Meet Mark - From the football touchline to the COVID frontline

Mark Lillis has had one mightily unusual career path.

Having spent more than four decades in professional football - a journey which took him to Manchester City (and the top scorer in 1985/86!), Derby County, Aston Villa and beyond, as well as managing and coaching in all four corners of the globe - Mark joined The Fed in late 2019, just a few short months before the onset of the global pandemic.

It's difficult not to think of Mark's story as being emblematic for all of humanity - thrust into a situation of unprecedented fear and danger, determined to do the best he possibly could, being pushed far outside his comfort zone but manning his post day in, day out - all the while striving to learn everything he could about Judaism and Jewish life which permeates Heathlands Village.

That's another thing about Mark - his thirst for knowledge.

As someone who has lived and worked in numerous countries, rubbing shoulders with people from all backgrounds and nationalities, he has grabbed on to whatever he could throughout life's whirlwind journey and learned as much as possible about the world, working life... and Wembley Stadium.

As he says: "It's all been fantastic."