Christian Small, 28, was one of the 52 people who tragically died after four Islamist suicide bombers detonated bombs on the London transport network on 7th July, 2005
By Sophie Mitchell
A young Walthamstow man who lost his life during the 7th July bombings in 2005 was a medal-winning athlete and wordsmith who had nearly finished his first book.
Christian Small, 28, was one of the 52 people who tragically died after four Islamist suicide bombers detonated bombs on the London transport network, causing injuries to over 770 people.
Three of the blasts happened on the London Underground, on or around 8.50am, in the vicinity of Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square Stations. The fourth device exploded at 9.47am on a bus that had been diverted via Tavistock Square.
Christian left his Walthamstow flat that fateful morning to commute to his advertising sales job in Holborn, and boarded the Piccadilly Line train carriage that exploded near Russell Square.
When news reached Christian’s family about the attacks, fears for his safety grew. His family and friends put posters up around London, but tragically, his death was later confirmed by authorities.
His flatmate Vanessa Walters, wrote in the Guardian at the time: “We grew up together. Always slightly too serious for his years, he was thoughtful and earnest – initiating house debates on anything from Live 8 to… Big Brother.”
She added: “He has always cared about social inequality here and around the world. In his eyes, events such as 9/11 stemmed from misery created by global inequality and it would be both ironic and horrible if actions taken in response to 7/7 were to deepen those injustices.”
Christian was a talented athlete, being a “popular” member of the Enfield and Haringey Athletic Club and winning a gold medal in the Middlesex County Championship in May 2005. In his last competition before his death, he finished second in the 110-metre hurdles in the London Inter-Club Challenge on 2nd July 2005.
According to a BBC obituary published in 2010, Christian was a childhood supporter of Luton Town Football Club because he identified with their prominent black players and liked their kit colours.
A transformative moment for Christian came after a trip to West Africa that inspired him to change his name to Christian Njoya Diawara Small, meaning “strong in spirit”. He researched his family origins and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, which prompted this name change.
There, he worked in a small village, and upon return to the UK, had begun to turn his emails home into a book.
His travel memoir, Wake up and Smell the Fufu, was published posthumously by friends and family.
Christian’s mother Sheila said he was aspirational and passionate about educating young people about Africa and advocating for fair trade and debt relief.
A tribute to him read at the inquest into the bombings described him as a “respectful, diplomatic, caring and loving” man who wanted to look after others. He previously travelled to the United States, to mentor disadvantaged children from the inner city as a Camp America summer camp leader.
His mother said in her tributes at the time of his passing: “Christian, you return now to that Great Source from which we have all come.
“Though you will live forever in our hearts and minds and be with us in spirit, your body now returns to the earth, your voice becomes one with the wind, your tears one with the rain, your laughter one with the waves.
“Christian, we celebrate your life, a flame that lighted the way and touched many with its warmth, so short-lived and yet brilliant.
“Njoya, man of great spirit and determination, we will always love and remember you.”
Additional reporting by Marco Marcelline
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