08/10/2026
ASA Charity Marks 85th Anniversary of Babi Yar Massacre with Moving Evening of Remembrance
Thursday 8th October 2026 | Brownlow Courtyard, Lurgan
The Ancre Somme Association Charity hosted a poignant and deeply moving evening of remembrance at its headquarters in Brownlow Courtyard, Lurgan, to mark the 85th Anniversary of the Babi Yar Massacre, one of the darkest atrocities of the Holocaust.
The charity was delighted to welcome guest speaker Steven Jaffe, alongside ASA Charity UK Ambassador Carla Lockhart MP, Northern Ireland's Minister of Education Paul Givan MLA, Jonny Buckley MLA, and political representatives from across Northern Ireland.
The evening was opened by Lexi Davidson, ASA Charity Community Development Officer, who spoke passionately about the importance of historical truth, education and ensuring that the victims of the Holocaust are never forgotten.
Lexi said:
"Tonight is about memory. It is about truth. And it is about ensuring that some of the darkest chapters in human history are never allowed to disappear from our collective memory.
Today, perhaps more than we would like to admit, there are still people who seek to question, minimise, distort or even deny events of the Holocaust for which there is overwhelming historical evidence.
We cannot allow ignorance, hatred or political convenience to rewrite history."
Guest speaker Steven Jaffe delivered a powerful and thought-provoking presentation, providing those in attendance with an insight into the horrific events of 29th and 30th September 1941, when 33,771 Jewish men, women and children were systematically murdered by N**i forces and their collaborators at a ravine outside Kyiv, in just two days.
Families were ordered from their homes, forced to surrender their possessions and clothing, and marched to the ravine, where they were systematically shot.
Tragically, the killing did not end after those two terrible days. Thousands more innocent people would subsequently be murdered at Babi Yar, making it one of the most notorious sites of mass murder during the Holocaust.
Reflecting on the evening, Steven Jaffe said:
"I am very much humbled by how many people are here to hear about what happened at Babi Yar. It is important that we never forget what happened to those who perished at Babi Yar."
One of the most touching moments of the evening came during a period of quiet reflection, which included the symbolic lighting of a remembrance candle and the reciting of a poem by Seth Uprichard and Levi Dowds.
The two young men brought a particularly meaningful dimension to the occasion, demonstrating the importance of involving younger generations in remembrance and ensuring that the lessons of history continue to be passed on.
The evening concluded with remarks from the charity's UK Ambassador, Carla Lockhart MP, who acknowledged that she had previously been unaware of the Babi Yar Massacre.
Carla highlighted the importance of Holocaust education, particularly ensuring that young people are given the opportunity to learn about atrocities such as Babi Yar, which are not always widely covered or understood.
Her remarks reinforced one of the central messages of the evening: that education is essential to remembrance, and that understanding the past is vital to shaping a better future.
The Trustees of the Ancre Somme Association Charity expressed their sincere appreciation to everyone who travelled from across Northern Ireland and further afield to attend the commemoration.
ASA Charity Vice Chairman Ashley Forbes said:
"We sincerely hope that everyone who attended tonight left Brownlow Courtyard with a greater understanding of what happened at Babi Yar.
More importantly, we hope that those who attended will share what they have learned with someone else.
Because remembrance survives when stories are passed from one person to another, and from one generation to the next.
If tonight has encouraged even one person to learn more about Babi Yar, to question Holocaust denial, or to share this tragic chapter of history with a younger generation, then this evening has served a truly important purpose.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Steven Jaffe for his powerful presentation, to our distinguished guests, to Seth and Levi for their moving contribution, and to every individual who joined us in remembering those whose lives were so cruelly taken."
The Ancre Somme Association Charity remains committed to its founding principles of Remembering the Past, Supporting the Present and Educating for the Future, ensuring that the sacrifices, suffering and experiences of previous generations are preserved through remembrance and education.
May the memory of every man, woman and child murdered at Babi Yar be honoured, respected and never forgotten.
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET
Ancre Somme Association
Registered Charity NIC108368
www.asauk.org
