"She was dignified and down to earth at the same time"

Ruth Winston-Fox MBE, the mother of fertility expert and TV presenter Lord Robert Winston, became the mayor of Southgate exactly 50 years previous to the day the service was held at Palmers Green and Southgate United Synagogue last Sunday.

In 1974 Mrs Winston-Fox pioneered the idea of a day centre offering classes, trips and activities, and as a result the Ruth Winston Centre, in Green Lanes, Palmers Green was born.

The centre, which is used by people aged 55 and upwards, holds a variety of classes and courses, hosts concerts, and organises holidays.

Founder of the Jewish Way of Life exhibition which travelled around the UK, Mrs Fox-Winston was president of the League of Jewish Women, vice-president of the International Council of Jewish Women and a co-chairman of a Government advisory body, the Women's National Commission.

She was also an adoption specialist and began her career working for Hertfordshire social services.

Rabbi Levy, a close neighbour and friend of 25 years, organised the service to remember Mrs Fox-Winston and the legacy that she left in the borough.

He said: "She was on the one hand quite formidable, and on the other hand she had a merry smile.

"She was dignified and down to earth at the same time.

"She was a loyal servant of both the Jewish community and the borough of Enfield.

"I felt that we should pay tribute to her for the decades of service which she gave."

Lord Winston, who attended along with members of her family, said that it was fitting the service was held at the school because this was her community.

The granddaughter of Rabbi Herman Shandel, Mrs Fox-Winston was married and widowed twice, to Laurance Winston and Goodwin Fox, and has two other children, Willow and Anthony.

The Independent tried to contact Lord Winston for comment but he was unavailable.

For more information about the centre go online to ruthwinstoncentre.co.uk