Hendon Adath Yisroel Synagogue's long search for a new rabbi could be nearing completion after members were told that a Canadian candidate would be coming to "audition" for the post later this month.

Montreal-born Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner, the founder of central Toronto congregation Kahal Yereim, will meet Hendon Adath members and give classes during his visit.

The shul, affiliated to the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, has been looking to replace its long-serving leader of 50 years, Rabbi Pinchas Roberts, who retired in January.

Married with 10 children, Rabbi Bixenspanner is described as an "accomplished and popular speaker" who serves on various Batei Din.

While the selection committee and management board said he exhibited many of the qualities the synagogue was looking for, his appointment will depend on a members' vote.

Hendon Adath's newly chosen rabbi is expected to take up his post at the strictly Orthodox community before next Rosh Hashanah.

But in a vote of members, there were 54 against the appointment of Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner from Canada - with 101 in favour. The special meeting followed his visit to the community a few days earlier.

He will succeed Rabbi Pinchas Roberts, who retired in January after leading the congregation for 50 years.

Born in Montreal, father-of-10 Rabbi Bixenspanner studied in Switzerland and Jerusalem and ran a synagogue in Monsey, New Jersey, before founding his current congregation, Kahal Yereim, in Toronto. He has published several religious books and pamphlets.

A source at the synagogue said Rabbi Bixenspanner is "a very friendly and approachable character. We are looking to expand our membership with a hands-on approach and return the shul to its former glory."

Although there were suggestions that Rabbi Bixenspanner had needed to secure two-thirds of the vote and had narrowly fallen short at just over 65 per cent, the source dismissed this, insisting that, constitutionally, only "a simple majority" was required.

Rabbi Roberts has been one of the staunchest opponents of the North-West London eruv approved by the London Beth Din.

The synagogue source said that Rabbi Bixenspanner would be "releasing a statement to clarify his position on the eruv before Shabbos. As far as I am aware, he has no objection to the eruv."

A strictly Orthodox girls' school in Hendon has told pupils that they should not drive in.

The independent Beth Jacob Grammar has issued a reminder of an existing rule, which applies only to "a few girls" as the school has only one sixth-form year.

A number of reasons, including safety, were behind the policy, a spokesperson explained. The school did not want younger girls to be in cars with inexperienced drivers.

In addition, as sixth-formers took A-levels in one year and had to fit in Jewish studies and other activities, the school "doesn't want them to be preoccupied with other things".

Other issues included parking - "we have terrible parking problems and have to had buy permits for our own staff".

An expert panel expressed differing views on the proposed sugar tax to young Chai Cancer Care supporters at a forum at the charity's Hendon premises.

During a lively discussion, nutritionist Ian Marber pointed out that sugar was not the sole cause of obesity. "It's that we eat too much and we need to find ways to eat less.

"If that means taxing things, personally I'm very uncomfortable with that. Professionally, I think it has some merit."

Mitch Minton, CEO of Presscription - which produces raw, organic and cold-pressed juices - observed that with the NHS "extremely stretched, it's a good initiative to potentially reduce the amount of sugar consumed and save the NHS some money".

Asher Budwig, chief executive of Lola's Cupcakes, believed that if a sugar tax was extended to his products, the impact would not be significant.

"People come to us once a week or once a month so I don't think we would see a major decline.

"A cake is a lovely treat and if you can't enjoy a cake as a treat, what can you enjoy?"

Panellists were also quizzed on the role of the media in influencing eating habits and how to better educate regarding a balanced lifestyle.

The night raised more than £1,000 for Chai.

After meeting the Duchess of Cornwall at a Holocaust memorial event in 2015, Henrietta Kelly sent her a handwritten invitation to visit the Holocaust Survivors' Centre in Hendon.

And on Tuesday, Mrs Kelly, a Bergen-Belsen survivor, was among 40 HSC members who took tea with the duchess at the Jewish Care-administered centre in north-west London.

Royal assistants discreetly transferred the duchess's teacup from table to table - each decorated with patriotic-coloured napkins - as she moved to sit with different survivors.

She nodded attentively as Polish-born Mrs Kelly confided that she had once been advised to not talk about her wartime experiences. "My father told me it would bring me too much pain. Either people would not believe me, or they would ask me silly questions." She said afterwards: "I was able to tell her how lucky we are to have ended up in this country."

The duchess went on to meet Freddie Knoller, 94, who promised to post her a copy of his book and documentary film. "Being an optimist keeps you young," she told him.

She then sat beside Vienna-born Ester Friedman, 91, who became a state-registered nurse and midwife after fleeing to Britain on the Kindertransport in 1938. She told the duchess how but for conflicting arrangements, she would have been involved at the birth of Prince Charles. "The Home Secretary's wife was a patient of mine at the time," she recalled afterwards. "The Home Secretary recommended me to the then Princess Elizabeth to deliver her baby in Buckingham Palace.

"But then a patient of mine went into labour at the same time and I couldn't leave. I missed the opportunity, but it still makes a story. When I told the duchess, she laughed and said: 'I must tell my husband'."

After spending an hour with the survivors, the duchess told the gathering: "What a huge honour it has been for me to come here and listen to all these amazing stories. What you have gone through I don't think we can even imagine.

"But to be here and to be so cheerful and to be able to tell these stories now I think is so important - to you and to my generation and to the next generation and to the next generation down. I just hope these stories will continue so people know how incredible you have all been. I also am proud that this country has looked after you so well."

Afterwards, Auschwitz survivor Lily Ebert lifted up her sleeve to reveal the concentration camp number 10572 inked on her left inner-arm. She had given a copy of her story to one of the royal assistants to pass on to Prince Charles.

"When I met Prince Charles last year, he asked me to send it to him," said Mrs Ebert, one of 10 survivors to have been recognised in the New Year's Honours.

Mrs Ebert, who received the British Empire Medal, said: "The honours make me happy because it means the Holocaust is recognised. In a few years, there will be no more survivors and so many people still deny it ever happened. So what will happen when we are not here anymore?"

Fellow BEM recipient Renee Salt, 86, added: "It is important that the royal family know our stories, but it's a shame that they do not make an effort to go to Israel. I would have liked to ask the duchess if they are planning to go to Israel but I do not think it's my place."

Mr Knoller said it was "significant that we live in a country where Her Royal Highness can come and say 'hello' in Hendon".

The influx of French Jews to Britain could dramatically change the way synagogues and schools are run, the French-born Hendon United Synagogue chairman has claimed.

Marc Meyer estimates that more than 10,000 French Jews have moved to the UK over the past decade. "They have come because they sense the opportunity and quality of life within the Jewish community here that is offered to them.

"I do think it is the responsibility of the United Synagogue to help integrate French Jews into Britain. But I also think it's in the US's interest. It will add a dimension of vibrancy and growth." Should demand be demonstrated for a minyan with Sephardi tunes, it was up to the US to satisfy it.

Mr Meyer - who led last year's United Synagogue Strategic Review - noted that St John's Wood shuls had, in particular, seen a surge in membership from French Jews, with resulting Sephardi minyans.

"I think that is going to happen increasingly across London," he predicted. "My synagogue would 100 per cent open up a separate minyan if there was demand for it. We don't have the numbers yet."

US community services director David Kaplan pointed out that "many of our communities have instituted programmes and services to welcome the large and growing French Jewish community in the UK.

"The United Synagogue, in partnership with its rabbonim and lay leadership, will continue to welcome them and find ways to ensure that their traditions are maintained."

Mr Meyer hopes that more schools will teach Sephardi history. "It should be incorporated into the curriculum. It's important that people understand their neighbour. In any case, it's interesting."

His comments were echoed by Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, whose Chazak centre for young Sephardim was officially launched last week.

Rabbi Farhi, who is of Syrian descent, wanted schools to offer more "Sephardic pronunciation and customs in Jewish studies lessons - and teaching about refugees from Arab lands".

There could also be culinary benefits. "The French love going out and will demand the highest quality butchers and restaurants."

Mr Meyer is currently planning a renovation at Hendon United Synagogue, providing space "where people can communicate and where there will be shiurim facilities". He is also a director at the Conference of European Rabbis - the only non-rabbi on its executive - backing its efforts to protect "Jewish rights, rituals and fight BDS".

The leadership of Hendon Reform Synagogue has recommended a merger with Edgware and District Reform Synagogue to form a super-sized congregation.

Although Hendon still serves around 700 families, it has an ageing profile and little more than 10 per cent of members live in the area. With 2,000 families, Edgware remains one of the country's largest synagogues.

A merger on this scale, involving two of London's most established Reform synagogues - Edgware was founded in 1935, Hendon in 1949 - would be unprecedented within the movement. But it reflects the shift of the Jewish population further north-west.

Many of the children of Hendon members have moved out to the expanding Hertfordshire congregations. Although it still has a nursery, the children are mostly from local Orthodox congregations.

In a notice posted on Hendon's website, its council said the merger offered a "wonderful prospect" for the Reform community.

It would give an opportunity to "enhance the spiritual, educational, youth facilities, social and welfare and security needs and broaden its congregational support for our members in north-west London".

Neither Hendon chairman Philip Bright nor his Edgware counterpart Stephen Garfinkel wished to comment ahead of further discussions among their congregants.

But Mr Bright has previously said that "with the rise in the number of Jewish schools and the changing day-to-day requirements of our communities, we need to consider the long-term effect this will have on our synagogues and membership".

Hendon members have been invited to attend a meeting next week to put forward their views ahead of a vote on the plan in May.

The synagogue council has also considered other proposals including redevelopment of its current site or relocation to areas such as Mill Hill. But these options were not felt to be either "financially viable or in the best interests of our membership".

Reform movement chairman Robert Weiner observed that the merger plan arose out of the particular demographics of the two communities and was not an indication of membership decline within the movement itself.

"Overall, Reform communities have more members this year than they did the year before," he said.

Thousands of people around the world have responded to a Hendon family's plea to pray for their 20-year-old daughter, who is on life support.

At the time of writing, Liora Rosenberg, a former Hasmonean and JFS pupil, was in critical condition in hospital after suffering "a bleed to the brain" and pneumonia.

She was taken ill and admitted to hospital before Pesach.

More than 12,000 people joined the Facebook group, "Do a mitzvah in the name of Liora Rosenberg", which was set up on April 21 on behalf of the family to urge the community to "pull together, storm the heavens and do anything we can" to save the teaching assistant through prayers, good deeds and charity.

An additional JustGiving page, set up in her name, has so far raised over £20,000.

Liora's mother, Lauren, who is orginally from France, wrote on Facebook on Monday: "Please pray, I know my daughter is alive, even though at the moment she is on life support and has no reaction or movement."

She also wrote on Sunday: "I was told that my daughter will die on Monday, then on Tuesday, then on Wednesday, but thank God she is still with us.

"Doctors wanted to do the last test to confirm she is brain dead, but till now they have been unable to do the test as Liora's sodium level is too high. Thank God for this."

People from all over the world joined the group and posted messages of support, declaring they were praying and doing mitzvot in her name.

A man with the Facebook name of Yaacov Rab-eye Bee Benzaquen wrote: "I was at the Kotel this afternoon with my boys and I prayed for Liora and her family."

Another user, Vanessa Lelah, from Sydney, said: "Liora has been added to mesheberach prayers for the sick in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Singapore.

"Please can all of you withnrelatives in different countries contact your rabbis to add her to lists in local shuls."

Some members of the Facebook group provided contact details for private doctors and alternative medical practitioners, while others offered to organise transport to and from the hospital for family members.

Other group members said they had donated blood for the first time, and another said she had donated her hair to a charity. One woman created a spread sheet that people could use to organise their prayers.

