WE HAVE had a fantastic and, at times, touching response to our appeal for a memorial to honour Leon Greenman. We were aware of the great esteem in which he was held throughout east London, but to hear the comments of his friends and some who only met him

WE HAVE had a fantastic and, at times, touching response to our appeal for a memorial to honour Leon Greenman.

We were aware of the great esteem in which he was held throughout east London, but to hear the comments of his friends and some who only met him once, is humbling.

With all of the donations coming from individuals, we are now hoping schools and groups will take up the cudgels.

It is important to stress that the memorial is for the whole community and we welcome donations from all groups and individuals, whatever their faith or creed.

I am acutely aware that there are tensions between the Jewish and Muslim communities, following the Gaza Strip crisis, but hope most people will take Leon's message to heart.

He spoke to all the people of Redbridge and beyond about the need to put aside hatred and antagonism. And that is the Redbridge way.

Having just re-read Leon's story, An Englishman in Auschwitz, it is incredible that he survived the terrors of the Nazi death camps and also that he was able to use his experience to spread a message of peace.

A lesser man would have been left bitter and twisted, but this diminutive ex-boxer battled for peace and love until he died.

Please help us honour him and thereby keep alight his flame of hope. And, by the whole community supporting our appeal, I believe it will send a clear message to those who seek to bring division among faith groups that the harmony which exists inside the borough is strong enough to withstand tensions from outside.