A Friday night synagogue service was bouncing thanks to an eight-piece rock band.

Simon Cooper's Friday Night Rock Service turned the amps up to '11' at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree as a tradition from 2013 continued.

On a Friday night in 2013, more than 200 people filled Southgate Progressive Synagogue for the first ever Friday Night Rock Service.

It was in honour of Simon Cooper, who died aged aged 33.

Borehamwood Times:

Simon Cooper

Mr Cooper was born with cystic fibrosis shortly after he was born while he was born with a blocked bowel.

In January 1999, he underwent a liver transplant and during his recovery, he was inspired to produce a rocked up version of Oseh Shalom but the track was forgotten about.

In August 2012, Mr Cooper had a double lung transplant, which required a long recovery.

To help pass the time, he was invited to a synagogue, and he went along and found himself tapping and singing along to some of the prayers, but in the back of his mind, he wanted to put his own spin on the prayers.

So he developed an idea and then on one Friday night, he was given the opportunity to perform his special version to the congregation, and this was just the start as the band were offered opportunities to play at synagogues around London.

In 2016, Mr Cooper was diagnosed with lung cancer and in July that year, he sadly died.

But his legacy has lived on and on September 6, The Liberal Synagogue Elstree became the next shul to be treated to a different kind of service.

Borehamwood Times:

The set-up at the synagogue in Elstree

Rabbi Pete Tobias said: "Even when those that we knew and loved have left us, they alway leave something to remember them by. I can’t think of a better legacy for Simon than this band being here right now.

"To have a legacy as moving, thoughtful and joyful as the one we have just experienced is truly special."