YOUNGSTERS at a West Hendon school were given an insight by the borough's mayor into the changing face of his role.

Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Anthony Finn, was invited to Beis Yaakov Primary School to tell the children about his duties as mayor.

The mayor and his wife, Mayoress Anita Finn, were welcomed by headteacher, Helena Cohen, history and geography co-ordinator Marilyn Russell, as well as governors at the girls’ Jewish school in Edgware Road.

The reception class sang morning prayers in Hebrew and English and girls in Year Four told the mayor and mayoress about their studies into the history of Hendon since 1896.

Cllr Finn explained how the mayor's role had changed over the years and explained the reason behind his traditional dress.

He explained the red coat was so people could see the mayor was coming to collect tax money and its deep pockets were to avoid the money being stolen by pick-pockets.

He told the children the mayor’s gold chain could only be worn in his own borough.

Cllr Finn added: “Today, the mayor has to make sure the people in the borough have somewhere to live and children have a school to go to, the roads are clean, the whole town runs nicely and he sometimes gives money to poor people."

After the tour Rabbi Heimann praised four pupils who had their hair cut off in aid of Zichron Menachem, a charity which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer.

Shiri Heller, 11, and her sister, Judy, six, Chaya Tessler, seven and head girl, Ricky Stern, 11, also raised more than £1400 towards the cost of making the wigs.

Head girl Ricky Stern and deputy head girl, Tzivia Van Praagh, 11, presented Mrs Finn with a bouquet of flowers.

Cllr Finn said: “It has been a lovely day - the school has such a warm feeling and there is a nice rapport between the kids and their teachers.”