Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

On Thursday 23rd January, we were thrilled to host an enlightening and powerful conversation with Tomi Komoly BEM, who survived the Holocaust in hiding with his mother. Post-war, he struggled under Communist rule, and escaped to Austria in 1956, staying in a refugee camp in Vienna. He won a scholarship to study in the UK from the Ford Foundation arriving in Dover in March 1957. He continued his studies in Glasgow, Birmingham and London, writing weekly to his mother in Budapest before they were eventually reunited with her joining him in the UK in 1964.

Tomi was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2020 for his contributions to Holocaust education and in 2024 translated and published his uncle’s wartime diaries (Orphans of the Holocaust).

History, Politics and a range of other students were really fortunate to have this time with Tomi:

Jack Evans, Curriculum Area Leader for Humanities and teacher of History, said: "Meeting Mr. Komoly gave our students invaluable insight into both the Holocaust and its aftermath. His testimony about surviving as a child in Budapest, and later rebuilding his life in Britain, brought this crucial period of history to life for our students in a way no ordinary lesson can."

Year 13 History, Politics & Law student Lucy Richmond was thankful for the “opportunity to hear Mr Komoly’s first hand account. His words are so valuable; everyone should listen to his story and learn from the past.”

This visit was made possible thanks to the Northern Holocaust Education Group to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025.