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Ilford pays tribute to a Shoah educator

A memorial to Auschwitz survivor Leon Greenman has been unveiled in Valentines Park.

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A memorial to Auschwitz survivor and Shoah educator Leon Greenman has been unveiled in Valentines Park, Ilford.

Local MPs Mike Gapes and Lee Scott were among the guests at the ceremony at the park’s Holocaust Memorial Garden. It was addressed by another survivor, Issy Hahn, who produced a motif for the memorial.

“This was not easy,” he said. “I put a lot of work in from my heart because I knew what happened in Auschwitz. Hopefully schools and colleges will visit the park and see the memorial, read the text explaining the design, and understand what happened.”

After Mr Greenman died, aged 97, in February last year, the Ilford Recorder asked readers to raise funds for a lasting tribute. Donations came from all sections of the community and a £900 gift from TV psychic Colin Fry helped the appeal reach its £5,000 target.

Mr Greenman’s long-time carer Ruth-Anne Lenga said: “This memorial is so appropriate as Leon saw education as the key to changing the world.”

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