Lord Mayor of London Ian Luder underwent medical training last week to promote a favourite charity.

As part of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, St John Ambulance London will place over 1,000 automated external defibrillators across the City of London, Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf.

Acting on his “building lives, saving lives” credo, Alderman Luder received defibrillator instruction from St John Ambulance personnel.

“Heart education and prevention is important,” he said. Tzedakah [charity] is a mitzvah. The City has a huge daytime population and there’s no longer an A&E so first-level care needs to be available everywhere.”

Alderman Luder — a Reform congregant whose mayoral chaplain is Rabbi Dr Tony Bayfield — is also supporting cricketing charity the Lord’s Taverners, helping disadvantaged youngsters.