Jim Henderson was a proud Cornishman and “a people’s person” who touched many lives

The siblings of James Henderson, who died last month while working for an aid organization in Gaza, have spoken of how he was always driven and “laser-focused” in everything he did throughout his life. Jim, as he was known, was one of seven World Central Kitchen volunteers who died when their convoy was hit outside the Deir al-Balah warehouse on April 1.

Speaking ahead of his funeral in Truro Cathedral tomorrow (Wednesday, May 22), his older brothers Matt and Dan took some time to talk about their brother and how much he touched everyone he met since -throughout his life, whether his various friendship groups within the rugby world, at his boxing gym, in the military or as a defense contractor in his latest role.

“Jim was a people person,” Matt said. “He enjoyed spending time with his various friendship groups. He had a lot of friendship groups. He had his school friends, his rugby friends, the guys from the army, the guys from when he was doing security work more recently.

Read on: Pleas for help for family and club of Cornish hero killed in Gaza

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“He was on the move. Jim was such an active guy. I can never understand how he would get up at 5am and go for a run, come home for breakfast, then go to the gym. he definitely made his time count.”

Dan added: “He was very open. He lived life to the fullest.” They both agree that from a young age, Jim was always focused on achieving the goals he set for himself.

Matt said: “He was a very determined guy in everything he set his hand on. As a brother, I remember him being so focused on his commitment and the challenges he set for himself. And, more often than not, he succeeded in what he set out to do. in order to achieve. He was such a determined guy.”

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He added: “When we were playing football or sports together as kids, or just playing, fighting, being the youngest, he had a bigger challenge, which is something that shaped his character in the way he lead life he doesn’t want to challenge us in anything we were doing, maybe he was the youngest, sure, and if he didn’t.

Both said Cornwall was an important part of Jim’s life. A proud Cornishman, Jim, also known as ‘Hendo’, loved doing what the people who live here do, from going to the beach to enjoying the boats.

Matt said: “He loved Cornwall. He and his friends spent a lot of time going out on boats, going to the beach and doing the typical things that people in Cornwall like to enjoy. I lived with it for a short time and I remember it had two flags. He had a Royal Marines flag and was very proud of it.

“He would have been proud and very humbled by the show of support and outpouring of love he has received. He was a very humble person. To think that so many people want to pay their respects and be a part of that day is quite overwhelming. “

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Dan added: “It was very comforting to see the love and support from the wider community, from people I’ve never met. People really care and I can see that what Jim was doing was a very noble thing, something that as a family we can be very proud of.”

Fundraisers have been held for his family and favorite club in the days since the 33-year-old’s death. In a statement released by his family this week, they said Jim had a strong passion for rugby and “followed his dreams” by joining the Royal Marines and seeing frontline action in Afghanistan, while “people ” were always at the center of everything. it did and drove him to “be better”. See this tribute in full here.

They said: “This trip took him to Gaza in support of World Central Kitchen and those so badly affected by the conflict in the region. Although we will never understand his loss, we know that he died doing something that mattered to him, was making a difference, and for that, at least, we are grateful.

“Above all others, the people who mattered most to Jim were his fiancee Jacqui and his family. “Proud” doesn’t come close to expressing how we all feel for what Jim accomplished and know he could have accomplished.

“As we mourn his loss and what he would undoubtedly have gone on to do with his life, we also reflect on his legacy and the many people who will continue to benefit from what he started. We love him. We miss him. We celebrate his achievements.”

Jim will have a full funeral at Truro Cathedral tomorrow, with everyone invited by the family to attend and/or line the streets for his cortege. See full details here.

John Chapman, from Dorset, and James Kirby, from Bristol, also lost their lives in the same explosion on April 1. Alongside them were Palestinian Saifeddin Issam Abu Taha, Australian Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom, Poland’s Damian Sobol and USA’s Jacob Flickinger. Hundreds of people attended the funeral of his colleague James Kirby in Bristol on Wednesday (15 May). The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired two officers and reprimanded three others over the incident, calling it a “serious mistake.”