B'naiB'rithYadB'Yadnewsletter&flipsideDecember2019 copy_compressed copy

B’NAI B’RITH
YAD B’YAD LODGE
NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2019
President :
Maureen Daniels
yadbyad@bnaibrithuk.org
Secretary :
Myra Wand
Compiled by : David Gould
Important: Before attending any event, please contact the appropriate person from the list at the bottom of
this page, month by month. For security reasons, this is critical for main meetings. Also please contact the
same person if you find later that you cannot attend.
December Summary
Ramble Wednesday 4
Book Club Wednesday 4
Main Meeting Wednesday 11
Bridge Thursday 12
Ramble Sunday 15
Arts & Literature Tuesday 17
Rummikub Thursday 19
Main Meetings at 8:15 pm
Wednesday 11 December
Brent Registrar -
A Lifetime of Public Service
Mark Rimmer
Tuesday 7 January
Trust and Betrayal
Vera Bernstein
Tuesday 11 February
The Role of Women in
World War I
Lola Fraser
Arts & Literature at 8:00 pm
Tuesday 17 December
Play Reading
Book Club at 8:00 pm
Wednesday 4 December
Unsheltered
by Barbara Kingsolver
Bridge – Thursday at 8:00 pm
12 December 9 January
13 February 12 March
Music at 8:00 pm
Tuesday 18 February
Transports of Delight
Presented by Tony Selman
Outings
Sunday 28 June
Chichester City and
Weald & Downland Living Museum
£32.50 includes coach, guided tour,
entrance and cream tea
Rambles – Midweek
Wednesday 4 December
Thursday 2 January
Rambles – Sunday
15 December 12 January
16 February 15 March
Rummikub - Thursday at 8:00 pm
19 December 30 January
27 February 26 March
Short Walks
Wednesday 29 January
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 9 February at 7:30 pm
Yad B’Yad Supper Quiz
£23.50
Sunday 3 to Wednesday 6 May
Walking Break
Evershot, Dorset
Sunday 7 June
BBUK AGM
Wednesday 17 June
Yad B’Yad AGM

www.bnaibrithuk.org
Editor: Vivienne Gould
A
FROM YOUR EDITOR:
Oh, what a busy month we have had
and with lots more to look forward to !
Your President and Council
wish our members and their families
INTRODUCING MARK RIMMER OBE FOR OUR NEXT SPEAKER MEETING : TUESDAY 11 th DECEMBER
A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Mark is Head of Registration and Nationality, for Brent and Barnet Councils. He
started working life as a civil servant in the Office of Population, Censuses and
Surveys. Having progressed through the ranks he spent 7 years as an Inspector of
Registration covering the West Midlands. He moved to London on promotion and
worked as the Department’s Staff Inspector (internal management consultant), before falling out with the
boss, the Registrar General, and decided to leave.
He applied for and was successful in becoming Brent Council's Superintendent Registrar in 1988 and stayed
for the next 30 years. Mark has seen many changes in the service over that time and has been responsible
for some of them. He will tell you about his fascinating journey in his talk.
From the President
& her council
to those members
who are not in the best of health
at present

MIDWEEK RAMBLE : THURSDAY 7th NOVEMBER
HAPPILY HIKING ROUND HAM
It was on a bright autumn morning that an enthusiastic
group of 8 met at Richmond station for a 7-mile
ramble.
After a short bus ride through Petersham to Ham
Common, we walked through Ham village to
Teddington Lock on the Thames, where a memorial
stone remembers the 100 “Little Ships” that were built
and left the nearby boatyard to help evacuate the
British Army from Dunkirk in 1940.
Following the Thames path northwards past Eel Pie
Island took us as far as Ham House. From here,
through a tree lined walk, we completed a loop to get
back to Ham Common, where a leisurely lunch in the
New Inn refreshed us for the second half of the walk.
We entered Richmond Park at the
Ham Gate to enjoy some sunshine
and inquisitive deer. We climbed
King Henry VIII’s Mound, from
where the view of the distant City of
London has been protected by
centuries of planning restrictions,
reconfirmed by Boris Johnson as
London Mayor. Walking down
Richmond Hill, high above the river,
there were magnificent views
westwards towards Windsor. Like
many other previous rambles, we
finished our route along the
Thames path past pubs and rowing clubs, before crossing Richmond Green back to the station.
David Gould
SUNDAY 17 TH NOVEMBER
AJEX ANNUAL CEREMONY AND PARADE
Last year, the Centenary of the end of the First World
War, was the first time that B'nai B'rith had been invited
to participate in the AJEX Annual Ceremony and Parade, although
many individuals had done so over the years.
On Sunday 17 November, Sheila & Howard Goldstein and Eve & Tony
Swabe were among other BBUK members who marched under the
B’nai B’rith banner. Gwenda Sacks was with the League of Jewish
Women, David Wyman with the Stoke on Trent contingent and Philip
Moleman (new Associate Member) was holding the banner for Kenton,
Wembley & Willesden AJEX.

