Jimi’s Memorial Celebration

Jimi, who died aged 20 in April last year after jumping into the Thames from London Bridge to save a woman struggling in the water, was a regular at the Salmon Youth Centre on Old Jamaica Road. 

The Bishop of Southwark Christopher Chessun and local vicar Gary Jenkins led the memorial service, attended by local MP Neil Coyle, as well as Jimi’s parents and brother, Salmon staff, young people and friends as they celebrated Jimi’s life. Jimi’s family and friends spoke of their pride of his heroic act and how they wanted today to be a day to remember and  celebrate Jimi’s life. 

After the service the memorial was unveiled by Bishop Christopher and Jimi’s parents. Created by the young people at Salmon under the guidance of artist-in-resident Eugene Ankomah, the two panels on either side say ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’ and ‘Don’t Turn a Blind Eye’. The centrepiece is an image of Jimi himself, made up of hundreds of small pictures of the Salmon young people. The art project was was funded by the Mayor of London.

Jimi attended The Salmon Youth Centre for many years and played for a number of sports teams, he was always keen to try new things and meet new people. He was a really fun popular guy who’s smile and cheeky nature lit up a room. The young people, staff and local community miss him greatly, he was a real hero giving up his own life to save another.

Jimi Olubunmi-Adewole: Bermondsey celebrates young hero’s life with new memorial