This is Derbyshire --A BAFTA-WINNING actress has recorded a poem written by a Derby man to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2014.
Olivia Colman has recorded her version of Charles Whittaker's poem about the Auschwitz extermination camp.
The recording will be played at Holocaust Memorial Day Trust events, school assemblies and lessons.
Mr Whittaker, 47, said: "I was astounded when I found out Olivia Colman would be reading my poem. She reads it beautifully. Someone of her calibre reading my poem is pretty impressive!"
The poem, Auschwitz, has a fast-paced rhythm to evoke the movements of the trains used to transport people on their journey to death camps and concentration camps during the Holocaust.
Mr Whittaker, who is part of the Derby Holocaust Memorial Day Working Group, said: "I wrote the first line then left the poem for three months before coming back to it.
"When I finished it, I sent it to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust because I thought it would be an interesting piece for them to read.
"A few months afterwards, I got a letter saying they were interested in using the poem on the website.
"Then I was told Olivia Colman would be doing a recording of it. Olivia did it an immense amount of justice.
"The hardest thing for a poet is to be recognised. This has been emotional for me as I have been writing for 20 years. To have my work specifically endorsed by the trust is amazing."
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on January 27 each year.
It is an opportunity for people to remember the millions killed in the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
Ms Colman, star of Broadchurch, Twenty Twelve, Tyrannosaur and Peep Show, said: "It's really important that more people are aware of the importance of commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day, and I hope this recording of the poem will provide encouragement and ideas for people's events."
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: "We're delighted that Olivia has lent her support to Holocaust Memorial Day.
"This recording will raise awareness, provide a new resource for activity organisers, and inspire people to think and reflect about the horrors of the Holocaust."
The poem can be downloaded at www.hmd.org.uk. Reported by This is 1 day ago.