PUPILS at Kingdown School in Warminster were left stunned by a talk from a survivor of the Holocaust who was hidden from the Nazis at the age of five, when he visited the school to tell his shocking, yet educational, story.

Henry Schachter, now 79, who lives in Bournemouth, works with the Holocaust Educational Trust to educate youngsters on the realities of the holocaust by visiting schools, colleges and communities around the country.

He shared some incredible stories with the pupils, including how he was smuggled out of Poland as a baby, through the Ardennes forest and into Belgium, as well as how he remembers the last time he saw his mother before she died of disease in a concentration camp, shortly before it was liberated.

Year 9 student Patty Stanowska said: “It was an amazing talk. I didn’t know lots about the Holocaust, so I have learned so much.”

George Miles, from Year 12 said: “We were all greatly inspired by the talk and it has allowed us to realise just how damaging and harmful both discrimination and anti-Semitism can be.

“The Holocaust Educational Trust has been incredibly beneficial for both myself and all of the other students in being able to understand the effects which the experiences of individuals such as yourself and your family would have.”

David Richardson, assistant head, said: “We were honoured to welcome Henry to the school to share his incredible story, in the hope that the horrors of the Holocaust will never be forgotten.”

Mr Schachter said: “The children seemed to be very interested in my stories and I think it was a real eye opener for them.

“Usually after I do a talk in a school or college I get lots of letters afterwards from the students saying how I made them realise just how lucky they are to live in this day and age.

“Children can sometimes take life for granted, including their parents.

“They are shocked when I tell them I was seven when I last saw my mother.

“I think that hearing a real person talking about their experiences really brings it to life, it’s very different to just reading it in a history book.

“Schools across the country now have to teach children about racial hatred in their curriculum, they have to cover it for two or three hours.

“It is so important as it can help to put a stop to any racism and hatred in the future which can come about so easily.”