Harwood celebrates knighthood

James Martin - Wednesday 16th June 2010


Oscar-winning playwright Ronald Harwood

An Oscar-winning playwright, an educational philanthropist and the current Ambassador to Israel were this week among those celebrating gongs in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Sir Ronald Harwood, who picked up a Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for his work on The Pianist in 2003 and was again shortlisted in the same category three years ago, was among a number of community figures to receive knighthoods.

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Harwood, a member of West London Synagogue who spoke about his own Jewish identity during the Movement for Reform Judaism's annual dinner in 2008, said he was "truly surprised and greatly delighted" on learning of the honour. "I arrived in England in 1951, at the age of 17, from South Africa where I was born in the hope of making my way in the great world. So it has been a long, fruitful and immensely enjoyable journey, crowned by this splendid reward for which I am deeply grateful."

Expressing delight that the 75-year-old's "supreme talent and the tremendous contribution he has made to the arts in the UK" had been recognised by Her Majesty, a spokesman for the synagogue said: "We are privileged to have in our community family an artist whose canon of work has touched the lives of so many people in a variety of meaningful ways."

Another Oscar nominee celebrating this week was Sophie Okonedo, who described her OBE for services to drama as "the cherry on the cake".

Jewish figures who have made an impact in education were also featured in this year's list. Benjamin Perl, who has founded and provided funding for more than 20 Jewish schools through his Huntingdon Foundation, was awarded an MBE for services to Jewish Education in Barnet. He told the Jewish News: "I'm very happy to have been rewarded. My passion has been to ensure every Jewish child has a Jewish education. At the moment 65 percent of Jewish youngsters go to Jewish primary schools. We need to make sure that everyone who wants to go can."

Also receiving an MBE was a "stunned" Judith Ish-Horowicz. The Headteacher of Wimbledon & District Synagogue's cheder, she also founded the community's nursery Apples and Honey 16 years ago.

"I am delighted to receive the honour, particularly because it comes from within the community and shows the importance of Jewish learning to our synagogue's members," she said.

Professor David Latchman received a CBE for services to higher education while David Maurice, chairman of governors at Kenmore Park First and Middle schools in Harrow for the past 11 years, was made MBE for voluntary service to education. Father-of-two Maurice, who has post-polio syndrome, said: "It's recognition for all those who give up their times to help schools."

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Stone, who served on the panel the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, received an OBE for public and voluntary service. The founder of interfaith group Alif-AlephUK, he is also a Patron of the Woolf Institute and donated £1 million to help establish its Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations.

Among others honoured were Professor Peter Charles Rubin and Professor Marc Feldmann, who were both Knighted for services to medicine. The Professor of Cellular Immunology at Imperial College’s Kennedy Institute of Rheumotology. He told the Jewish News: "I developed new treatments for arthritis in 1999, which have been on the marketplace for more than ten years, so I felt that this might be on the cards. Nevertheless, to have been recognised like this feels incredible."

Meanwhile, the current British Ambassador to Israel Tom Phillips becomes Sir Tom, months before he completes his term in the country after four years. He said : "I feel very moved. The credit should be shared with all of my Embassy team who have given me such wonderful support."

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