Anglo-Jewry’s longest serving volunteer, Dolly Phillips became involved in the Manchester Jewish Soup Kitchen in 1920, aged 17, writes Yaakov Wise.
Born Dolly Franks, her voluntary service career spanned nearly 90 years. She retired in 2004, aged 101, but still made occasional visits to inspect conditions and instruct staff.
She worked with her husband, Harry, organising the 1896-founded soup kitchen’s meals in the Strangeways area. In 1942 it metamorphosed into kosher meals-on-wheels, of which Dolly was chairman and honorary secretary, her husband was president and her brother, George, a Salford councillor, was a trustee.
In 1978 the vast operation moved to Holy Law Synagogue, Prestwich. Dolly remained chief organiser, doing all the bookkeeping until her “retirement”.