The family of the 20-year-old, who works at a Jewish school in north London, has changed her name to Chaya Leah Rachel bat Esther - an act which is said to ward off the evil eye.

United Synagogue Rabbi David Mason, of Muswell Hill Synagogue, explained: "You add the name Chaya when someone is critically ill. Chaya means life and it is considered good luck and adds strength to the prayers for her."

Liora's mother met doctors at the Royal London Hospital on Monday to plead with them not to take her off life support and wait before carrying out the stem-cell test that would determine her brain activity.

Mrs Rosenberg wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "Please pray for the doctors to give the vitamin C [injection] as they refused and [that they wait] an extra two days before doing the brain stem test. So far they have refused my request."

Barts Health NHS Trust said: "Our consultants and ward staff are in close contact with the family and meeting regularly. At the trust, we will always listen to the wishes of our patients and their families to ensure their involvement in decisions about care."

A JustGiving page has also been created on behalf of the family which said that giving charity could help bring about a miracle recovery. In days, more than £17,000 was raised for the emergency volunteer service Hatzola NW.

Rabbi Mason explained: "There is the idea that giving charity can save you from death, which is why, in this case, people have donated so much."

Family friend Tali Silas, 17, from Finchley, north London, was one of the thousands moved to help the family online.

Ms Silas, who is a friend of Liora's sister, Fiona, set up a Twitter account calling on people to pray for her.

She said: "I've been speaking to Fiona and she is convinced a miracle will happen, the whole family are. They have been overwhelmed by the amount of support they have had and are so grateful. They need all the help they can get."

The Yavneh student added: "Liora had so many friends, people are so upset about it. She is so popular. She is great at art too and loves reality TV programmes, just like a normal girl."

Rabbi Jacob Ebrahimoff, head of the Independent Jewish Day School in Hendon, will be in charge of an additional school from September.

He will be spending half his week in Israel as the new executive head of the King Solomon School near Herzliya, which will be relaunching as a British international school.

"We'll be teaching the British national curriculum," said Rabbi Ebrahimoff, who has been Independent head for three years.

"The idea is to bring to Israel the level of excellence and high achievements that in the UK we are extremely proud of." He looked forward to experiencing the "innovative" approach to education in Israel.

Its Jewish education will be modelled on the broad-based Orthodox approach of mainstream Jewish schools in the UK.

When he is in Israel, the new IJDS deputy head, Mandy Berkman, will be acting head of the Hendon school.

Rabbi Ebrahimoff said that while "there is no formal link between the schools, a link could be productive".

Hendon Reform Synagogue has postponed a vote on a merger with Edgware and District Reform Synagogue.

The shul's council had recommended union with the larger congregation as a "wonderful prospect" for the community, established in 1949. The vote was due to have taken place this Sunday.

But more time is being given to a group of Hendon members to explore the possibility of relocation further north-west, believed to be in the Mill Hill area.

The shul said the vote would now be held "after the summer".

Although Hendon still serves around 700 families, it has an ageing profile and little more than 10 per cent of members live in the area.

Hendon Adath Yisroel Synagogue remains hopeful that the Canadian rabbi chosen to be its next leader will be able to join, despite the shul having re-advertised the position last week.

Members of the congregation were surprised to see an advert in the Orthodox press for the ministerial post, which has remained vacant since the retirement of Rabbi Pinchas Roberts in January 2015.

The congregation voted in December to appoint Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner from Toronto as successor to Rabbi Roberts, who had headed the strictly Orthodox community for 50 years.

An email to congregants at the end of last week explained that the management board had "now begun the process of applying for a work permit" for Rabbi Bixenspanner.

Under immigration rules, the synagogue has to show that it has made reasonable efforts to recruit a local candidate.

Hendon Adath was "currently working our way through the Home Office requirements", members were told.

"Placing an advert in an appropriate publication is one of these requirements."

A second Sephardi community has joined the Federation of Synagogues, Hendon-based Tiferet Eyal.

