This week, almost 200 women gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the Woman of Distinction Awards, raising over £85,000 for Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House specialist residential care home for Jewish adults with moderate to severe mental health needs.
Since its inception, the Woman of Distinction Committee has raised an incredible £2.5 million over 40 years. Co-chairs Danielle Hess and Danielle Lipton welcomed guests to the lunch at St John’s Wood United Synagogue. The guest speaker was designer and humanitarian India Hicks, who gave a captivating account of her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks’ (née Mountbatten) fascinating life. The Woman of Distinction Committee recognised Baroness Hilary Cass OBE, FRCP, FRCPCH as the winner of this year’s Woman of Distinction Award.
Three founder members of the Woman of Distinction Committee – Hannah Lewis, Lynn Lindsay and Jenifer Rosenberg – were honoured at the 40th-anniversary lunch. At its inception in 1987, Lynn and Hannah aimed to bring professional women together to engage and inspire them, celebrate those who excel in the arts, science and philanthropy, and make a meaningful impact through fundraising. They reached out to Jenifer Rosenberg after she was named Businesswoman of the Year. Jenifer joined the very first WOD lunch, and committee member Philippa Mintz became involved just four years later.
Committee member Natalie Cesman presented the Woman of Distinction Award 2026 to Baroness Hilary Cass on behalf of the Committee. She was appointed by NHS England and NHS Improvement to chair the Independent Review into Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People, and the Cass Review was published in April 2024 with advice for a holistic, multi-disciplinary model of care.
The life peer spoke about growing up with modest beginnings and her journey from medical school to the House of Lords, always following her areas of interest. As former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health from 2012–2015, Baroness Cass established a group to address the challenges for families and professionals in supporting the rising numbers of children with complex medical conditions and disability. Baroness Cass was awarded an OBE for services to child health in 2015, and a peerage in July 2024.
Baroness Cass visited Sidney Corob House care home recently and met with staff and residents prior to the lunch. Speaking about her visit warmly at the lunch, Baroness Cass, said: “I want to thank Jewish Care for this honour and for inviting me to this amazing lunch. The team at Sidney Corob House care home and Jewish Care are extraordinary.”
Anne Conway, daughter of 60s star Glenda Collins who is a resident at Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House care home, made an appeal and shared a moving account of the difference the home’s care has made to their lives.
Glenda Collins was signed to Decca Records when she was just 16. She worked with the producer Joe Meek—famous for Telstar by The Tornados—and recorded Lollipop, amongst many other songs, which was a great success. She appeared on Juke Box Jury, where Brian Epstein and Cilla Black predicted her record would be a hit. Later on, Glenda married the late Reverend Maurice Kibel, who served in several communities, including the Swansea Jewish
Community, where Anne was born and where they lived for around 20 years.
Anne explains: “I didn’t realise until my late 20s that my mother had a serious mental health illness. We didn’t talk about mental health in the way we do now. Mum had moved away, and there were periods of time when we weren’t in touch. After my children were born, I knew I wanted them to know their grandmother, and I wanted Mum to know her grandchildren. There were challenges along the way, but we persevered.
“Mum was living alone in a small flat, was becoming increasingly isolated, and often not taking her medication. Her mental health deteriorated significantly during the pandemic. It forced me to find somewhere that could truly help her—somewhere that could give her life back. I started researching and discovered that Jewish Care had a home called Sidney Corob, specifically for people over 50 living with mental health challenges. I couldn’t believe it. It was beshet. Until that moment, I had no idea it existed.”
“Since moving to Sidney Corob House, Mum has thrived, taking part in the activities and travelling into London in a pink limousine to celebrate the launch of her re-issued album. She is cared for with such warmth, kindness and dignity by Sandra, Michael, Tomas, and all the wonderful staff. She is surrounded by a compassionate, welcoming and loving Jewish environment. She has made friends. She is no longer isolated. She has a community. And, perhaps most importantly of all, despite some physical health issues, she feels she has her life back.
“And I feel that, finally, after all these years, she can just be my mum. Today is a celebration of Women of Distinction, women like my mum. Not because life was easy for her – it wasn’t. And not because she was perfect – none of us are. But because she kept going. Through illness, loneliness and struggle, there was always something in her that survived.
“I think of all the women who have helped my mum along the way – the carers, the staff, the friends, the daughters, the mothers. Women who quietly hold families together, who show up when things are difficult, who keep loving even when it’s complicated.
“If there is anything inspiring in our story, I think it is this: that it is never too late for someone to be seen, to be cared for, to find community, and to get a part of themselves back. For that, to everyone at Sidney Corob, thank you – sincerely, from the bottom of my heart.”
Guests were also captivated by author, designer and humanitarian India Hicks’ account of the life of her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks (née Mountbatten). During the event, India signed copies of her new book, Lady Pamela: My Mother’s Extraordinary Years as Daughter to the Viceroy of India, Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen, and Wife of David Hicks.
Lady Pamela served as a bridesmaid and later as a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, her third cousin. India is goddaughter to His Majesty King Charles III and her grandfather was Lord Mountbatten, formerly Prince Louis of Battenberg.
Danielle Hess and Danielle Lipton, Co-chairs of the Woman of Distinction Lunch, said: “We would like to congratulate Baroness Cass and thank her and India Hicks for so engagingly sharing their experiences and giving their time today to support Jewish Care, and we thank all our guests for their generosity. We were pleased to honour Jenifer Rosenberg OBE, Hannah Lewis MBE and Lynn Lindsay, who founded the Committee 40 years ago.
“Our thanks also go to Anne Conway for sharing her journey and what the care at Sidney Corob House has meant to her family. We are proud that every penny raised will go to Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House care home. It provides unique care for those over 50 living with severe, long-term mental health needs, and for people who are finding it hard to cope in the community. The inspiring care team have transformed the lives of so many people, with their expertise and compassion to empower residents and ensure that within the home they have a sense of family, spirituality and community.”
Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising & Marketing, adds, “Thanks to the generosity of our guests and the Woman of Distinction Committee—we have raised over £2.5 million over the last 40 years.
“The £85,000 raised this year will make a real difference to the lives of our residents at Sidney Corob House care home, helping us to provide additional meaningful experiences for them. I’d like to thank everyone who generously supported the 40th Woman of Distinction Lunch and especially thank our committee led by our dedicated Co-chairs Danielle Hess and Danielle Lipton.”