Funeral of financier Amschel Rothschild

Hundreds of mourners gathered yesterday to pay their respects at the funeral of the financier Amschel Rothschild, who hanged himself in Paris last week. Family and friends attended the private service at the cemetery of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in Willesden, north-west London. Among those present were representatives of both the French and English branches of the Rothschild family.

Several well-known figures also came to pay tribute to the multi-millionaire, including the politician William Waldegrave, television presenter Lloyd Grossman and newsreader Anna Ford.

Rabbi Julia Neuberger, a personal friend of the banker, conducted the service, partly in English and partly in Hebrew. She said: "His friendship is irreplaceable and it is devastating for his family."