Launched in 2002 for the Iraqi-Indian community, it has grown to a membership of 100. The Federation will assist in its search for a rabbi.

Hosting one of the biggest Jewish libraries in north-west London, the synagogue has a keen educational focus. A Shabbat attraction is a hot kiddush lunch. President, Simon Abraham, said that joining the Federation would "help us to grow spiritually and provide the infrastructure and expertise needed to develop and increase our membership". It would also "enhance our position in the wider community".

Netzach Israel Synagogue in Golders Green was the Federation's first Sephardi congregation.

Hendon Adath's newly chosen rabbi is expected to take up his post at the strictly Orthodox community before next Rosh Hashanah.

But in a vote of members, there were 54 against the appointment of Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner from Canada - with 101 in favour. The special meeting followed his visit to the community a few days earlier.

He will succeed Rabbi Pinchas Roberts, who retired in January after leading the congregation for 50 years.

Born in Montreal, father-of-10 Rabbi Bixenspanner studied in Switzerland and Jerusalem and ran a synagogue in Monsey, New Jersey, before founding his current congregation, Kahal Yereim, in Toronto. He has published several religious books and pamphlets.

A source at the synagogue said Rabbi Bixenspanner is "a very friendly and approachable character. We are looking to expand our membership with a hands-on approach and return the shul to its former glory."

Although there were suggestions that Rabbi Bixenspanner had needed to secure two-thirds of the vote and had narrowly fallen short at just over 65 per cent, the source dismissed this, insisting that, constitutionally, only "a simple majority" was required.

Rabbi Roberts has been one of the staunchest opponents of the North-West London eruv approved by the London Beth Din.

The synagogue source said that Rabbi Bixenspanner would be "releasing a statement to clarify his position on the eruv before Shabbos. As far as I am aware, he has no objection to the eruv."

A strictly Orthodox girls' school in Hendon has told pupils that they should not drive in.

The independent Beth Jacob Grammar has issued a reminder of an existing rule, which applies only to "a few girls" as the school has only one sixth-form year.

A number of reasons, including safety, were behind the policy, a spokesperson explained. The school did not want younger girls to be in cars with inexperienced drivers.

In addition, as sixth-formers took A-levels in one year and had to fit in Jewish studies and other activities, the school "doesn't want them to be preoccupied with other things".

Other issues included parking - "we have terrible parking problems and have to had buy permits for our own staff".

Hendon Adath's newly chosen rabbi is expected to take up his post at the strictly Orthodox community before next Rosh Hashanah.

But in a vote of members, there were 54 against the appointment of Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner from Canada - with 101 in favour. The special meeting followed his visit to the community a few days earlier.

He will succeed Rabbi Pinchas Roberts, who retired in January after leading the congregation for 50 years.

Born in Montreal, father-of-10 Rabbi Bixenspanner studied in Switzerland and Jerusalem and ran a synagogue in Monsey, New Jersey, before founding his current congregation, Kahal Yereim, in Toronto. He has published several religious books and pamphlets.

A source at the synagogue said Rabbi Bixenspanner is "a very friendly and approachable character. We are looking to expand our membership with a hands-on approach and return the shul to its former glory."

Although there were suggestions that Rabbi Bixenspanner had needed to secure two-thirds of the vote and had narrowly fallen short at just over 65 per cent, the source dismissed this, insisting that, constitutionally, only "a simple majority" was required.

Rabbi Roberts has been one of the staunchest opponents of the North-West London eruv approved by the London Beth Din.

The synagogue source said that Rabbi Bixenspanner would be "releasing a statement to clarify his position on the eruv before Shabbos. As far as I am aware, he has no objection to the eruv."

A strictly Orthodox girls' school in Hendon has told pupils that they should not drive in.

The independent Beth Jacob Grammar has issued a reminder of an existing rule, which applies only to "a few girls" as the school has only one sixth-form year.

A number of reasons, including safety, were behind the policy, a spokesperson explained. The school did not want younger girls to be in cars with inexperienced drivers.

