obituaries

Allan Conway

March 7th 1939 - March 22nd 2010

It is with deep regret that we morn the loss of Allan Conway, Chairman of Edgware AJEX
And a tireless worker for many charitable causes throughout his fruitful life.

After serving in the Royal Army Pay Corps during his National Service, he became a stockbroker and also worked in the financial field in the City of London for many years.

But it was as a graphologist that he became best known, publishing several books on the subject and lecturing widely, as well as appearing on radio and TV. His expertise was regularly called upon by industry and the Police to evaluate handwriting.

He is survived by his wife Marion, his sons, Edward and Jeremy, daughter Debra and three grandchildren

Peter Russell MBE

July 5th 1925 - December 5th 2009

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our well loved National Treasurer Peter Russell MBE.

Peter was brought up in Golders Green by his mother and grandparents, together with his sister Anita. As a teenager he was already involved in communal work, being the organiser and leader of the Young People's Club at Brondesbury Synagogue.

During World War II he saw Service in the RAF, in India as well as Borneo, Burma and Egypt.

He married Sylvia in 1953 and went to work in the family business, “Hardcastle's,” a wholesale chemist. They lived in an apartment in West End Lane but moved to Peter Avenue in Willesden in 1963, as their children, Jeremy and Julia, were attending the North West London Jewish Day School and this was much more practical. Peter and Sylvia were already very involved with the Parents' Association. Peter was active with the Jewish Schools Association, where for many years he was its Treasurer. At that time he was also serving in the Special Constabulary.

The Dobree Estate, in Willsden where Peter and his family lived, organised theatre outings to raise money for the school. And Peter was always involved. Sylvia sadly died in 1981, this was just days before their first grandchild was born. After her death he immersed himself totally in his communal work, particularly after the family business was sold and moved to Graham Road in Hendon.

As a long serving member of AJEX’s Willesden Branch, he held the posts of treasurer and chairman. He also became involved with the AJEX North & West Area Committee (NAWAC), was a member of the National Executive Council, Chairman of the Events Division and National Treasurer from 2004 to 2009. Each year he helped organise the memorial services at Willesden Cemetery and Gladstone Park and was responsible for the Head Quarter weekends at the Ambassador Hotel in Bournemouth. When Peter was asked to get more involved at Head Office, he was happy to accept and his quiet and dedicated manner was a reassurance to all. He was the Police liaison for AJEX’s Annual Parade and also organised the Reunion and Rally. Outside of AJEX he was a driving force in the founding of the Jewish Police Association.

In 2002 Peter was rightfully honored with an MBE for his services to the Jewish Community.

He is survived by his two children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and six grandchildren, three of whom he recruited to work in the AJEX office during their school breaks. Like him they were hard working and loyal helpers.

His passing leaves all his friends with a sadness and real admiration for his accomplishments achieved over a lifetime of service to the community at large.

Edmund de Rothschild CBE TD

January 2nd 1916 - January 17th 2009

It is with deep regret that we mark the passing of our much respected President Edmund de Rothschild. His terms as President for AJEX were 1959 - 1963 and again in 1968 until his passing in 2009.

Known to us as “Mr Eddy” he was a guiding light to the Association for many years, and his wise counsel will be sadly missed.

He was a senior partner and then Chairman of NM Rothschild and Sons, and a figure of international renown.

He was born on January 2nd 1916. The first son of Lionel de Rothschild and a great-great grandson of Nathan Mayer Rothschild, who established the English branch of the family.

His war service was a gallant one and in 1944 he applied to join the Jewish Infantry Brigade under the command of Brigadier Ernst Benjamin. His story of the Brigade is well documented in his autobiography “A gilt edged life”.

He married first in 1948 at the New West End Synagogue to Elizabeth Lentner, who died in 1980. They had two sons and two daughters. His second marriage in 1982 was to Anne Harrison, the widow of one of his oldest friends.

