Page 4 - HGS Suburb News 136 - Autumn 2018

in conversation with...

... Jack Berkovi

Professor Margaret Harris talks to the founding chairman of HGS U3A

f you are one of the 500 or several years to Luxembourg working as Head of Brand & jazz pianist who has twice taken designed and built a computer- groundwork for the launch of
I so local residents who are working for an American global Client Care with accountants the stage as a guest at Ronnie controlled OO-gauge model the HGS U3A was actually done
members of Hampstead Garden corporation serving the Grant Thornton UK. He Scott’s. He is a keen chess railway, which his grandchildren by Jack on his mobile phone
Suburb University of the Third construction sector – a world- augmented his wide experience player who was Rotarian enjoy when visiting. during his thrice-weekly dialysis
Age (HGS U3A), the name wide role enabling me to work in the business world by London Chess Champion for Jack’s numerous and varied sessions. Yet, he looks well and
‘Berkovi’ will be familiar. You will with people from a range of researching and publishing a two years running; and he has skills and interests and his many he feels well. Finally he added
know Daphne Berkovi as the national backgrounds and to book entitled “Effective Client created and marketed two professional and leisure-time “I am delighting in the new
friendly and efficient organiser manage international Management in Professional games – one an educational achievements mean that it relationships, opportunities and
of events. And you will know businesses. On my return to the Services” (Gower, 2014). maths game ‘Nubble!’ and the comes as a real surprise when challenges which have opened
Jack Berkovi, Daphne’s husband, UK I worked in Marketing I asked Jack about life other ‘City of London, the Board he mentions quietly, and in up for me through my
as the quietly spoken Chairman Consultancy and completed a outside of work, and found that Game’ which was sold to raise passing, that he is coping with privileged Chairmanship of
of HGS U3A, fronting members’ Masters in European Marketing he is not a man whose life has funds for the Lord Mayor’s two chronic illnesses, and has HGS U3A and look forward to
meetings and ensuring that Management.” Jack explained been focused only on his career. Charities. Jack also revealed that been doing so for many years. its continual development on
business is conducted smoothly. that he finished his career He is an accomplished modern in his loft at home he has In fact, much of the the Suburb.”
But few people in the Suburb
will be aware of how much
more there is to Jack than his
public persona at the helm
of U3A.
Jack and Daphne moved to
their Suburb cottage from their
family home in Watford in 1999.
They were both still working
but wanted to reduce on
commuting time and be closer
to opportunities in London.
They had no prior knowledge of
the Suburb but they were
drawn to its peacefulness and
country-like features. Jack
recognised from his professional
experience of design, that the
built environment here is
quite exceptional.
Jack explained that his
formative years were spent in
South London. “After graduating
in Mechanical Engineering, I
joined the management team
at Procter & Gamble. After that
I worked for American multi-
nationals, gaining business and
problem-solving expertise.
Jack explained that this led to
senior project management and
marketing positions, heading
up multi-disciplinary teams.
“I moved with the family for

Have you ever thought of taking on an allotment?

The Trust owns and maintains ten allotment sites around the Suburb, with events and share the responsibilities that come with running successful

each site kindly administered by an enthusiastic volunteer site secretary. allotment sites. There is a wealth of shared knowledge on hand amongst this
Many of our sites are tucked away down hedge-lined twittens, surrounded community, and keeping an allotment can be a very rewarding pastime.
by mature trees, or behind houses.
If you have ever considered taking on an allotment, why not contact the

Plots are available from the Trust for a reasonable annual rent, and many Trust to find out about availability? Vacant plots become available from time
allotmenteers maintain close links with the Suburb Horticultural Society. to time, and applications for plots are alway welcome. So if you’d like to
The RA’s Allotment Committee meets with the Trust a few times a year to know more, please contact the Trust office by ringing 8455 1066 or email us
ensure that the sites are being managed properly, and to help organise social at mail@hgstrust.org.

862 Finchley Road, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11 6AB 020 8455 1066 mail@hgstrust.org www.hgstrust.org twitter: @HGSTrust

4 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS