27th January 2025 marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. Our Community Engagement and Education Officer Susie, and volunteer Jo were invited to take part in a workshop held at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum (NHCM) as part of our Spirit of Wartime Sherwood Project. Joined by participants from Nottingham Forest Football Club, Newark and District County Council, NHCM supporters, and other community members, they worked alongside renowned textile artist Laura Burrill on a special commemorative project. The workshop invited participants to research an individual affected by the Holocaust and bring their story to life through fabric. Using donated materials, including pieces from a family with a direct connection to those persecuted, they created quilt squares, each featuring a candle to mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.
For their piece, Susie and Jo chose to honour Anika Monash, a 17-year-old girl from Turka, Ukraine. During the Holocaust, Anika and 500 fellow Jewish residents were taken to the outskirts of their town to be executed. The guards attempted to spare Anika, but she refused to abandon her mother and was tragically killed alongside her. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the unbreakable bonds of family and the many lives lost in towns and villages across Europe, stories that can sometimes fade from memory when history focuses on concentration camps.
Laura said “it is very difficult to grasp what 6 million people means, but seeing 80 people represented here humanises them and gives them all their identity”
On January 18th, the completed quilt was unveiled at the Multi-Faith Centre in Derby. It was an emotional day of reflection, remembrance, and connection. Participants gathered to share the stories behind their squares, honouring the individuals they represented. Each square has a book with its story, preserving the history in both fabric and words. Now, this remarkable quilt will begin a tour of the region, ensuring these stories continue to be shared and remembered. Follow us on social media for when and where you can see it in person.