The Chief Rabbi led prayers at
the Cenotaph and a number of
wreaths were laid by visiting
dignitaries. The parade was a
moving opportunity to pay
solemn tribute to those who
served their country and, in
particular, the thousands of
Anglo-Jewish soldiers who fell
in wartime.
To sing Adon Olam accompanied by the band of the Coldstream Guards was quite an
experience, as was the march past the Cenotaph when we were cheered by the many
onlookers as we returned to Horse Guards Parade for the Salute, before the Parade was
formally dismissed.
If you have never participated in the AJEX Parade, it certainly is a moving and
memorable occasion to be experienced.
Eve Swabe
WEEKEND RAMBLE : SUNDAY 17 th NOVEMBER
A WEE KEND WALK FROM WATFORD
AUTUMN COLOURS
On Sunday 17th November ten of us met at Watford Station for a 6.5 mile
walk through Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Wood. Once again the sun
shone down on us and we were rewarded with some spectacular views and
stunning autumnal colours. Who needs to visit New England in the fall
when we have it all here in Old England!
We started the walk along the bank of the River Gade. This fine area of parkland was once the
estate of the earls of Essex but the great house was demolished in 1927.
After crossing first the river and then the Grand Union Canal and stopping to admire the view, we
entered Whippendell Wood. Originally owned by the abbots of St Albans, this beautiful area of
woodland passed to the earls of Essex following the dissolution of the monasteries in the
1530s. Like Cassiobury Park it was later acquired for the people of Watford.
We emerged from the woods on to a lane and turned into a narrow enclosed path before entering
Harrocks Wood. On the homeward stretch, we were confronted with an uphill path (the only
challenging part of the walk) up to the golf course before descending again through more trees to
the canal bridge.

We then made our way
back through the park for
lunch at the delightful
Cha Cafe.
Believe it or not, it was
November 17 th and we
were able to sit outside
to enjoy our lunches if
you didn't mind a damp
tuchas! A great end to a
beautiful walk.
Liz Manches
MAIN MEETING : TUESDAY 19 th NOVEMBER
THE ART OF UNDERGROUND TRAVEL DAVID BURNELL
David Burnell’s talk was illustrated by many eye catching posters from the collection of the
London Transport Museum produced over the last 115 years.
The company Underground Electric Railways of London was built by the American business
man Charles Tyson Yerkes in 1906 and was the forerunner of today’s Northern, Bakerloo and
Piccadilly lines. In 1933 these were absorbed into the London Passenger Transport Board, the
forerunner of today’s TFL.
The world famous London Underground roundel was developed by Frank
Pick. Together with the diagrammatic map designed by HC Beck and the
characteristic stations designed by Charles Holden, these established the
unique brand that is still admired today.
In the early twentieth century the railways were never profitable. In order to generate traffic in
the evenings and weekends commissions were given to poster artists to create themes that would
attract additional passengers at all times of the day and night.
Poster themes focussed on the delights of the countryside; new houses in London’s fast growing
suburbs including Metroland; war time themes in the First and Second World Wars and sporting
events. These were complemented by the distinctive tiling themes to identify individual stations.
Gerry Kurzon thanked David for providing a delightful
alternative to the evening’s televised political debate and
for his unique portrayal of the social history of London.
On behalf of the lodge Gerry presented David with a
cheque for his chosen charity Quaker Social Action.
Greg Wand

