HENRY GRUNWALD OBE KC
Henry Grunwald OBE KC was the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews from 2003-2009. He was also one of the founders, and the first Chairman, of the Jewish Leadership Council, which brings together the senior lay leadership of major UK national Jewish organisations. He remains a (non-voting) Vice-President of the JLC. He served for 8 years as the Vice Chairman of the National Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. He is now the President of World Jewish Relief, Chairman of Shechita UK and a Vice-President of the Council of Christians and Jews. In 2012, he became Chairman of the National Holocaust Centre in Nottingham, and he also chairs the newly-formed Covenant and Conversation Trust, formed to take forward the work and teachings of the Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks. He is Honorary Patron of many organisations, including March Of The Living UK, and now the London Cantorial Singers.
By profession, he is a Senior Member of the Criminal Bar, having been called to the Bar in 1972. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1999 and became a Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2001. Having taken his law degree at University College London, he was made a Fellow in 2006. He was awarded the OBE in 2009 for his services to the Jewish community and Inter-faith activities.
He has been married to Alison for over 40 years and has four children and eight grandchildren. Music is very important to him, and he looks forward to working with the Choir to raise their profile and extend their reach.