Jersey’s commemoration to mark the day will take place at 1pm in the Occupation Tapestry Gallery in the Maritime Museum on the New North Quay, followed by the laying of wreaths outside at the Lighthouse Memorial overlooking the harbour. Members of the public are welcome to attend and should arrive by 12.30pm.

HMD is a time to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, and millions more people murdered through the Nazi persecution of other groups. It also marks subsequent genocides recognised by the UK government.
The 2025 guest speaker for the Jersey commemoration is Dr Toby Simpson, Director of The Wiener Holocaust Library in London, which is the world’s oldest archival and library collection relating to the Holocaust and Nazi era. Dr Simpson will also be sharing the history and importance of The Wiener Holocaust Library and its resources with secondary school students during his stay in Jersey.

After Dr Simpson’s speech at the HMD ceremony on 27 January, members of the Jersey Arts Centre youtheatre will deliver readings and the Dean of Jersey, The Very Rev Mike Keirle, will give a closing address. The wreath laying ceremony outside at the Lighthouse Memorial will be led by the Lieutenant Governor, Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE, on behalf of the Crown.

Other wreath layers will include the Deputy Bailiff, Robert MacRae, and Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham; families of the 21 Jersey victims of Nazi persecution and forced/slave workers remembered on the Lighthouse Memorial; the Jersey Jewish Congregation; Occupation internees and evacuees; and religious leaders.

This year’s HMD marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, and Jersey has joined communities across the UK to take part in a Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) project called ‘80 Candles for 80 Years’ involving the creation of bespoke candleholders to highlight those persecuted by the Nazis.

Jersey’s candleholder, which stands nearly a metre tall and was designed by Carmella Knight and Chris Addy, remembers eight of the Island’s wartime Jewish community (see Notes to Editors for more details). It will be lit by the Dean as a symbol of hope at the HMD commemoration and the candleholder will also feature in a virtual HMDT exhibition.