Austrian-born Professor Edgar Neufeld has had a university lecture theatre named after him in recognition of his services to education.

The largest theatre at Middlesex University’s new Hatchcroft building will be known as the Edgar Neufeld Lecture Theatre.

Prof Neufeld, 75, has been a governor at the university since 1989. In 2000, he was appointed both Honorary Professor and Pro-Chancellor of the University , and in 2003 he was awarded an honorary doctorate. He has also worked voluntarily to improve education and racial equality in North London. “These are two of the biggest issues facing our society at the moment,” he tells People. “There has been some significant progress but there is still a long way to go.” Born in Vienna in 1933, Professor Neufeld came to England in 1938, aged five, after escaping with his family from the Nazis. He graduated from Manchester University and joined IBM UK in 1961, later becoming a Group Director for IBM Europe.

On leaving IBM in 1989 he was a business and IT consultant for several years. He lives in East Finchley, North London, and is a member of Alyth Gardens Synagogue.