Continental Friends
There follow reports from recent get-togethers.For information about meetings email Susan Harrod - susan@ajr.org.uk
Southern Groups
AJR Book Club
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Innocents and InnocenceOur book was The Innocents, which won the Costa Prize for a first novel. We were fortunate to have the author, Francesca Segal, with us. Francesca told us, among other things, about the parallels between her novel and Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence.
Birmingham (West Midlands)
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Comfortable New Venue FoundWe met at a new venue, the Andrew Cohen Residential Hall, which provides comfortable - even palatial by most standards - accommodation and insists on providing us with free but tasty afternoon refreshments. There was unanimous agreement that we need look no further for future meetings in 2013.
Brighton and Hove (Sarid)
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Boys Town JerusalemLaurence Stein, a member and fundraiser for Boys Town Jerusalem, spoke to us about this educational institute for mostly poor and underprivileged children. The school was founded in 1948 to educate war orphans and it caters for boys of every denomination, Sephardi and Ashkenazi alike.
Bristol and Bath
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
From Ostrava to KingstonWe enjoyed a talk by David Lawson on how a sefer torah came from Ostrava in Czechoslovakia to Kingston Synagogue. When the town’s six synagogues were burned in 1939 some artefacts were saved and taken to Prague, and then over 1,000 scrolls were brought to Westminster Synagogue by an art dealer.
Bromley Continental Friends
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
Return to CarpathiansWe listened enthralled to Rachel Levy’s moving account of her return for the first time to her home village in the Carpathian Mountains from which she had been forcibly removed during the war. Rachel shared with us images and memories of past and present, people and places lost and found.
Cambridge
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
The Joseph Nathan StoryDavid Barnett gave us a wonderful talk on the success of Joseph Nathan and his family, culminating in the formation of the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical group. He gave us an insight into Jewish life in the 19th century, coupled with Nathan’s initial business exploits in New Zealand. We were delighted to welcome two new members, Sara Kirby and James Foreman.
Cardiff
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Clueless Honest BeingsDavid Wass’s talk about shoplifting was enthralling. Much interaction made it hilarious. David gave out ‘tools of the trade’ such as a sieve, a penknife, an elastic band and a shopping bag and asked us how we would use them to steal. We honest beings didn't have a clue.
Child Survivors Association
for further information, contact susan@ajr.org.uk
'Why is Hebrew Written Backwards?'Dr Martin Stern answered the question ‘Why do you write Hebrew backwards?’ and was assisted by members of the audience. Diversions led also to the roots of a number of English-language words - neither Latin nor Greek but Phoenician/Hebrew. Dorothy’s cakes were a delight for the palate.
Ealing
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Life in Nigeria in the Fifties and SixtiesHelen Aronson gave an excellent talk about life in Nigeria in 1956-63 with her husband and new baby. Using photos and a DVD, she gave us glimpses of different parts of Nigeria and the people she met. A most enjoyable occasion.
Edgware
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
Needing HelpAndrew Leigh spoke to us most interestingly about the later stages in life, when or if one starts to need some help. He mentioned specifically some wonderful Jewish organisations which will help if help is needed.
Essex
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
A Personal Friend of Margaret ThatcherFormer MP for Southend Sir Teddy Taylor was a personal friend of Margaret Thatcher. It was poignant that he gave his talk and showed us photos of Margaret Thatcher and himself the day after she died.
Hampstead Garden Suburb
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
History of ReutersGreg Beitchman, Global News Editor at Reuters, told us that the company’s founder, Paul Julius Reuter, a German Jew, was an enthusiastic technophile, using steam locomotives, steamships, telegraph and pigeons. Today, Reuters employs globally 3,000 journalists and 50,000 associates.
Ilford
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Cinema Tricks of the TradeHoward Lanning provided insight into finding the right location for making a film. What we see on the screen is rarely the truth. A snow shot from Dr Zhivago was filmed at 19 degrees in Spain. Crowd scenes depicting hundreds are switched after each shot to show new faces. All these tricks of the trade are used to dupe the public - but we do get superb films so it’s all worthwhile.
Imperial Cafe War Veterans
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Sunshine Day to RememberOur lunch snack at the Rinkoffs corner emporium was delish and we motored home armed with our purchases of apple and cheese cake and that famous rye bread. A sunshine day to remember.
