Martin Neville

Martin Neville was born in Hackney, London, in 1953. After university, he became a civil servant, working in Hackney and then Aylesbury. He moved to Milton Keynes in 1991 in order to be closer to a synagogue; he also worked at the Court in Bowback House. In his professional life, Martin helped set up the Child Support Agency; he received an MBE for his work in 2008. He moved away to Bedford in 2016 but remains closely connected with the Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue in Giffard Park, where he is currently chairman.

In his interview he talks about how MK gave his children lots of opportunities as they were growing up, including the chance to receive a Jewish education. He talks about the history and community of the synagogue, including the process of acquiring the land where the synagogue would eventually be built. He is pleased that the synagogue is widely used by lots of community groups, and mentions the recent foundation there of a community food larder. He mentions the Tree of Life Ark at the synagogue, and an important scroll which is in the possession of the community. He is particularly keen in continuing the community at the synagogue by engaging younger members. He regrets the current need to have security present for every service at the synagogue, especially as they have been closely connected with interfaith work across MK, which he views as really important. He also talks about his experience as a Trustee of Voices of the Holocaust.