Holocaust survivors group holds its 78th reunion dinner

Six Holocaust survivors — the eldest 98, the youngest 80 — surrounded by children and grandchildren — made a poignant start to this year’s reunion of the 45 Aid Society.

Zdenka Husserl, Rachel Levy, Jackie Young, Victor Greenberg, Mala Tribich and Harry Olmer, each lit one of six memorial candles, paying tribute to those who had died in the Holocaust and passing a metaphorical, and literal, light on to the second and third generation.

Angela Cohen, the 45 Aid chairman, said that the theme of this year’s event was families — and it remained as true this year as ever, that “The Boys” — the young people, boys and girls, who had arrived in Britain after the war, had made each other their family.

Michelle Richman, one of the late Zigi Shipper’s daughters, recalling her father with great affection, said that the friendships he had made at the Primrose Club in Belsize Park “had filled the gap for him” of all the family he had lost in the Holocaust. Zigi died on his 93rd birthday in January this year.

This year’s event received new support from TRIC, the Television and Radio Industries Club, as its president is now Rob Rinder, the barrister and broadcaster. He has chosen the 45 Aid Society as one  of his main charities during his presidency.

The keynote event was a turning of the tables in which a politician interviewed a journalist — Lord Pickles talking to the Guardian’s Jonathan Freedland about his book, The Escape Artist, the story of the escape from Auschwitz of the teenage Rudolf Vrba.

Short biographical films made by the grandchildren of “The Boys” interspersed the often raucous reunion, during which whole “clans” took to the dance floor with vigour. The group “Jewish Encore” entertained with selections from Fiddler on the Roof. Philip Burton chaired the proceedings.