News, Events & Enrichment

A Moving Account of Survival and Remembrance: Lesley Urbach's Talk for Year 9

Year 9 students were privileged to attend a profoundly moving and important talk on Friday, October 24th, delivered by Lesley Urbach. Lesley shared the powerful and poignant story of her maternal family, focusing on her mother, Eva Urbach (1922-2010), and her aunt, Ulli Adler (1925-2004).

A Family's Story of Escape and Loss
Lesley's family hailed from a small town in northeast Germany, which is now part of Poland. Her presentation began by setting the scene of her family’s life before the rise of the Nazis in 1933. The narrative quickly shifted to the harrowing events of the late 1930s.
Lesley's mother, Eva, and three of her aunts managed to escape to Britain and Argentina in 1938 and 1939.

Crucially, her 16-year-old mother, Eva, and 13-year-old aunt, Ulli, arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport in December 1938.
The talk focused on the tragedy of those left behind: Lesley's grandparents were murdered at Auschwitz on February 19, 1943.
Testimony, Letters, and Encouraging Action

Lesley used a rich tapestry of materials to bring her family's history to life, including film and radio testimony from her mother and aunt Ulli, cherished family photographs, and short excerpts from historical films. These were interspersed with Lesley's own commentary.
A particularly emotional part of the presentation focused on her grandparents' fate, using letters and poems they sent to their daughters in England and Argentina before and during the Second World War. These documents offer a heartbreaking glimpse into their final acts of love and communication.

Learning from History
Beyond the personal narrative, Lesley broadened the scope of her talk to ensure its continuing relevance. She referenced the other groups of people murdered during the Holocaust and drew a powerful link to the ongoing persecution of individuals today based on factors like their ethnicity, religion, colour, gender, sexuality, or disability.

The students were strongly encouraged not to be passive observers. Lesley ended her talk with a vital message: the importance of taking action and doing something when they witness injustice.

The Year 9 students were deeply engaged by this personal and powerful testimony, gaining a deeper understanding of the human cost of the Holocaust and the enduring importance of standing up against persecution.

Miss Matthews