In addition, as sixth-formers took A-levels in one year and had to fit in Jewish studies and other activities, the school "doesn't want them to be preoccupied with other things".

Other issues included parking - "we have terrible parking problems and have to had buy permits for our own staff".

Hendon Adath's newly chosen rabbi is expected to take up his post at the strictly Orthodox community before next Rosh Hashanah.

But in a vote of members, there were 54 against the appointment of Rabbi Shloime Yitzchok Bixenspanner from Canada - with 101 in favour. The special meeting followed his visit to the community a few days earlier.

He will succeed Rabbi Pinchas Roberts, who retired in January after leading the congregation for 50 years.

Born in Montreal, father-of-10 Rabbi Bixenspanner studied in Switzerland and Jerusalem and ran a synagogue in Monsey, New Jersey, before founding his current congregation, Kahal Yereim, in Toronto. He has published several religious books and pamphlets.

A source at the synagogue said Rabbi Bixenspanner is "a very friendly and approachable character. We are looking to expand our membership with a hands-on approach and return the shul to its former glory."

Although there were suggestions that Rabbi Bixenspanner had needed to secure two-thirds of the vote and had narrowly fallen short at just over 65 per cent, the source dismissed this, insisting that, constitutionally, only "a simple majority" was required.

Rabbi Roberts has been one of the staunchest opponents of the North-West London eruv approved by the London Beth Din.

The synagogue source said that Rabbi Bixenspanner would be "releasing a statement to clarify his position on the eruv before Shabbos. As far as I am aware, he has no objection to the eruv."

A photo album can showcase a treasure trove of memories. But with Sheree Charalampous's textured photo books, the compilation process is just as important.

Ms Charalampous has been working with residents of Jewish Care's Vi and John Rubens (Redbridge) and Clore Manor (Hendon) homes to produce tactile albums as part of the charity's creative arts development programme.

For the residents, involvement in the collation allows them to reminisce about family, career, music and other interests.

And by stimulating memories through touch, those with dementia are helped to recall major life events.

Having studied textile design at Chelsea School of Art, Ms Charalampous is the social co-ordinator at Jewish Care's Sidney Corob House, supporting those with mental health issues.

She became engaged with the charity through volunteering at its Sam Beckman Day Centre, helping people living with dementia and was also involved in a project where Holocaust survivors produced memory quilts that were displayed at the Jewish Museum.

For each album, Ms Charalampous talks to the resident and their close family and they look at old photos together. She says that participants get a lot out of the experience, remembering dresses they made and the dances they wore them to. "Some have sewing skills that have been used in the project.

"Seeing the photos on fabric always fascinates them and makes them nostalgic and sometimes tearful. These books create a lasting legacy."

At Clore Manor, 99-year-old Rose Taylor is flicking through her album with her brother David, having carefully removed it from the fabric bag Ms Charalampous has made to protect the decorative cover.

She worked for 40 years in the rag trade and as well as family photos, her book features images of seamstresses.

"The album is wonderful," she says. "I made five bridesmaid dresses when I was 15 in 1931 and some of those girls wearing them were in the Jewish Chronicle."

For Jack and Betty Pollack, memories recalled include Mr Pollack's wartime days as an RAF mechanic. For his wife, "there's a photo of me in 1952 when I won the Miss North London beauty contest. I won a canteen of cutlery presented to me by a boxer and an actress.

"At the time, Jack's father owned a fashion clothing factory in the East End which they named Lydia's, after Jack's younger sister who still visits Jack regularly.

"I knew Lydia and she introduced us when we were on Brighton beach. Here we are on our wedding day in 1955 at Egerton Road Synagogue [Stamford Hill].

"Jack was a travelling salesman and later became the export director and chairman of the company. He sold clothes on international trips and I sometimes joined him, so we have included maps in the album cover to remind us of our travels."

