Maureen Lipman proved a star attraction for the New North London Synagogue as an evening of anecdotes at the Inner Temple raised over £18,000 for shul funds and other charities.
Before an audience of 240, Ms Lipman spoke without notes for almost 90 minutes, covering her upbringing, Judaism, acting career and marriage to the late playwright, Jack Rosenthal.
Her appearance fulfilled a pledge to close friend and NNLS member Elaine Paradise, with whom she went to school in Hull.
In appreciation, the shul made a donation to the Ms Lipman’s chosen charity, the International Myeloma Foundation, in memory of Jack Rosenthal.
The bulk of the proceeds went to the NNLS building fund with £3,000 earmarked for the Alyn Hospital for children in Jerusalem.
“We were absolutely thrilled with the amount we raised,” said the shul’s Lilian Cordell. “We started organising this event before the credit crunch took hold and began to get a little worried about it when ticket sales were slow to take off. In the end, though, our members came up trumps and turned out in droves.”
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