For anyone acquainted with Eddie Jordan, either through personal interaction, having heard narratives of his triumphs, astuteness, and eccentricities, or simply recognizing him as a Formula 1 team proprietor, the commemorative gathering held in Westminster on Monday would undoubtedly align with expectations, brimming with joy, melodies, and warmth.
Jordan’s passing occurred in March at the age of 76, during medical treatment for cancer. However, at Central Hall on Monday afternoon, his essence resonated vividly as his kin, companions, and associates from the F1 sphere convened to honour his vibrant existence.
His former BBC presenting partners, Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard, assumed the roles of emcees, while Jordan’s fervent passion for music took centre stage throughout the day. Performances encompassed a diverse range, from Heather Small to Rick Astley, David Webb’s rendition of Nessun Dorma, to The Robbers, and Jordan’s ensemble – accompanied by Mike Rutherford of Genesis – providing the musical backdrop for the occasion held in his reverence.
The magnitude of his imprint on F1 was palpable through the presence of accomplished former drivers who congregated in London to partake in the celebrations. Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion and the figure who secured Jordan’s eponymous team’s esteemed F1 victory in Spa, delivered a speech onstage alongside designer Gary Anderson.
Attendees also included individuals like Jean Alesi, Mark Blundell, Martin Brundle, Martin Donnelly, Mika Hakkinen, Jonny Herbert, Eddie Irvine, and Jarno Trulli – while, naturally, Jordan’s lineage constituted a central element of the gathering.
James Allen, president of Autosport Business & F1 at Motorsport Network and a close confidant of Jordan, expressed that the event encapsulated him perfectly.
“It was a splendid homage to Eddie. Observing numerous familiar faces from the past three decades – drivers, team personnel, and individuals who held Eddie in high regard – was truly gratifying,” he remarked.
Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard led the memorial for Eddie Jordan
“It embodied Eddie’s essence; an occasion characterised by dynamism and unpredictability. The prominence of music was balanced by a compelling juxtaposition, commencing with a solemn Irish priest initiating the event and guiding attendees in prayer, followed by Rick Astley energising the room.
“Only Eddie could orchestrate a memorial of such eclectic nature, rendering it a magnificent send-off.”
A touching video tribute from intimate friend Bono featured interviews with Jordan, interlaced with cherished moments and family portraits – “May you rest peacefully, or perhaps rest with haste,” the U2 frontman concluded.
Long-standing acquaintances from the era preceding Jordan’s ownership of an F3 team regaled the assembly with humorous anecdotes of his early commercial ventures. This encompassed a narrative of utilising the hearse of a colleague – who also functioned as an undertaker – for his karting escapades, which nearly met an abrupt end after a collision while Jordan was engaging in supplementary practice laps, navigating the circuit in reverse attire comprising only his undergarments and boots.
Attendees collectively rose to applaud in unison with Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, observed in astonishment as performers from Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance graced the stage, and gesticulated expressively to The Robbers’ concluding rendition of Hey Jude.
As an emotional Humphrey articulated, it unfolded precisely as Jordan would have envisioned the day; precisely as ‘EJ’ would aspire to be commemorated.
