Former Wembley Synagogue minister Rabbi Martin Van den Bergh flew in from Hong Kong to attend the dinner which closed a programme of events marking the congregation's 80th anniversary.
Its Bessie Clapman Hall was filled to its 150 capacity with past and present members. "Although Wembley shul has been written off by many as ‘old and past it', we have proved them very wrong," said Steven Sampson, chair of the volunteers' committee which organised the celebratory programme.
"Over the year, hardly a week has gone by without some sort of special anniversary activity, involving a great many of our members."
