A Whitefield Holocaust survivor has been honoured by a school in Manchester which has changed the name of its humanities building after him.

Ike Alterman, 94, attended an emotional ceremony on Wednesday, April 26, as the Wellington School in Timperley renamed its humanities block the "Alterman Building".

After coming to England as a 16-year-old orphan, Ike said he is “so very proud" of how far he and his story has come.

He said: “My formal education stopped at the age of 10 when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939 and forced all the Jews to live in the ghetto of my town of Ostrowiec.

Bury Times: Ike's liberation day pictured in his bookIke's liberation day pictured in his book (Image: NQ)

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think the young boy, me, who then came to England with no family having survived the worst of man’s cruelty would be standing here today having a History building named after him.

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Bury Times: Ike Alterman has school building named after him Ike Alterman has school building named after him (Image: The Fed)

“It is incredible and is also a fitting memorial to all the Alterman family – and my extended family - who were murdered by the Nazis.”

The My Voice scheme, led by Prestwich charity, The Fed, aided Ike in creating a autobiography that chronicles his life before, during and after the war.

This includes detailed recollections of his time as a prisoner at Auschwitz Birkenau and the crimes against humanity he witnessed.

Bury Times: Ike's completed book Ike's completed book (Image: NQ)

Following its publication, it has been specially used by Wellington School as part of their history curriculum.

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Ike, who lives in Whitefield, said: “The fact that my ’Fed My Voice’ book is used here at Wellington as part of the History curriculum to educate young people with my first-hand testimony of the Holocaust is exactly what I wanted to happen when I wrote it.

Bury Times: Ike Alterman with Wellington School pupils Ike Alterman with Wellington School pupils (Image: public)

"It is fantastic and makes me so very proud."

Following the impact of Ike’s story on both pupils an staff, the decision was made to rename the school’s humanities building after him.

Headteacher Stuart Beeley said: “[Ike,] you have inspired us.

“You have reminded us about why the work we do in school is so important and we will continue to do that work.

Bury Times: Ike Alterman has school building named after him Ike Alterman has school building named after him (Image: The Fed)

“You have reminded us we need to be kinder to each other and you and your fellow Survivors have created a legacy and you will forever more be part of Wellington School.”

Ike unveiled the plaque which reads "This building was renamed the Alterman building on 26th April 2023.

‘In recognition and celebration of Ike Alterman, a survivor of the Holocaust. 

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Bury Times: Ike Alterman has school building named after him Ike Alterman has school building named after him (Image: The Fed)

‘In this building, lessons from the past and hope for the future is built through the teaching of the Humanities subjects. 

"I just hope one day people will come to their senses and be a bit kinder to each other" Ike Alterman.’

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