Nottingham Hebrew Congregation has elected its first female president in its close-on 200-year history.

Su Collins was voted in at the shul’s AGM after a change in the rules to allow a female leader.

She will work to restore calm to the community after two years of upheaval.

Some members were unhappy at the redundancy earlier this year of its long-serving minister Rabbi Moshe Perez.

There was also controversy over a proposed constitutional change, which was thwarted by members who complained it would deprive them of a say in its future direction.

Mrs Collins — whose late father Samuel Saunders served as shul president — takes the view that the community should have a rabbi and rebbetzin.

She said she would “work with the shul to keep the warm, vibrant feeling that has held our community together since its earliest times, continuing our tradition while keeping pace with the 21st century”.

Gail Samson, who resigned as treasurer nearly a year ago, was elected vice-president and Stuart Joseph continues in the treasurer’s role.

Esther Ashkenazi was appointed as the shul’s first woman trustee in nearly a century.

Another trustee, Jeff Davis, outlined ideas to provide more up-to-date facilities at the cemetery and extend the synagogue building, which he hoped would encourage greater use by Jewish students.