A tea party attended by 150 Kingston Synagogue members was the last of a series of farewell events for minister Rabbi David Mason and his family.

Past chairman David Lawson recounted some of the many innovations of the rabbi - who has joined Muswell Hill Synagogue - among them a weekly "Whisky and Talmud" course which put the spirit into spiritual.

In deference to the minister's love of the Beatles, current chairman Anthony Cowen managed to include 18 of the Fab Four's song titles in his five-minute address.

American-born Rabbi Michael Rosenfeld has succeeded Rabbi Mason, who is expected to return to Kingston in the autumn for a party to mark the opening of the community's Shalom Nursery, a project dear to his heart.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Mason, 35, has been welcomed at Muswell Hill, where chairman Anthony Sober said: "We are a thriving community, including many young couples with children. I have no doubt he will quickly establish himself, and lead us with great enthusiasm."