A woman whose parents escaped Nazi Germany shared their story at East Renfrewshire Council’s Holocaust memorial event.

The gathering at Calderwood Lodge Primary School, in Newton Mearns, included music and stories which highlighted the horrors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

Gillian Field spoke about her father Henry Wuga MBE and her late mother Ingrid Wuga, who was awarded the British Empire Medal. They fled Germany as part of the Kindertransport - a humanitarian programme for children and young people escaping persecution in 1938 and 1939.

After making it to safety, they started a new life in Scotland and worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the Holocaust.

East Renfrewshire Provost Mary Montague, who welcomed guests to the memorial event, told the Barrhead News: “It is an honour to host this event annually, especially as we were able to do so in-person once again.

“We are home to Scotland's largest Jewish population and enjoy a wonderful relationship with the Jewish community, so marking Holocaust Memorial Day every year is something extremely important to all of us.

“Listening to the trauma experienced by Gillian’s parents was truly harrowing but it is only right that we listen to them, never forget what they went through and help to ensure that it never happens again.”

As well as hearing from Gillian, moving musical performances were provided by East Renfrewshire school pupils.

Students from Barrhead High and Mearns Castle High also spoke about their learning through the Lessons from Auschwitz project and the Anne Frank Trust.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), which “encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide,” takes place tomorrow.

The annual event is held on January 27 as this marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

The theme for this year’s HMD is 'ordinary people,' highlighting those who let genocide happen, actively perpetrated genocide or were persecuted.

At 4pm tomorrow, people across the nation will light candles and put them safely in their windows to remember those who were murdered for who they were and to stand against prejudice and hatred today.

To find out more, visit hmd.org.uk.