Henry Lewis, a resident at Jewish Care’s Wolfson Assisted Living at Sandringham has been awarded an MBE and is the oldest person to receive honours in this New Year’s list, aged 102. Henry received his award as honorary vice president of the Magic Circle, for his services to fundraising and charitable causes.
Henry was born on 12 October 1919 in Hackney and grew up in a family of eight children. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.
He says, “It’s very nice to receive the Honour and of course, I’ll have to wait to go to Buckingham Palace. I’ve had a wonderful life and I’ve really enjoyed being able to do my magic shows around the world as my hobby. When I was eight years old, I found a magic book in a pile of rubbish and that’s what got me interested in magic. I gave my first public show at the local Town Hall. I’ve performed all over the world, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Israel and the USA in large public theatres. I was the President of the Inner Magic Circle and the Society of American Magicians and a gold medallist performer. My most recent magic show was to entertain my fellow residents at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House at Sandringham.”
Staff and fellow residents are delighted for Henry and Tuzani Chitsa, Registered Manager at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House, says, “We feel honoured to have such a pleasant, talented man.”
Freddy Berdach, volunteer and member of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre has been awarded a BEM for his services to Holocaust education and awareness. Freddy volunteers for Jewish Care at The Ronson Family Community Centre at Sandringham and delivers Challah to other Holocaust survivors. Freddy still talks to schools and universities about his experiences, virtually.
Congratulations go to members of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, Lily Bruml who received a BEM and Frank Bright who was awarded the honour of an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for their services to Holocaust education and awareness.
Photo credit Kirsty Jones
