By, Anonymous
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ByAnonymous, Anonymous
One of British Jewry's longest-running charity committees is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Now known as Gemini, the group was founded as Solitaire - after a 1973 hit by Andy Williams - an unusual title given that it involved young Jewish couples. Although the men eventually left the committee, the women were determined to continue and the renaming reflected the star sign of its starting date.
Over the four decades, more than £1 million has been raised for various charities, with celebrity guests at events including Twiggy, Jane Asher, Nicky Clarke, Nancy Dell'Olio, Antony Worrall Thompson, Lynda La Plante and Michael Winner. It currently supports World Jewish Relief, for which it has brought in £100,000.
JNF, Norwood and Kisharon are among the charities which have benefited from its volunteering work.
The anniversary was marked with a lunch and walk at Danesfield House, near Marlow.
Gemini chair Linda Davis said the committee had "grown like a family. All of us have had kids and a lot of us now have grandchildren. We support World Jewish Relief because we understand what an immense difference their work makes to vulnerable people in the former Soviet Union. Given current events in Ukraine, their work is absolutely essential.
"As well as helping to raise the funds, we also know it is important that more people become aware of the work that World Jewish Relief does. I won't say here's to the next 40 years, but please God, we'll carry on having fun and supporting good causes for a long time to come."
Congratulating Gemini on its contribution to his and other charities, WJR chief executive Paul Anticoni said: "The unceasing support by these volunteers - and others - is integral to our work to combat extreme poverty around the world."