Cancer Doesn't Care - Pelorous

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Opening of the Wohl Wing There was an a air of celebration at the dedication capacity filled room when he said that he could not ceremony of the Wohl Wing at Chai’s flagship centre in remember a time when Chai did not exist. He praised Hendon. With drinks in hand, guests took guided tours Chai, and shared that at council meetings Chai was often of the new Wing and had the opportunity to admire held up as an example of how an organisation can grow the much needed four additional counselling rooms, and serve the needs of its community. garden room and physiotherapy suite. As part of the dedication ceremony supporters were Martin Paisner CBE Gerald & Benita Fogel, Lord Young In her welcome, Louise Hager highlighted that the invited to fix the mezuzot on all 21 doors. positive and uplifting atmosphere of the centre had been embodied in the Wing. This reflected Chai’s ethos of supporting people to enable them to live with their cancer. Maureen Lipman CBE paid a moving tribute to her dearest friend and fellow Honorary Patron Lady Jakobovitz z’l. Chairman of the trustees of the Wohl Foundation, and nephew of Maurice and Vivienne Wohl, Professor David Latchman CBE spoke of how delighted he and his co- trustees were to continue the support for Chai that had existed since its inception. Councillor Anthony Finn, Mayor of Barnet summed up the feeling in the Maureen Lipman CBE, Louise Hager John Julius, Betty Trompeter, Alex Faiman, Susan Mattes Gillian & Irving Carter, Freddy & Louise Hager & Lady Pamela Kalms MBE Kate Goldberg, Ella Latchman, Prof. David Latchman CBE, Martin Paisner CBE & Daniel Dover Davidson Family Suzanne & Michael Marks Daniel Leon, Sula Leon, Danielle Leon, Anthony Leon Elaine Kerr & Lady Pamela Kalms MBE Natalie, Clive & Roberta Gold Erna Angus, Dennis Jacobs, Betty Trompeter, Elaine Kerr Maurice Berman, Rochelle Wolfson, Frances Berman, Leo Wolfson, Max Wolfson Photos by Jeremy Coleman
Q&A with Sir Ralph Kohn FRS and Lady Zahava Kohn Q: Tell us about your early lives and how you both met? A: Zahava: “I was born in Palestine after my parents had moved there from Holland in 1935. When I was one and a half, my parents decided to leave Palestine as my mother was seriously unwell due to severe dehydration. My parents settled in Amsterdam as they were unable to immigrate to Switzerland, where my maternal grandparents lived.” “During the war my parents and I spent time in the concentration camps of Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen. The fact that I was born in Palestine was later an important factor that helped my family to be saved from transportation to Auschwitz.” “After the war my family and I moved back to Amsterdam, but the city bore little resemblance to the one that existed pre-war. With the help of some friends I chose to move to London and started working for Dr Schonfeld, a young Rabbi. I worked in the nursery schools of Hasmonean and Menorah Primary School and was taken in and made to feel very welcome by the Orthodox community in Golders Green.” A: Ralph: “I was born in Leipzig, Germany and shortly after Hitler came to power in 1933 my family left for Amsterdam, Holland. I attended elementary school from 1935 to 1940 when my family fled as refugees on the day the Nazis occupied Amsterdam on 14th May 1940. After a seven-day sea journey my family was allowed to land in Liverpool. We had left all our belongings behind in Holland and arrived in England as penniless refugees. My family chose to settle in Salford, Manchester as my father had friends in the textile industry there.” A: Zahava: “I went to visit my parents on a short break to Holland in August 1962, when my father asked me to meet a young man, the son of some mutual acquaintances. I agreed and met Ralph Kohn with his parents in Scheveningen who were also on holiday as Ralph, like me, was living in London at the time. When we were both back in London we continued to see each other and in December 1962 were engaged. We were married on 12th March 1963 at the Jacob Obrecht Synagogue in Amsterdam. We now have three beautiful daughters; Hephzi, Michelle and Maxine and are proud grandparents.” Q: How and why did Ralph get into the pharmaceutical industry? A: Ralph: “My career started when I obtained a scholarship to university but was unable to gain a place to study medicine in 1947 due to returning ex-servicemen being allocated 90% of the available places. Although I wanted to study medicine, these restrictions resulted in my having to choose another course. I studied pharmacology at Manchester University and obtained a PhD in 1954 and went on to win the Wild prize in Pharmacology. I found myself studying and working in an era