Rabbi Alexander Goldberg, who is now dean of religious life and belief at Surrey University, was born in Guildford where his mother was studying for a master’s degree and then teaching for a while at the university.

Guildford had a medieval Jewish community and still has what is believed to be the remains of the structure of Europe’s oldest Jewish synagogue.

The town’s Jewish population grew massively during the Second World War.

Alexander, who loves everything Jewish, told me: “The Jewish community here during the war was very diverse.

“There was an international society of Jewish artists and writers here.

“Jewish schools were set up in Surrey for Jewish refugees. The grandmother of a bishop colleague of mine helped to set up one of the Jewish schools.

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