Biography
Born on 24th June 1894 in the USA, Brother Anthony Kilbourn arrived in Hong Kong on 25th September 1936. The Japanese interned him at Stanley in 1942. He passed away in Manila in 1961.
Biography
Brother Anthony Knoll was born in Toronto on 28th October 1916. He received his elementary education at St. Helen’s School in Toronto where he had his first contact with the Christian Brothers. He was deeply influenced by a Brother Clement. Eventually he decided to join the Order. In October 1938, he arrived in Singapore with three other Brothers. He was posted to St. Joseph’s Institution. During the Japanese invasion, he was imprisoned in Changi Prison and later in Sime Road Camp. In prison, he took care of the sick and the old. After liberation, he became the Director of St. Joseph’s Institution, Singapore. In 1953, Brother Anthony became the Director of St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang. In short, he rebuilt these two schools, which were ruined by the war. His hard work cost him ill health and he was advised to take leave. He spent a year of rest and treatment in Canada. In late July 1956, he was posted to La Salle College, Perth Street campus. For the next twenty-five years, he served in Hong Kong, by preference as a simple teacher. He was always concerned about the spiritual development of students and recruited boys for Rosary Crusade. Brother Anthony was a devoted spiritual director of the Legion of Mary in La Salle College. In 1972, Brother Paul Sun, superior-general in exile of the Sacred Heart Brothers in Mainland China, invited Brother Anthony to help out as Vice-principal of St. Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese School. Brother Anthony could not disappoint his dear friend, although it meant that he had to live outside La Salle College. He faced this challenge with full perseverance. In May 1975, he reached a stage of physical and emotional collapse and was brought back to La Salle College. He was later sent to Canada for rest and treatment. He returned to La Salle College and served in the library. Once or twice he collapsed in the library but he always returned with minimum delay. On 28th July 1981, he was up with other Christian Brothers and said the Morning Office (prayer). He placed his host in the communion plate and left the chapel for his room. After breakfast, he was found dead fully dressed in his white robe. ___________________________________________ The following information was obtained from the HK Catholic Archives: http://archives.catholic.org.hk/memory/A-Knoll.htm On Tuesday morning, 28 July 1981, Brother Anthony left the Oratory in La Salle College evidently feeling unwell. Shortly afterwards another member of his community, feeling concerned about him went to his room and found him dead in his bed. Thus suddenly came to a close the life of one beloved both by his confreres and by his pupils. He died at the age of 64. Brother Anthony came from Canada to the mission-fields in 1938. His first appointment as a teacher was to St. Joseph’s College in Singapore. Here he became a very able teacher, very thorough in method and very devoted to his pupils, who liked his kindly ways. Came the Second World War. The Japanese invaded Malaya and advancing southward very soon besieged Singapore. The city fell and Brother Anthony, while sleeping in a corridor, contracted a severe cold. In that condition he was taken away by the enemy for internment in Chanji Gaol on the island. There with a few more Brothers he undertook the task of teaching the imprisoned children as well as attending to the sick. After the capitulation of the Japanese Brother Anthony was repatriated to Canada to recuperate. Then he returned to Singapore and resumed his professional duties this time in St. Anthony’s School close to his former school. Not long after that he was appointed Director of St. Joseph’s Community and school. During his term of office he endeared himself to all, both staff and community, by his refined and kindly ways. His was never the harsh word to utter. From this community he was transferred to St. Xavier’s College in Penang as Director. Here his health began to deteriorate rapidly. Though suffering much he bore his infirmities with heroic, Christian fortitude, never losing his equanimity. Once more he was advised to take a holiday home with the hope of a restoration of health but this was not to be. He returned to the Far East as a member of the La Salle Community in Kowloon. Here he laboured assiduously in the classroom until his retirement in 1977. It has been said of him that he always preferred to teach the backward or retarded pupils and in this he was very successful. After his retirement he assumed the office of School Librarian which office he held until the morning when Divine Providence chose to call him to his eternal reward.