One of his greatest loves was horticulture. He restored Exbury gardens in Hampshire, the 260 acre woodland garden created by his father in the 1920s.

In 1950 he helped put together what was at that time the largest project undertaken by private enterprise, the Churchill Falls hydroelectric scheme in Canada.

He worked hard for charitable causes; apart from AJEX he was active with The Queens Nursing Institute, the Not Forgotten Association and the Council of Christians and Jews.

He was a truly remarkable man, and we send our condolences to his family.

Mark Kosky

January 5th 1923 - August 28th 2008

A long-serving communal leader in the United Synagogue and associated bodies, Mark Kosky promoted accountability and education in these organisations.

Although underage he volunteered as a navigator in the RAF and completed two tours of duty in Lancaster bombers, when surviving even one was statistically unlikely.

He built up his own advertising and publishing business and threw himself into communal activity, particularly in the US, which he saw as the engine of the community.

He was Joint Treasurer of the US Burial Society from 1972 to 1980. He was also US Joint Treasurer from 1980 to 1984.

He was President of the London Board of Shechita and Vice-President of the National Shechita Council in the 1970s.

At the London Board of Religious Education he was Honorary Treasurer from 1968 to 1978.

He also served as a governor of JFS School and Vice-Chairman of Mizrachi. In 1972 he was appointed as a JP and a Commissioner of income tax.

He became a member of the National Executive of AJEX and chaired its Westminster Branch. Concerned at the ignorance of today's young people about the Second World War he spent increasing time speaking at schools around the country on the role of Jewish servicemen and women.

He is survived by second wife Susan, son David, daughters Judith and Ruth, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Brigadier Samuel Janikoun OBE, FRCS, QHS

March 12th 1913 - December 15th 2008

Sam Janikoun was one of the few Jews of recent immigrant stock who rose to high rank in the British Army. His high technical competence was allied to an unshakable imperturbability and total reliability.

A few years after he graduated in medicine he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War II with whom he saw frontline service in North Africa and Italy, and in France after D-Day on June 6 l944.

In his later service he was based in Singapore with a wide remit throughout the Army serving in the Far East. Janikoun was seen in the Army as particularly successful in his close liaison with the other forces.

As a medical practitioner, he acquired a special skill in handling and fitting artificial limbs, which he developed in his latter years in the Army and at Roehampton Hospital, in south west London.

His wife, Magali, who was a dental student when they met, predeceased him after nearly 60 years of marriage. He is survived by two sons and two daughters.

Alfred I Bird

October 3rd 1917 - January 13th 2009

Alf Bird was known to many people far and wide. There surely can't be many people in London and indeed far beyond, who did not know Alf Bird and certainly not many who Alf, in turn, did not know.

At the age of 22 he was recruited into the army and after initial training found himself a member of the Kings Royal Rifles and before long surrounded by sand in the Middle East engaged in battle with the enemy.

His military career came to an abrupt halt on having been captured and he spent the next two years as a prisoner of war in Italy where, having a fair knowledge of French, he also taught himself Italian and became an interpreter in the various camps around the country.

On the capitulation of Italy British, POWs were transported to Germany where Alf found himself for the next 18 months working as a platelayer on the railway.

After demob in 1946, he spent some time in the timber trade and then became a successful menswear retailer.

His various achievements in AJEX are legendary, from years of service on the National Executive Council, Chairman of the National Welfare Committee, Chairman and Life President of the Edgware Branch, holder of an AJEX Gold Badge through to National Standard Bearer. However, he still managed a full social life. He was a keen golfer, a successful Mason, aspiring bridge player and a striking ballroom dancer, but above all a true family man. He had a dedicated, full and fruitful life and leaves a void difficult to fill.

He leaves a daughter, Rosalyn, sons Laurence and Ian and a host of family and friends with memories to be cherished forever.

Tel: 020 8202 2323 Email: headoffice@ajex.org.uk
AJEX Charitable Foundation - Charity Commission registration No. 1082148