of innovation, with revolutionary drug discoveries such as penicillin, streptomycin, anti-hypertensive drugs and cortisone paving the way for new and effective treatments, which fascinated me.” “My work then took me to Rome and New York during the years of 1954 to 1958 as I pursued research experience. With various scholarships and fellowships I worked at renowned institutes in Europe and the US. Whilst in Rome I worked alongside the two Nobel Prize winners, Professor Daniel Bovet and Sir Ernst Chain FRS (who shared the Nobel Prize for Penicillin with Fleming and Florey). Bovet actually won the prize whilst I was working with him. In New York I studied at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which resulted in my being appointed Head of Pharmacology for an American company. I subsequently became Managing Director of a Swiss biological company, after which I set up my own company.” “After 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry I believed that there was a real need for an independent research company that had no bias or vested interest in the outcome of trials. In 1970 I set up my own organisation, the first independent medical research company in the UK mainly dealing with the clinical assessment of new drugs. This company became widely known for its work and within 20 years it had won the prestigious Queen’s award for Expert Achievement. Over the years my company has worked with many organisations worldwide and it has gained a reputation for scrupulous fairness, innovation and impartiality between the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry. I believe that the British regulatory process has played a huge positive role in the development of new drugs.” “The development of the company could not have been achieved, or indeed been so successful, without Zahava’s continual support and encouragement and particularly considering the time she spent working for the company whilst simultaneously bringing up a young family.“ A: Zahava: “This year we were delighted when Ralph received a KBE (Knights Bachelor). This citation is most unusual as it is for services to science, music and charity – all the things he loves doing. Previously he was the recipient of numerous awards and honours including election to the prestigious fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS).” Q: How and why was the Kohn Foundation set up? A: Zahava: “In 1991, we were in a fortunate position to have a successful company and found we wanted to give something back to society for the success that we had achieved. The first step we took in order to do this was to set up the Kohn Foundation. The Kohn Foundation makes contributions to support research and innovation Sir Ralph and Lady Zahava Kohn in science and medicine, as well as arts and education - interests closest to our hearts. Support of Jewish community and Israeli causes is of great importance to us. Our strong personal interests and commitment keep us at the forefront of the Foundation, choosing where to make contributions, and being actively involved in the projects that we support.” Q: How did Ralph start singing? A: Ralph: “Whilst in Holland, I studied the violin for 4 years until my family had to leave. A love of music ran in my family as my father was very musical and loved opera. He was also a very fine Baal Tefila. The years from 1954 onwards renewed my passion for music and I began to study vocal music in Rome. I have carried on with this throughout my life and became sufficiently proficient to appear as vocal recitalist in many venues, e.g. Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and St. John’s Smith Square, as well as giving recitals in Israel.” A: Zahava: “Ralph has recorded a great deal, mainly from the Lieder repertoire and particularly with the worldrenowned pianist Graham Johnson. Ralph has also recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra and has made16 CDs so far, which are all marketed. Next month (August) he is due to make a further Beethoven/ Schubert recording. His contributions to music in more 24 20 years of cancer support in the community 20 years of cancer support in the community 25
Page 1 and 2: Cancer doesn’t care 2010 Issue 5
Page 3 and 4: My Personal Reflections over the pa
Page 5 and 6: increasing demand. We also have sat
Page 7 and 8: Breast Cancer: Prof. Michael Baum &
Page 9 and 10: Growth of our Services: Elaine Kerr
Page 11: Colorectal Cancer: Mr Daren Francis
Page 15 and 16: Cancer Genetics - The Jewish Perspe
Page 17 and 18: Chai Promise Chai Promise, launched
Page 19 and 20: Lighten the load - One stress you c
Page 21 and 22: All proceeds to Chai Cancer Care ww
Page 23 and 24: Appealing to the Appetite: Healthy

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