Supporters of Hillel turned out in force to mark the retirement of one of its best-known benefactors, Fred Worms, after 50 years' service to the student organisation and to B'nai B'rith.

At a supper - fittingly held at the London Jewish Student Centre, opened in 2008 - Lord Sacks praised "one of the outstanding characters of Anglo-Jewry".

The occasion marked the first visit back to London by Mr Worms, who turns 90 this year, and his wife Della since they made aliyah in 2009.

Lord Sacks said the Frankfurt-born philanthropist displayed an "utterly extraordinary sense of duty", putting service above recognition.

One quality that "lifted him way above any other Anglo-Jewish leader of his generation" was his ability to look to the future.

Mr Worms joked: "It is wonderful to hear's one obituary in one's lifetime."

He was installed as president of B'nai B'rith First Lodge in 1960 and his charity work has covered students, education, homes for the elderly, Israel and sport. He is one of the founders of the Maccabiah Village.

In 1992, he published a report into Anglo-Jewish education which is named after him. An achievement he rates highly is helping to persuade the JIA (now UJIA) to raise serious money for Jewish education - "not an easy battle".

The couple's philanthropy has ranged from funding dormitories at the Hebrew University to transporting a synagogue from Cochin, India, intact to Israel.

And it has certainly entailed one feat of endurance as Mrs Worms estimates that in half-a-century, she and her husband must have attended some 2,000 charity dinners.