust and the lessons to be learned from the past."