Jewish Care’s £47 million Sandringham campus was officially opened before a crowd of 300 key donors, community representatives, staff and volunteers.

Located on the Stanmore/Hertfordshire borders, the 16-acre complex is a bucolic space, featuring landscaped courtyards and gardens and overlooking meadows and natural woodland.

Having housed the charity’s Princess Alexandra Home for many years, it was redeveloped to provide a modern purpose-built site to support the area’s Jewish community.

Although it has been operational for some while, its formal opening was delayed by pandemic restrictions.

Explaining the site’s name, Ronit Knoble — on behalf of key donors the Goddard and Knoble families — said that rather than a royal connection, Sandringham actually was the name of the Hackney road “where my grandparents Debbie and

Reuben lived in the 1940s and 1950s. This campus is dedicated in loving memory of Debbie and Reuben.

“Sandringham Road during that time was full of hardworking, hemishe Jewish families. In many ways, the story of Sandringham is also one about two Michaels.

"My uncle Michael lived a stone’s throw away from Michael Levy, now Lord Levy, in Hackney and their friendship has remained constant over the years.

“We have come together today at this amazing campus because both Michaels have been instrumental in its creation.”

Valerie Wolfson spoke of her enjoyment at being a tenant at Sandringham’s Pears Court retirement living. “We are a special generation, having lived through the Holocaust and war years,” she said.

“Yet we have fulfilled our parents’ dreams, having had successful lives and are now in this amazing Jewish environment.

“Our children have flown the nest, many to far-flung parts of the world. They are comforted by the fact that we are in safe hands here. It’s a wonderful place to make new friends and explore new interests and hobbies.”

Jewish Care chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown noted that “projects of this scale take many years to move from a vision to reality. And, of course, nothing happens without the philanthropic support of our donors.

“I also want to thank former colleagues, current colleagues, the many volunteers who have worked and continue to work here, members of fundraising committees which supported the old home and now fundraise for Sandringham and everyone who takes part in making Sandringham the truly special place that it is.”

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said visiting Sandringham was an “absolute pleasure. The love and care that the members, tenants and residents feel from staff and volunteers here is palpable.”

Lord Levy, Jewish Care’s life president, added that Sandringham would serve the community for generations to come and gave special thanks to Pierrette and Michael Goddard for “their wonderful generosity” in helping to turn a dream into a reality.