Events held for Scot who died in Auschwitz camp
THE niece of a Scottish woman killed in the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp has visited Paisley to honour her memory.
Deirdre McDowell made the trip to remember her aunt, Jane Haining, who died after being arrested as a missionary in Hungary where she saved 400 Jewish children from the Nazis.
Before working in Budapest Miss Haining had worked as a secretary at a thread-maker’s in Paisley for more than 10 years.
Mrs McDowell and her husband, who live in Londonderry, attended a lunch at the town’s abbey before touring of Paisley Thread Museum and the mill where Jane worked.
Renfrewshire’s Provost Anne Hall said: “It is important we remember the inspirational story of Jane Haining, whose bravery and personal sacrifice led to the protection of almost 400 Jewish school children during the Second World War.
“Jane’s story also holds real importance to Renfrewshire and I am privileged to join Jane’s family in attendance at the event as we honour her heroism.”
Interestingly, the chairman of the museum, Marcus Dean, bought the house in Edinburgh where Miss Haining did her missionary training in the 1930s.
As well as daytime events, Mrs McDowell was invited to a holocaust memorial evening organised by the local UNISON branch, which included a discussion about her aunt’s work in Budapest.
The trade union’s Renfrewshire branch has recently completed a visit to the camp and the event heard accounts of the trip.
Mark Ferguson, branch secretary, said: “Our event provided an opportunity to recount our visit to Auschwitz.”
Rev Ian Alexander, secretary of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council, has also recognised the missionary’s “heroic sacrifice”.
He said: “Jane was a woman who was simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary.”