| Contributed by: | L.K. Wong 2007-10-19 16:49:07 |
| Description: | Bro Anthony came to LaSalle, Kowloon as master of our Form 2 class and remained with us in Form 3. We knew him to be warm and caring right from the start through a serious accident Chris Wong had early in the school term. He made frequent visits to Chris during the recuperation and though he never mentioned it to us, we felt he was caring for us all. Bro Anthony always came into class well-prepared and gave his lessons slowly and clearly, whatever the subject. He was especially nice to the slower students. I remember one hasty homework I handed in and was afraid he would really get mad, but he looked at it, trying hard to find some merit, and…at last, said softly, “Not famous!” Bro Felix was our Principal at the time and he was a pretty strict master. He had great regard for Bro Anthony and so we in turn were spared some of his sharp remarks. He came in to give out the term reports one day and looking at Wong Cheung Fat’s grades almost blew his top. But he got hold of himself, turned to Bro Anthony, smiled and then threw the Report Card toward Cheung Fat. And the guy picked up the Report, stuck it in his back pocket and sauntered back to his seat. Bro Anthony was a humble gentle spiritual person. He would lead us in morning prayer and then give a short chat on a Christian topic. I was baptised during that period, as were some of my other close friends, among them Wong Hon Fai, who passed away a couple of years ago in Vancouver. The last time I met Bro Anthony was at the Hong kong airport. He had serious eye trouble then and was on his way to Canada for some rest. Since then, he had of course returned to many more years of devoted service to his adoped country and people. |
| Contributed by: | sk chow (72) 2006-07-05 18:36:43 |
| Description: | The Birth Year is probably incorrect, given that Bro Anthony started his missionary work in 1938. And by golly, we haven’t had a 3rd World War yet. Two was bad enough! (3rd paragraph) Editor postscript (27 July 2006): Thank you, SK Chow, for pointing out the possible mistakes. The text has been updated with available / rechecked information. 29 Nov 2006: The blatant error of “3rd world war” has also been corrected. |
| Contributed by: | Ng Soon Hong of St. Xavier’s Institution, Peneng 2005-03-23 11:19:33 |
| Description: | Brother Anthony was the Brother Director of St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang at the time when I was privileged to be admitted as a Form 1 student in 1954. The new SXI building which had been under construction for some years was completed and the whole school moved into it from the attap shed classrooms across the street. This was April, 1954. I remember Brother Anthony as a genteel, soft spoken person with fairly thick eye glasses, his hand invariably shaking as he smoked cigarettes to calm his nerves, I was told. This infirmity was the result of the days he spent in the Changi Gaol, Singapore, imprisoned by the Japanese. My memorable experience with him was during the ceremony whence the whole school assembled at the school hall waiting for the mid-term examination results to be announced. I was in Form 1C and my results excelled over all the top boys of the Form 1 classes. Bro. Anthony then turned to Brother Irenus Joseph Yeoh (deceased) on stage and asked why I was put in the C Class with such good results and directed that I be transferred to the “A” Class straightway. It was a priceless moment of encounter with Brother Anthony Knoll. |
Biography
Brother Vincent Kozak, FSC, of La Salle College, Kowloon, died on Friday, 15 June 1990, aged 81. He had been suffering pain and discomfort for some time and had been hospitalized several times. On 14 June he fell gravely ill and was admitted to St. Teresa’s Hospital. He died early in the following morning. Brother Vincent was born in what is now Czechoslovakia on 8 June 1909. He joined the De La Salle Brothers on the Feast of the Assumption, 1925. Three years later he went to Burma, where he was to serve in the Brothers’ institutions for almost 39 years, spending long periods in St. Patrick’s High School, Moulmein, and St. Peter’s High School, Mandalay. He was principal of St. Theresa’s School, Rangoon, in 1965, when all the Brothers’ schools were nationalized. He and many other Brothers were forced to leave the country. He came to Hong Kong in 1966 and spent the rest of his life in La Salle College, Kowloon. The salient facts about any great teacher’s achievement are found, not in lists of dates and places, but in the life of the students he helped to form. Thousands of Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, Confucianists, Hindus and others in Burma and Hong Kong and in many lands oversea bear in their careers and their characters the stamp of Brother Vincent’s training. In the homily preached at his Funeral Mass, he was described as preeminently a Boys’ Brother. He gave himself wholly to the service of those he was teaching. Many of them, now middle-aged or elderly, still salute the memory of what he gave them. Brother Vincent retired from teaching in 1973. Among the various activities of his years of retirement, he took the post of Sacristan. His community recall with affection and gratitude the care with which he provided all possible helps to devotion, small and great. In retirement, as in his years of labour, he took delight in community life, enjoying to the full the consolation of his Brothers’ companionship. They will miss him, but they will always rely on the help of his prayers. Information obtained from http://archives.catholic.org.hk/memory/V-Kozak.htm
| Contributed by: | Yuen Kar Ngai Robert (71) 2009-01-19 22:01:11 |
| Description: | Brother Vincent was my form-master when I entered LSC in 1966. He is well remembered for his strong affection to his students and his tender loving care to them. |
| Contributed by: | Mark Huang (85) 2004-06-28 00:31:06 |
| Description: | I fondly remember Brother Vincent for his linking to meet with the students, and also for his liking to pinch the tummies of students. Brother Vincent used to come round our classrooms with the La Salle newsletters booklets, saying “Ca-ta-lick” Boys?, and he would hand out the booklets to the boys who raised their hands. After Bro Michael passed away in 1983, I think his two beloved dogs (thereafter one) always followed Brother Vincent. |
Biography
Brother Casimir L’Angelier was born on 6th May 1900 in Singapore. He belonged to a long-standing Catholic family. He received his early education in St Joseph’s Institution, Singapore. In 1916, he joined the de La Salle Brothers at the newly opened Novitiate in Kuala Lumpur. After completion of his training, Brother Casimir taught devotedly in Singapore and Malaysia. He was a principal for over 20 years. He arrived in La Salle College on 14th December 1969. Initially, he helped Brother Paul Sun (a Sacred Heart Brother) in St. Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese School. Due to the deterioration of health, he returned to help the La Salle Primary School. Brother suffered a stroke in 1971. He remained calm and patient, and totally resigned to God’s will. Brother Casimir passed away on 18th December 1975 at the age of 75. He is remembered for his humble and gentle soul as well as being the writer of the Scripture Manual for Form 1 and 2 students. (Copied from “Our Brothers” a publication of the LSCOBA in 2003)
Biography
Brother Dositheus Le Du was born on 17th February 1889 in France. He was transferred from St. Joseph’s College, Hong Kong to La Salle College in 1938. He died in Malaysia.
