MGS: Holocaust Survivor and Old Mancunian shares a remarkable story

On Friday, 24 January, The Manchester Grammar School was honoured to welcome Old Mancunian Dr Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor, who shared his extraordinary life story with pupils during the Jewish Society assembly.

Born in the Netherlands in 1938, Martin’s early life was shaped by unimaginable tragedy. His father, a Jewish architect who had joined the Dutch resistance, was captured by the Nazis and later murdered in Buchenwald concentration camp. His mother tragically died in childbirth, leaving Martin and his baby sister Erica as orphans.

During the Nazi occupation, Martin and Erica were sheltered by courageous non-Jewish families who risked their lives to protect them. Despite their efforts, the siblings were eventually sent to Westerbork transit camp and then to the Theresienstadt ghetto. Thanks to the care of a Dutch woman in the camp, Martin and Erica narrowly avoided deportation to Auschwitz.

Following the liberation of Theresienstadt in 1945, Martin moved to Manchester to live with his aunt. He joined MGS in 1955, where he excelled academically, before going on to study medicine at Brasenose College, Oxford. Martin later enjoyed a distinguished career in Immunology, contributing significantly to the field.

Dr Stern’s visit was an inspiring reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembering history to shape a better future.

The school extends its gratitude to Dr Stern for sharing his profound story and invaluable insights.