Sep 8th: Talk in London about HK cemetery | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Sep 8th: Talk in London about HK cemetery

Primary tabs

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2011-08-22 12:42

Message from RHKPA via Guy:

Christine Thomas, our Archivist is to give a talk/presentation at The
National Archives (Kew) on Thursday 8 September at 1400 on the Hong Kong Cemetery.  It will take the form of a "virtual" walk through the
cemetery stopping here and there to explore the stories of a few very
ordinary people who are buried there.  It includes the story of one young lad who joined the HK Police in the 1980s.  Here is the link to The National Archives web page advertising the event -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/events/HongKongCem.htm

The talk is free and will be held in the Talks Room on the first floor.  There is a cafe on the ground floor.  The talk will probably be recorded (provided there are no technical issues on the day) and then be available as a Podcast on the TNA's website.

If you are free on the day and in the London area you are urged to attend the talk and give Christine your support.

Forum: 
General
  • Log in or register to post comments

Submitted by patricia on Fri, 2011-09-09 04:13.

Christine Thomas gave a very attractive talk - she used maps and slides to give a feel of the scale and terrain of the Cemetery, plus a bit about its history, then 'walked through' to stop at four graves - just ordinary folk, but each with an interesting story to tell.  There were a good number at the talk, and I think it was well received and appreciated.

Submitted by lizchater on Fri, 2011-09-09 14:42.

I agree with Patricia.  The talk was very interesting indeed. Christine's presentation was very engaging.  It was nice to meet you as well Patricia and Jill Fell as well.  Also another gentleman whose name I didn't get but who said he avidly reads this site!

Submitted by mike on Fri, 2011-09-09 15:43.

The talk by Christine was most enjoyable just hope she can do some more.

I was pleased to meet Liz Chater and to see some of the research she has done for her book.Also another lady with an interesting angle on Irish policemen in HKG.

Well done Christine and thanks.

Mike Cussans

Submitted by jill on Fri, 2011-09-09 18:30.

Can I add my congratulations to Christine Thomas for her clear exposé of the cemetery and her interesting choice of subjects. I failed to locate Patricia Lim - what a shame. I would have liked to tell her that her site has helped me to find a previously half-mythical uncle, who died as a baby. I too was delighted to meet Liz Chater and see her Chater album. I think I also met Mike, but all too briefly. It would have been nice if we had been able to pool our stories instead of scattering at the end of the  talk. Yes, we should request a follow up from the National Archive + some talking time afterwards. 

Submitted by mike on Sat, 2011-09-10 01:39.

Yes Jill i did meet you there when we were talking to Liz.It would have been good to have had longer afterwards to chat.Im not sure but did you say you had come up from Lymington?

Submitted by patricia on Sat, 2011-09-10 01:58.

Gosh, was Patricia Lim there - I didn't see her ... I know she's in the UK quite a bit at the moment ... or we haven't got a surfeit of Patricia's have we? ... I'm the HKPolice Patricia (as it were!! - think I should rephrase that ...)   And stand in awe at P.Lim's erudition. 

But are we moving to a UK Gwulo Happy Valley lunch somewhere central - probably south/south of London??

Patricia 

Submitted by jill on Sat, 2011-09-10 05:25.

Apologies, Patricia. Liz Chater tells me I have confused you with Patricia Lim, not having met either of you. It would have been good if we could have known who we all were and exchanged our stories in a follow-up room. Sorry not to have met you properly. A Gwulo UK lunch sounds like a wonderful idea, although I know some people came from quite far afield. Hope to meet you at some future date.

Submitted by jill on Sat, 2011-09-10 05:32.

Thank you for replying, Mike. No, it was the couple sitting in front of me who had come up from Lymington. He was in the HK Police, but didn't tell me his name. As a former teacher, I would have like to round everyone up and find out who we all were! Perhaps we can some of us meet again through the Gwulo site. I failed to give in my questionnaire and will return it to the National Archive suggesting that they might programme another Christine Thomas talk some time in the future. 

Submitted by David on Mon, 2011-09-12 13:43.

I'm pleased to hear the talk went well, congratulations Christine.

Also it's good to hear several of the readers from Gwulo were in the audience, and had a chance to meet. We'll have to start working on the secret handshake !!

If you hear of any other talks or events that are related to Hong Kong history, and would be interesting for other readers, feel free to post up a note in the forum.

Regards, David

Submitted by mike on Mon, 2011-09-12 15:33.

After the recent cemetery talk i think Patricia and Jill's idea of a lunch and a chat is a good idea.Does anybody have an thoughts on a weekend or weekday or a venue?South London was mentioned and i thought a location near a station might help.Within walking distance of Surbiton station there is an excellent place called The Magic Wok which is used by a number of Hongkongers.Would anybody be interested or have alternatives?

Submitted by patricia on Tue, 2011-09-13 04:03.

I'd be up for that - I'm Herts based but there are easy train connections, even on a Sunday - which I'd suggest as a day.  

Would it be as easy for people coming from the south coast?

Submitted by mike on Wed, 2011-09-14 14:43.

Waiting to see if any others would be interested.Maybe Jill and Liz who attended the talk might come along.My email mikecussans@btinternet.com if you want to contact me

Regards Mike

Submitted by lizchater on Wed, 2011-09-14 16:38.

Hi Mike,

Yes, would be interested in getting together again.  My only problem is that I have a young family so weekends are usually pretty hectic for me.  But if you firm anything up, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

best wishes

Liz

Submitted by jill on Fri, 2011-09-16 06:47.

Hello Mike, Yes, I'd like to join in a lunch if possible, but I'm mostly Devon-based in the immediate future and we're also travelling quite a lot in the next few months. Our children and grandchildren all live abroad. Would January be too far away? Please keep me in the loop.

Jill

 

Submitted by mike on Fri, 2011-09-16 14:33.

I was hoping to try and arrange something in October.Do you have any dates when you will be up this way?I dare say we can always do one in January if the interest is there.

Regards Mike

Submitted by mike on Mon, 2011-09-19 15:53.

Liz...have contacted various folks and Tue or Sun seems the best days.Dont think Jill can make any of the dates could you make a Sun in October?Perhaps you could reply on email mikecussans@btinternet.com

Thanks Mike

Submitted by David on Mon, 2011-10-10 11:38.

You can listen to a recording of the talk on The National Archive's website: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/hong-kong-colonial-cemetery.htm

Christine covers the lives of several people buried in the cemetery, and also introduces some of the resources she used during her research. The people mentioned, and the time in the recording they appear, are:

  • 04:22 William Barnicot
  • 15:50 Herbert William Johnson
  • 27:07 Two nurses: Sister Francis & Sister Gertrude
  • 35:55 Joseph William Walker

Regards, David