Kent
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Inspirational FilmWe watched an inspirational film of Alice Herz-Sommer, a Czech Jew, survivor of Theresienstadt and noted pianist. Aged 98 at the time of the recording, she still played the piano for 2.5 hours per day, declaring that music feeds the soul and helped her survive. We then talked about what Alice’s story meant for us.
Kingston Continental Friends
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
The First Real Day of SpringMarch 5, the first real day of Spring, enabled those who had gathered at Susan’s house to enjoy the sunshine in her garden and appreciate her incomparable hospitality and baking skills in her spacious reception area.
Marlow Continental Friends
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
Enthusiastic TravellersAssembling at Alan’s lovely house in Marlow, we - enthusiastic travellers all of us - exchanged recollections of our visits to Europe, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. If anyone lives in the Marlow catchment area and would like to join, please get in touch with Hazel.
Nightingale House
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
NIghtingale HouseA new social group for the residents of Nightingale House.
North London
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Intriguing StoriesWe heard stories about, inter alia, a family photo album, a campaign medal from Cyprus, a document issued to a Kindertransport child, and tribal pottery figures from South Africa. Each story was totally different – each important to the teller and all most intriguing to hear.
North West London (Hendon and Temple Fortune merged)
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Best of the BestEdwina Mileham told us the Wallace Collection was originally built as a hunting lodge, before becoming the family town house of the first four Marquesses of Hertford; Sir Richard Wallace, son of the fourth Marquess, left it to the nation in 1900. As collectors of fine objects acquired mainly from European royalty, the family procured only the best of the best, ranging from furniture and porcelain to armour and Old Master paintings.
Norwich (Norfolk)
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Shining a Light on the AJR’s FundingNine of us were present and correct for our lunchtime meeting, goodies courtesy of Myrna. Best of all, one of our guests was AJR Finance Director David Kaye, who shone a light on the Claims Conference and other funds which enable the AJR to extend its helping hand.
Nottingham (East Midlands)
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Exchanging News after a Long WinterWe had an informal lunch in a small village hotel, glad to see each other after the long winter and exchange news. As usual, we were delighted to see Esther Rinkoff, who came to keep us in order and tell us what was happening elsewhere.
Oxford
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Film on Immigration to IsraelAfter a splendid lunch we enjoyed the first UK viewing of the film A Dream is Born, showing immigration from all over the world to Israel.
Pinner
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Hard Life of TchaikovskyHerbie Goldberg told us Tchaikovsky had a hard struggle to make his way in the musical world at a time when ‘proper music’ was not considered to originate from Russia. Tchaikovsky was depressed that many of his great compositions that we now love at first attracted poor reviews.
Radlett
for further information, contact esther@ajr.org.uk
Public Sector on the BrinkRetired civil servant Jenny Manson spoke of the changes in culture the public services have been undergoing for several years – what is clear is that many of these changes do not contribute to the public good. Her talk sparked a very animated discussion which could have gone on for many hours.
St John's Wood
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
Plans for Nightingale HammersonAndrew Leigh, Chief Executive of Nightingale Hammerson, told us about plans for these homes. In a lively Q&A session, he advised all of us to think now about what we want to do when we get older.
Surrey
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Get-together on a Real Spring DayOur get-together coincided with the first real Spring day for six months, enhancing a very pleasant morning’s conversation. Edmee’s hospitality was, as ever, welcoming, with lots of good food to go with the chatting.
Welwyn Garden City
for further information, contact hazel@ajr.org.uk
Visit to Wallace CollectionWe were given fascinating insight into the history, exhibits and artefacts at the Wallace Collection. Under the gentle and humorous guidance of Catherine Chastney, we discussed a number of paintings and felt better able to discover what clues are hidden within a work of art.
Wembley
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Buzzing with ConversationWe were delighted to welcome back Feo Kahn (103), who had been unable to attend recently. As always, the room buzzed with lively conversation, including a report on the recent Anthony Penrose talk and the forthcoming visit to JFS to learn more about computers.
Wessex (Bournemouth)
for further information, contact myrna@ajr.org.uk
Items of MemorabiliaMembers brought along items of memorabilia, including small glass flower-holders for place settings, a monogrammed napkin, a German Iron Cross, and a book called Death Book Theresienstadt. A watch strap belonging to an uncle who had died in the War and a rendition of Hungarian songs completed the entertaining afternoon.