Killed aid worker’s friend in boxing tribute

THE childhood friend of a British aid worker who died in an Israeli drone strike in Gaza hopes to honour him by raising money for the boxing club he used to attend.

James “Jimmy” Henderson was among the seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers who died when their convoy was hit outside the Deir al-balah warehouse.

Harry James-mills, 33, a food festival organiser, grew up with Mr Henderson in Penryn, Cornwall, and was friends with him from the age of seven.

Mr James-mills described Mr Henderson as a “strong, brave, loyal and fearless” friend and wants to “retell Jimmy’s story to future young people” by raising money for the Falmouth and Penryn Boxing Club, which Mr Henderson used to attend.

Mr James-mills said: “The fundraiser came about from us moving away from anger and hatred. The idea we can raise money for Jimmy’s club, and then affect lots of young people for generations to come, why not?”

He met Mr Henderson, a former Royal Marine, the same night he was due to travel to Gaza and the pair spoke of their pride in his work with WCK.

“We shared a dinner together along with a few other people and I feel so happy that I shared that moment with him,” Mr James-mills said. “He said he was really proud about what he was doing. He wasn’t carrying any weapons. He wasn’t wearing any sort of uniform. He was just doing something that was really good.”

Mr James-mills said wants to turn his grief and anger into something positive by honouring Mr Henderson.

“What we decided to do was focus on the things we could change and could control and that was very much our own community.”