Leonard Cohen

Abandoning his Oxford course, he studied law and was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1948. The following year he married Eleanor Henriques at West London Synagogue, whose council he later sat on. Through his wife, he became an executive committee member of the Bernhard Baron Settlement in the East End. He was also involved in the Board of Guardians’ youth work, as a member of the boys’ industrial and welfare committees, and was honorary secretary of the Association of Jewish Youth. From 1976-82 he was president of the Jewish Colonization Association as it made Israel the focus of its previously worldwide support for Jews in agriculture. He was also a trustee of the Lionel Cohen visiting lectureship at the Hebrew University, now in its 55th year, and the LA Mayer Memorial Institute of Islamic Art in Jerusalem.

His successful career as a chancery barrister was cut short by migraines so severe that in 1961 he joined his brother-in-law’s merchant bank, M Samuel, as a director, for an easier life. The bank became Hill Samuel, following a merger in 1964. But he got bored and in 1976 became director general of the merchant bank association, the Accepting Houses Committee. He returned to his charity commitments after retiring in 1982 and moving to Berkshire, near Reading. Active in the Skinners’ Company, he had served as master in 1971-72 and was honorary colonel of its volunteer Signal Regiment from 1973-78. From 1976-82 he chaired the United Services Trust. Enjoying Berkshire life, he became active locally, serving on the community trust, and was High Sheriff of Berkshire from 1987-88. He was a supportive school governor and chaired the Royal Free Hospital Medical School council from 1982-92. He was appointed OBE for his charity work in 1995. His last commitment was chairing the Jewish Chronicle Trust from 1995-2000. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Jonathan and Andrew, daughter Catherine, and four grandchildren.