A Holocaust survivor from Bushey visited Parliament for a special dinner hosted by the MP for Hertsmere.

Harry Bibring, from Bushey, and Ben Helfgott MBE from Radlett Synagogue, were invited to dinner for Holocaust Survivors following The Lord Merlyn-Rees Memorial Lecture on January 12.

The lecture is an annual ceremony in memory of Holocaust Educational Trust co-founder Lord Merlyn-Rees as part of a series of events leading up to Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.

Mr Dowden said: “I had the great privilege of hosting a dinner in Parliament for Holocaust survivors, following The Lord Merlyn-Rees Memorial Lecture.

“Their stories are extraordinary. At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise across the Middle East and Europe, it is vital that we keep on telling these stories, so that we do not forget the lessons of the past.

“I am proud to support the Holocaust Educational Trust in their vital work in doing this, and commend the courage of survivors such as Harry Bibring who dedicate themselves to retelling their stories to future generations.”

During the lecture, a woman called Eva Clarke, spoke about her pregnant mother who gave birth to her in the Mauthausen concentration camp.

Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “The story of the Holocaust is one of millions of individual experiences and the Trust works with so many inspiring Holocaust survivors, each with their own unique story to share.

“We are delighted that Eva Clarke was able to share her and her mother’s incredible story with us.”