Harold Symons celebrates his 100th birthday at Hackney Town Hall’s Speaker’s Parlour
Harold Symons at the Town Hall reception held for his birthday with the Hackney and East London United Synagogues religious leader, Rev Naphtali Tiefenbrun and family. Picture: Michael Desmond - Credit: Michael Desmond
Cardinal Pole pupils attended a reception at Hackney Town Hall to celebrate the 100th birthday of their school’s former governor Harold Symons.
Harold Symons at the Town Hall reception held for his 100th birthday. Picture: Michael Desmond - Credit: Michael Desmond
The reception was hosted by Deputy Speaker Michael Desmond - who is a member of the Hackney and East London United Synagogue where Harold has been attending since 1945.
Harold, of Tudor Road, London Fields, was born in Stepney on November 1 1919. He served in the army during World War Two and once he moved to Hackney he started working in the textile industry.
He studied for a history degree in his 60s, which he passed with honours, and stood to be a councillor in Victoria Ward in 2002, but failed to gain a seat.
Cllr Desmond said: "Harold's main hobby is reading. He has a photographic memory of dates and can tell anyone who asks dates of battles in the Napoleonic Wars, including the famous battle of Austerlitz, which was, of course, on December 2 1805.
Deputy Speaker Michael Desmond who organised the 100th birthday celebration reception for Harold Symons, a fellow Hackney and East London United Synagogue, at the town hall. - Credit: Michael Desmond
"He is a bachelor, but four years ago was contacted by relatives in Stoke-on-Trent who managed to trace him with the use of the internet and now keep in regular contact with him."
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