A HOLOCAUST survivor who gives regular talks of his experience to Bingley Grammar School was treated to a surprise 90th birthday party on his latest visit.

Sajeela Shad, Bingley Grammar School’s RE teacher, first met Arek Hersh, from Leeds, while she was a student at Leeds University.

“I was so moved by his story as a survivor of Auschwitz and he signed his book: A Detail of History, for me,” said Miss Shah.

She added: “Later I was able to invite him to speak to my students when I was a teacher at Benton Park School, in Rawdon.

“I have been at Bingley Grammar School for four years now and each year I invite him to cone along and give a talk. He turned 90 on September 13 and he thought this visit was to give another talk. He was very moved when we celebrated his birthday.

“The students baked a cake for him.”

Mr Hersh was also an integral part of Chris Tarrant’s Hitler’s Holocaust Railways, part of his Extreme Railway Journeys, which aired on Channel 5 on Sunday, October 28.