SIXTH form students of a local independent school were called to question the place of the Holocaust in world history last week, following a moving talk by a concentration camp survivor and supported by a local film maker.

The event, held at Aldenham School, was designed to mark the second National Holocaust Memorial Day.

Mr Steven Frank, the father of a teacher at the school in Aldenham Road, Elstree, shared his own first-hand account of life in a concentration camp with his mother and two brothers in 1943, following the Nazi arrest of his father in Amsterdam in 1940.

Mr Frank recalled in detail his life inside Belsen and Theresienstadt and, in particular, his mother's efforts to provide for her three children.

He spoke of the feeling of guilt in seeing less fortunate people being taken off to death camps, and his own emotions on being released by the Russians at the end of the war.

Mr Paul Yule, a film maker and former student at the school, showed clips from his own film, which raises the question as to why the Holocaust was virtually forgotten during the Cold War from 1945 to 1990.

The film also poses the controversial question as to whether or not it is right to continually look back, rather than focus on problems in the world today.

Head of history at Aldenham School Mr Tim Butterworth said: "The presentation emphasised the need to reflect on past events and showed the relevance for a tolerant and democratic society.

"We like to bring the subject alive for students and when we can take it outside the classroom.

"Other history projects planned for this year include the Year 9 trenches trip in April, a First World War study day and a Year 10 visit entitled, Hitler on trial. We hope all these events will play a vital role in enthusing the pupils with an interest in the subject."