Harvey Rose, Tour Guide Volunteer

I was born at a very early age in Cricklewood. My mum told me we lived in Willesden, which I believed until I was 18. I went to Mora Road Primary, which I loved and having passed my 11+ went to Kilburn Grammar, which I hated.

I left school on the advice of the headmaster and went into research chemistry and after a year or so realised this was not for me. I became an articled clerk to an accountancy firm. In those days you did a day’s work and then studied in the evenings/weekends. I passed all my exams 1st time and qualified when I was 22. I always knew that I wanted to be in professional practise and eventually became senior partner of a medium sized firm.

I met Sandra and was married in 1970. We now have 3 lovely daughters and 7 special grandchildren. We are a very close family. Our 1st home was a 3-bedroom semi in Queensbury Circle but, never one to stand still, moved after a year or so to a neo-Georgian house in Harrow Weald.

Not too long after that, we moved to a house in Bentley Way Stanmore. As 2 of our 3 daughters flew the nest, Sandra wanted to move into town. I didn’t and I put my foot down. Not long after that we moved to Hampstead (in a very complicated transaction) to a lovely duplex flat with amazing views. We had 1 daughter living with us at the time, and when she got married and being a duplex, looking ahead, we decided to move. Sandra found a lovely and very unusual single story small house in Belsize village, which is where we currently live.

I have always had an interest in cemeteries, so when Sandra alerted me to volunteer guides required at Willesden Jewish Cemetery, I jumped at the opportunity. I love being a volunteer guide.I really enjoy the research and the House of Life team are lovely and knowledgeable and supportive to all the wonderful volunteers.

I have many other interests. I was a magistrate for 20 years. I am a committed Zionist (though traditional, but not overly religious). We have had a home in Israel for 30 years and are Israeli citizens. After I disengaged from my practice, I became treasurer, then chairman of the Zionist Federation. Since then, I have been involved with a number of charities. The most well-known being AllAboard shops where I was treasurer for many years.

I am a regular tennis player and also play a lot of bridge. I am a keen Leicester City supporter and have converted 2 grandsons as fans, and we all often schlep up to Leicester to (this season) see them win. Not so great last season.

We travel quite a bit and normally go to our home in Israel about 3 months of the year, but difficult in the current situation..