A candle to remember those who died but also symbolise a lighter and brighter future was lit by school pupils in the midst of poetry, prose and song.

Seventy years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust created 70 candles which were scattered around the UK, all to be lit in a united gesture on Tuesday.

The Chatham Memorial Synagogue was one of those to receive the candle and it was lit by representatives from Medway’s primary and secondary schools.

Also on the evening Valeriia Reznik vice chair of the Medway Youth parliament said a few words on the theme of this years commemorations – keeping the memory alive.

Toni and Charlie Fowler, from Mid Kent College, read a Holocaust survivor testimony and Warren Wood School pupils read out letters to Anne Frank they had composed.

Thomas Aveling School read Lyman Hancock’s poem When I’m Gone and Balfour Junior School orated a poem they had jointly composed on the conditions in the concentration camps.

Then the synagogue was filled with the melancholy sound of Bishop of Rochester pupil Aaliyah Leishman, singing a song she had written for the memorial day.

Kuljit Rahelu, head teacher, said: “We are really proud that our school was chosen to play a central part in commemoration events to ensure that future generations keep the memory alive of how so many people suffered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides.”

Sir Joseph Williamson’s math school students spoke of other ongoing acts of murder, terrorism and genocide around the world, including the recent attacks in Paris, as well as in Nigeria.

Jon Weiner, organiser of the HMD planning committee, said: “The young people who took part are a credit to Medway, it is the younger generations who must keep the memory alive. The evening was a great success and the synagogue was packed, which shows how much importance people attach to this commemoration.

“It was an amazing moment when we lit the candle, knowing that elsewhere in the UK 69 other candles were also burning, uniting the UK as it marked the important milestone.”

Pupils from across Medway also created pieces of art for an exhibition on the Holocaust, which are on display at the Guildhall Museum, Rochester.

Holocaust Memorial Day is supported by Chatham Memorial Synagogue, Medway Council, Rochester Cathedral, MidKent College, Medway Youth Parliament, and Medway Inter Faith Action.