SCHOOLGIRLS have paid tribute to those who died during the Second World War and the Holocaust with a memorial event.

Brighton and Hove High School for Girls hosted its The Power of Words memorial event ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day tomorrow.

The school held an extended assembly involving dance, poetry, music and spoken word presentations from students and staff.

During the afternoon, the Mayor of Brighton and Hove Mo Marsh, councillors and members of the Brighton and Hove Holocaust Memorial Committee also attended to commemorate those who died in the war and subsequent genocides.

A spokeswoman for the school said: “The day was an outstanding success and everyone came away with an opportunity to reflect on Anne Frank’s poignant words ‘I want to go on living, even after my death’.”

The school also welcomed Kindertransport refugee Sir Erich Reich, who gave an inspirational 30-minute talk on his experiences and the way in which he has overcome adversity to lead a full and successful life since.

He established a business which has raised £80 million for charity and led to having a monument erected in Liverpool Street Station in London in memory of the 10,000 children who fled Nazi rule in 1939.

Artist Barbara Bell attended the event to deliver a workshop to Year 9 students to encourage them to explore the tragedies of the Holocaust through a creative medium.

The pupils used charcoal to produce a selection of unique artwork that will be displayed throughout the school.

The school then welcomed 80 primary school pupils, who staff said were also inspired by Sir Erich’s story, and they also got to enjoy more music and dance performances.

Winston Pickett, director at Winston Pickett Communications and Consultancy, gave a talk using a range of Jewish artefacts, such as Shabbat candles and the Shofar, in an effort to teach the pupils the power of words.

With the help of established poet Sasha Dugdale-Smith, the girls then used what they had learnt to write their own poetry.

Holocaust Memorial Day will be commemorated around the world to mark the day the Soviets liberated those who were held inside the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945.

The occasion also marks later genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur.