A POIGNANT calm spread across Uppermill park as Saddleworth Peace Group gathered to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima Day.
Group members and guests, including Saddleworth Parish Councillor Derek Heffernan, came together at the King George V playing fields for the event.
They were joined by special guests the Mayor of Oldham Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman, the Mayoress Yasmin Toor and Oldham’s Youth Mayor Saskia Edwards.
70 candles were lit to mark each year since the dropping of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945, killing over 14,000 people.
Speaking of the anniversary, the Mayor of Oldham said: “We are marking a very sad occasion. It is a very unfortunately incident in the history of humankind.
“I want to say ‘never again’ should this happen. But my feeling is the potential is there.
“It is through groups like the Saddleworth Peace Group that people stop every day to think about what makes a peaceful world.
“I think the group does a very important job and hard work to raise the awareness of keeping peace.”
Then group member Liz Green explained how an international symbol of peace – the crane – was born out of the incident.
She told how Sadako Sasaki, who was two years old when the bomb was dropped on her home city, went on to develop leukemia – the atom bomb disease – aged 12.
Sadako attempted to fulfil a Japanese legend that if she folded 1,000 cranes she would be granted one wish – hers would be to live and have world peace.
She completed the mammoth task but sadly died in 1995 and soon after a statue was built in her memory holding a gold crane.
Then group member Michelle Abendstern read a poem written by a survivor of the atomic bomb, entitled ‘Let us be midwives – an untold story of the atomic bombing’.
Magda Sachs read a shortened declaration from the Mayor of Hiroshima before guests recited the group’s affirmation for peace and life and battle against nuclear power, and to be friends of the earth.
Then the ceremony was brought to a close as guests blew out the 70 candles.
On display was the Saddleworth Peace Group’s brand new peace bunting, made up of flags with meanings of peace contributed by the public at Uppermill Market
Magda explained: “We have started it this year and the idea is that as the years go by we can add to it.
“People can write what peace means to them and it shows how they are feeling. Everyone can get involved and we had lots of children doing it too.”
Find out more about the Saddleworth Peace Group on their Facebook page or email saddleworthpg@yahoo.co.uk
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