Mr Hovádek joined in the annual service to honour victims of violence and on behalf of the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, HE Jan Thompson, presented a symbolical “Key to the town of Lidice” to the Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. The official programme concluded with the Staffordshire cadets raising the Flag of Peace and Friendship designed by local schoolchildren above Saint Thomas’ Church.

The main message of the day was to celebrate the partnership between Stoke-on-Trent, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and above all, the town of Lidice. The connection between the two towns dates back to the late 1940s when the people of Stoke-on-Trent donated a sum equivalent to ₤ 1 million in today’s money towards the reconstruction of the town of Lidice which was completely destroyed in 1942 in reprisal for the assassination of the Nazi Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich.

The Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Ross Irving, took over the memorable key of Lidice

The Staffordshire cadets in front of Saint Thomas’ Church

The ceremonial raising of the "Flag of Peace and Friendship"