Plaque unveiled to honour the memory and achievements of Dr Kurt Hahn

Published by Gordonstoun on Monday 27th of January 2025

An interfaith service was held at Gordonstoun on Sunday 26 January to mark both World Holocaust Memorial Day and also to pay tribute to Gordonstoun founder Dr Kurt Hahn and his courage in standing up against the Nazi regime.

The event was held as part of the local commemorations in the North of Scotland marking Holocaust Memorial Day. This year is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide.

St Christopher’s, the school chapel, hosted the service which movingly included a reading by Gordonstoun Guardians, a local story remembering Bosnia and an address by Simon Cane-Hardy, Head of Gordonstoun. In remembrance of the Holocaust, six candles were lit by Gordonstoun students, the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), Interfaith Scotland, the Lord Lieutenant of Moray and a former Gordonstoun staff member. The varied music running through the service added to the emotions with The Gordonstoun Chamber Choir taking part and the congregation joining in to sing an African-American spiritual, a psalm and Turn back O Man, a Kurt Hahn favourite.