Hundreds of people gathered at a memorial service in Golders Green on Sunday held for a prominent woman from Barnet's Iranian community, a year after her death.

Dr Mandana Alijani, a top surgeon who graduated from King's College London, died in April last year, aged 33, following a three-year battle with lung cancer.

More than 350 people, including friends, family, and colleagues, turned up to the service where they celebrated her life with live music, speeches, films, and pictures of her activities.

Director of the Association for Anglo-Iranian Women, Laila Jazayeri, said: "Her death has inspired so many.

"Her grave is not just a grave-it has become a centrepoint for the Iranian community to meet every Sunday to commemorate her achievements and goals and drink tea. She is really very much alive, as her personality was larger than life."

As an active supporter of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, she is remembered for her tireless efforts in fighting for a democratic government in her native country. Her work is seen to have been instrumental in appealing to the Government to remove the People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran from a blacklist of terrorist groups.

Dr. Alijani left Iran with her mother at the age of 11, and lived in Hendon until she died.

Her mother, Susan Baghdadchi, praised her daughter's accomplishments at the service. She said: "My daughter was an example of determination, courage, and sense of responsibility for the Iranian community."

Dr Alijani was also a fighter for women's rights in Iran and just four weeks before her death helped organise an international women's day in Paris.

Margaret Owen, barrister and chair of Widows for Peace through Democracy, said: "Mandana's work and efforts has not only affected the Iranian movement but has inspired the equality movement worldwide."