A celebratory lunch was held in the Jewish Chronicle boardroom last Thursday to mark 50 years of continuous advertising in the JC by estate agents Preston Bennett.

At the lunch — attended by Ronald Preston and Peter Bennett, their wives and senior executives — Mr Preston recalled that the first house he sold had been advertised in the JC.

Moreover, he had recently discovered that it was still occupied by the original purchaser.

JC commercial director Alan Rubenstein said: “Ronald Preston was one of the first property entrepreneurs to recognise the potential of the JC’s readership way back in 1958, and both companies have gone from strength to strength.”