2023 Grill Lecture: Steven Frank

Steven Frank: A Holocaust Survival Story.

Old Churcherian Anna Hedges set the tone for the evening of the 2023 Grill Lecture on Wednesday 22 February when she said that the audience was there to ‘bear witness’ when hearing the story of Holocaust survivor Steven Frank.

It was important, she said, that we continue to speak of the genocide, and to repeat those stories to our children, and our children’s children. 

Steven Frank is a remarkable man, not least because of his own story, but that he is now devoting his retirement to speaking to schools and organisations across the country about his experiences. As a secular Dutch Jew, sent to Theresienstadt Concentration Camp as a young child, he was one of only 100 children, from 15,000 who entered the camp, to make it out alive.  

Despite his heart-breaking story, and the loss of his dear father in Auschwitz, Steven’s talk had many light moments, focusing on what a gift life is.

He ended with a photograph of his family today, complete with 14 grandchildren, saying, "You can cut a tree down, but it will still grow from its roots."

It was a truly inspirational and poignant evening. 

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