Students moved by powerful Holocaust testimony

On Friday, 28 March, we were privileged to welcome back to King’s Holocaust survivor, Tomi Komoly BEM, to speak to Sixth Form students and members of staff. 

Born in Budapest in 1936, anti-Jewish laws forced his family to sell their business and to move from their home into a one-bedroom flat. In 1944, Tomi and his mother moved into the Jewish ghetto in Budapest before escaping and eventually being liberated by the advancing Soviet army in January 1945. 

Tomi came to the UK on a university scholarship in 1956 where he qualified as an engineer, got married and had two children. 

Students listened intently as Tomi spoke his testimony before taking the opportunity to ask him a series of thoughtful questions about his life and experiences. 

The visit was organised by Matthew Bircham, Head of Grosvenor House, who spoke about the impact of the visit on the students. 

He said: “It was an absolute privilege to welcome Tomi back to King’s today.

“His testimony is a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced and we are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit.

“I could see the powerful impact that hearing Tomi’s testimony had on our students today and I hope it will encourage them to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them.”

Tomi joined us as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET). The aims of the HET were summed up by its Chief Executive, Karen Pollock MBE. 

She said: “At the Trust, we impart the history of the Holocaust to young people to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.”

Tomi is pictured here with three of our Lower Sixth History and Politics students, Connie, Karina and Mira.