MUSIC EVENING: TUESDAY 26 th NOVEMBER
TIPTOE THROUGH THE SIXTIES
presented by Howard Goldstein
The 1960’s revolutionised the music scene. Howard told us how difficult it had
been to select 16 tracks that epitomised the decade. Each one of his selections had been a number
one hit in the British charts.
1) Running Bear/Johnny Preston/3 weeks at No 1 from 18/01/1960
2) Walking Back to Happiness/Helen Shapiro/3 weeks from 19/10/1961
3) Apache/The Shadows/5 weeks September 1960
4) Sweets for my Sweet/The Searchers/2 weeks August 1963
5) The House of the Rising Sun/The Animals/July 1964
6) Baby Love/The Supremes/4 weeks October 1964
7) Anyone who had a heart/Cilla Black/3 weeks February 1964
8) Do Wah Diddy Diddy/Manfred Mann/2 weeks August 1964
9) I’m a Believer/The Monkees/4 weeks January 1967
10) Mr Tambourine Man/The Byrds/2 weeks June 1965
11) I’m into Something Good/Herman’s Hermits/September 1964
12) San Francisco/Scott Mckenzie/June 1967
13) Oh Pretty Woman/Roy Orbison/3 weeks September 1964
14) Massachusetts/The Bee Gees/September 1967
15) A Whiter Shade of Pale/Procul Harem/6 weeks June 1967
16) From Me to You/The Beatles/May 1963
Howard gave us a full description of the numerous composers and many interesting snippets
relating to the performers and supporting artists. This provided a real nostalgia trip for the
appreciative audience. This was Howard’s first presentation, and very successful too, so we hope
it will be followed by many more.
Greg Wand
SHORT WALK : WEDNESDAY 27 th NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY’S WALK TO
WOODBERRY WETLANDS
In spite of a dodgy weather forecast, eleven
of us set out to follow 4 miles of the course of
the New River from Essex Road to Manor
House. It is neither “New” nor a “River” but a
drinking water supply canal running from its
source near Ware in rural Hertfordshire to
the thirsty city of London, and was
constructed by Sir Hugh Myddelton in the
early 17th century.
Following the track of the canal, much of which is now in a subterranean culvert, we
proceeded mostly through a series of linear parks and gardens, many of which had pleasant
water features as a reminder of what lay below. A final long alleyway flanked by allotments
led us to Clissold Park and a welcome loo stop. Then round the park lake and after a short
stretch on busy Green Lanes we returned to the New River Path. This led to the Stoke
Newington reservoirs, one a large lake used by rowing and sailing clubs and flanked by

attractively landscaped modern high-rise apartment blocks, whilst the other has been
converted into a reed-bed-lined Wetland Centre, opened in 2016 by Sir Richard
Attenborough.
After walking the circuit of the reservoir, in good timing, it started to rain just as we
reached the Reservoir Coalhouse which has now been converted to a pleasant waterside café,
so it was here that we enjoyed a welcome lunch.
It was then just a ten minute walk to Manor House Station to complete another successful
walk, although having to resort to using our umbrellas just for this final stretch of the walk.
Vivienne Gould
AN ANNUAL REVIEW FROM TWO OF OUR OTHER POPULAR MONTHLY ACTIVITY GROUPS
BRIDGE
RUMMIKUB
Our bridge group have enjoyed many games over the year. We
have averaged four tables most months but we would like to
have more homes for hosting our monthly evenings if possible.
Some players come to all bridge evenings, others only play
occasionally. However, if everyone turned up together we might
have a problem finding a home large enough for the numbers.
New bridge players of variable standards are welcome and I
endeavour to match the pairs equally on each table.
We always enjoy the teas provided by the hosts, which make the
evening both sociable and a success.
Frank Manches
Rummikub was invented by Ephraim Hertzano, a Romanian-born Jew,
who immigrated to Palestine in the 1940’s. He hand-made the first
sets with his family in the backyard of his home. Over the years,
the family licensed it to other countries and it became Israel's
bestselling export game.
Hertzano's Official Rummikub Book, published in 1978, describes three different versions of
the game: American, Sabra and International. Modern Rummikub sets include only the Sabra
version rules, with no mention of the others, and there are variations in the rules between
publishers.
We now have about 28 members on our list. Numbers are limited by the size of people's
houses as not everyone can manage 4 or 5 tables (20 people), but it is rare that anyone gets
turned away. We meet on the last Thursday evening of the month.
The host for the evening provides refreshments and we play until about 11 pm. Some of us
play by the old rules (original), some by the new rules (fairly recent and online) and some by
their own rules! But a good evening is had by all.
If anyone wants to come or would like to learn how to play, please get in touch.
Jonquil Nicholls jonquiln@yahoo.com