Celebrating the life of Eddie Jordan – just how ‘EJ’ would have wanted it

For anyone who knew Eddie Jordan personally, had heard stories of his achievements, acumen and antics, or simply knew him as a Formula 1 team owner – it will not come as a shock that his memorial service in Westminster on Monday was full of laughter, music and warmth.

Jordan died in March, aged 76, while undergoing treatment for cancer, but at Central Hall on Monday afternoon, his spirit was alive and well as his family, friends and F1 acquaintances celebrated his colourful life.

His former BBC presenting colleagues Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard were the double-act in charge, while Jordan’s love for music was front and centre of the day – performances ranging from Heather Small to Rick Astley, David Webb singing Nessun Dorma, to The Robbers and Jordan’s own band – joined by Mike Rutherford of Genesis – playing out the event in his honour.

His impact on F1 could easily be weighed by the talent of former drivers who flocked to London to be part of the celebrations – Damon Hill, 1996 world champion and the man who delivered Jordan’s eponymous team its famous F1 victory in Spa, spoke on stage alongside designer Gary Anderson.

Also in attendance were the likes of Jean Alesi, Mark Blundell, Martin Brundle, Martin Donnelly, Mika Hakkinen, Jonny Herbert, Eddie Irvine and Jarno Trulli – while, of course, Jordan’s family was central to the occasion.

James Allen, president of Autosport Business & F1 at Motorsport Network and someone who knew Jordan very well, felt the event summed him up to a tee.

“It was a wonderful tribute to Eddie. It was great to see so many faces from the last 30-odd years – drivers and people who worked for the team, people who held Eddie really dear in their hearts,” he said.

“It was classic Eddie; you had a thing that leapt around all over the place. A strong emphasis on music but a wonderful contrast of a very serious Irish priest opening the event and leading people in prayer and then having Rick Astley getting the room bouncing.

“Only Eddie could have a memorial that went like that so it was just a fantastic way to see the guy off.”

A moving video tribute from close friend Bono contained interviews with Jordan, interspersed with memorable moments and family photographs – “Rest in peace, more like rest at pace,” the U2 frontman signed off.

Old friends from well before Jordan even owned an F3 team had the room in stitches with stories of his early business dealings. This included one tale of using the hearse of a friend – who happened to also be an undertaker – as the transport for his karting exploits, which were almost cut short after a crash while Jordan was getting in some extra practice laps, driving the wrong way around a circuit dressed in his pants and boots.

Guests stood in unison to clap along with Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, watched in wonder as performers from Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance took to the stage, or waved their arms in the air for The Robbers’ closing Hey Jude.

It was – as an emotional Humphrey put it – just how Jordan would have wanted the day to go; just how ‘EJ’ would want to be remembered.