Jewish East End

Celebration Society

JEECS, P.O. Box 57317, London E1 3WG

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Three champions: Roman Greenberg, the British-based Israeli boxer who won the International Boxing Organisation’s Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion title in 2006, with Sir Henry Cooper, former British, Commonwealth and European Heavyweight Champion, in front of the plaque commemorating a much earlier champion, Daniel Mendoza. Photograph by Philip Sharkey Nuovo Sephardi cemetery, grounds of Queen Mary's College, Mile EndWednesday 3rd September 2008 - Jeecs honours the memory of Daniel Mendoza who was born in the East End of London and buried in the Nuovo Sephardi cemetery (photo left), located in the grounds of Queen Mary's college, Mile End.

Photo right: Three champions: Roman Greenberg, the British-based Israeli boxer who won the International Boxing Organisation’s Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion title in 2006, with Sir Henry Cooper, former British, Commonwealth and European Heavyweight Champion, in front of the plaque commemorating a much earlier champion, Daniel Mendoza. Photograph by Philip Sharkey

Daniel Mendoza (1764 - 1836) was the father of scientific boxing and was buried in the Nuovo Sephardi cemetery in the grounds of Queen Mary's college, Mile End.  Daniel Mendoza was a figure of great renown during his lifetime and earned the Jewish people great respect. Towards the end of his career he toured the country giving demonstration bouts and huge numbers came to see him.  He was truly a superstar of his day.  Months of planning to celebrate his life culminated in the unveiling of a plaque to his memory close by to the spot where he was buried.  Celebrated British heavy weight boxing champion Sir Henry Cooper unveiled the plaque.  This was followed by a talk on the life of Daniel Mendoza by Jad Adams.  The talk was followed by the the reciting of kaddish (memorial prayer), led by the rabbi of Bevis Marks synagogue.  The viewing of Elliot Tucker's film on Jewish boxers of the East End completed a memorable day for the Jewish East End Celebration Society.

Enjoy the photos from the day, below:

Sir Henry Cooper with Jeecs's chairman Clive Bettington

Sir Henry Cooper unveils Jeecs's plaque honouring Daniel Mendoza who was buried nearby in the Nuovo cemetery

Present day members of the Mendoza family witnessing the plaque's unveiling

Sir Henry Cooper with sculptress Louise Soloway who created the plaque

Sir Henry Cooper speaks on Jewish boxers of the East End

Plaque in memory of Daniel Mendoza (1764 - 1836), father of scientific boxing

Sir Henry Cooper's autograph on my invitation!

Guess who got Sir Henry Cooper to autograph his invitation to the unveiling?!

double click all photos to enlarge

photos copyright Philip Walker - except photo top right of page by Philip Sharkey