The oldest album subject is Vi and John Rubens resident Julia Gilbert, who will turn 108 next month. Mrs Gilbert worked as a saleswoman in a stationery shop in Dalston and, after retirement, volunteered at Jewish Care's Stepney community centre for many years. Her photos go as far back as one of her as a baby at the 1908 Olympics in London. There are also images of her sons, who live in Australia.

Fellow resident Shirley Allen has her wedding photo on the front of her book. She still has the wedding dress which was displayed at the home during an exhibition of both the albums and residents' art.

Survivor Renee Salt accompanied 19 Young Jewish Care supporters on a trip to Poland, which included a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Exploring the Polish Jewish experience before, during and after the Holocaust, the itinerary also took in synagogues and Oskar Schindler's factory.

Polish-born Mrs Salt - a member of Jewish Care's Holocaust Survivors' Centre in Hendon - gave a moving account of her life from the time of the Nazi occupation to her liberation from Bergen-Belsen.

Her father was separated from her at Auschwitz and she never saw him again. Her mother died two weeks after the liberation at Bergen-Belsen. She was reunited with an aunt and made her way to Germany, and then to Paris, where she met her husband.

They settled in London and she has spoken at schools and charity events for almost 20 years.

"It was important for me to go on this trip with the Young Jewish Care supporters," she said. "People should know what happened. The best way for them to know is to hear a survivor speak and to see it for themselves so they won't forget.

"For me, just knowing the Holocaust Survivors' Centre is there for many of us is so important.

"It's a wonderful place and each person who works there is fantastic. It's my second home. I go there every day as it's open all week. When it's closed I miss it so much."

Trip participant Andrew Freedman said: "Renee's testimony and the sight of her reliving the most horrific of memories - mourning for her family who had perished, for her country, for her people - will stay with me forever.

"Renee lit four candles for her family at Auschwitz-Birkenau and we said Kaddish in unison. It brought home how vital the centre is for the survivors."

Norwood's 1,500-plus volunteers support the charity through everything from driving minibuses to manning the tills at its shops. They also fundraise and befriend and mentor families needing support.

Now some of the stars of the unpaid army have been honoured at an awards ceremony at the RAF Museum in Hendon.

The unsung heroes prize went to volunteers at the Twins and Rainbow groups at Norwood's Kennedy Leigh Centre in Hendon. Working alongside play specialists, they help to provide a fun environment for children with special educational needs and disabilities and support for families with twins and triplets. "These groups simply could not run without their help," said Elaine Kerr, Norwood's chief executive.

Volunteer champion award winner Mark Pollack, a Norwood trustee and fundraising chair, has nearly 20 years' involvement in the charity, in which time he has undertaken 18 international cycle challenges, two marathons, and one trek to Iceland to raise funds.

The JCoSS Pears Special Resource Provision for pupils with autism was chosen for the community award. The students have participated in activities such as organising resources for the Kennedy Leigh Centre, card making and gardening. A special commendation prize went to Umer Kayani and Nicky Haugh, who attend the special provision and have been volunteering with Norwood for the past year.

Nineteen-year-old fundraiser Hope Baker and volunteers at the Unity recreational service for children and young people with disabilities were joint winners of the young people's prize.

Other award recipients were David Green, Laurence Smith and Jonathan Kramer, who make the round trip from London to Norwood's Berkshire care village, Ravenswood, to lead the residents' Shabbat service. And Leni Kariel, 93, was honoured for outstanding contribution, having volunteered at Norwood's Edgware charity shop for more than 20 years.

There was recognition for the ladies' lunch committee of Sharon Adler, Hilary Brass, Jacqui Gittelmon, Katherine Isaacs, Jo Rosenthal, Julia Sherrard and Rina Steinberg.

Corporate partnership was acknowledged through a presentation to BP, whose employees have volunteered for 1,275 hours at Ravenswood over four years.

Lady Mendelsohn, the charity's joint president, said afterwards that "Norwood is blessed" to have so many devoted volunteers.

"They make a vital contribution to the professional support of our children, adults and families. Every one has a profoundly positive impact on the life of the organisation."