Biography
Father James Lea, of the Hong Kong diocesan clergy, died at his home in the early morning on Tuesday, 13 July 1993, just two days after celebrating his 60th birthday. Father Lea was born on 11 July 1933, in Dublin, Ireland. In September of 1946, he entered the minor seminary at Longford to begin studies for the priesthood in the archdiocese of Dublin. While a student at Longford, he also enrolled in the faculty of philosophy at University College, Dublin where he eventually obtained his B.A. degree. In October of 1954, he was sent by his archbishop to the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome for theological studies. While there, he met a Hong Kong seminarian from the Beda College, Francis Hsu, who later became the first Chinese bishop of Hong Kong. This relationship helped spark an interest in Hong Kong and in November of 1957 while still a deacon, he was incardinated into the Hong Kong diocesan clergy. Father Lea was ordained a priest in Rome on 21 December 1957 and after the completion of his studies arrived in Hong Kong on 28 October 1958. The next two years were spent at Sedes Sapientiae House in Cheung Chau where he studied the Cantonese language. For the nest twelve years, Father Lea ministered as associate parish priest in Rosary Parish, Kowloon, the San Po Kong parish and Christ the Worker Parish in Jordan Valley. During this time he also acted as chaplain at La Salle College in Kowloon. In 1970 he began a long ministry as chaplain at the Kai Tak International Airport. At the same time he continued to both teach and act as chaplain at La Salle College and played a major role in the Hong Kong Legion of Mary. During the course of his years of ministry, Father James Lea made many friends who held him in very high regard. He will be deeply missed by all of there as well as by his fellow clergy in Hong Kong. His funeral Mass was held on Friday 16 July at St. Margaret’s Church in Happy Valley. Cardinal Wu was the main celebrant assisted by fifty concelebrating priests and many of his friends. His co-worker at the airport, Father Patrick O’Regan, SVD, paid fitting tribute in his eulogy to Father Lea’s years of service in the diocese. After the Mass, burial took place at the Catholic Cemetery in Happy Valley. *Birth in Ireland: [11 July 1933] *Ordination: [21 December 1957] *Death in Hong Kong: [13 July 1993] *House of Studies, Cheung Chau: [1959] *Rosary Church, Kowloon: Vicar Cooperator [1960], [1961] *La Salle College: Assistant [1962], [1963], [1964], [1965], [1966] *Mother of Good Counsel, San Po Kong: Assistant [1968] *Christ the Worker’s Chapel, Ngau Tau Kok: Assistant [1969] *La Salle College: [1970] – [1977] *Sacred Heart Chapel (R.A.F.Chapel), Kai Tak: [1970] – [1993] Information obtained from http://archives.catholic.org.hk/memory/J-Lea.htm Father Lea’s grave is located in St Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley. The remains have been exhumed and are now placed in the wall behind the Chapel (outside the Chapel).
| Contributed by: | Ignatius Wong (1981 F7) 2006-03-13 05:33:15 |
| Description: | Father Lea’s command of the English language was very inspiring. At Form 6 and 7, he was our Ethics teacher. One day he came into the classroom, greeted us and was greeted by us, and then proceeded to write two words on the blackboard: “facetious”, and “abstemious”, and asked us to find the similarities between them. We quickly turned to our dictionaries and all other means possible, but to no avail. At the end of the class, he pointed out the obvious: that the two words contain all the vowels, a-e-i-o-u, and in order. “Now,” said Father, “try this on the DBS boys.” Another time during Ethics class, he spoke softly about an incident that had happened at school, the details of which I can’t remember. But what he did say I remembered for life. “Don’t curse the darkness, but light up a candle.” These words have been my guiding star for many years to come. Thank you Father. |
| Contributed by: | Tommy Chan (77) 2005-12-30 17:52:22 |
| Description: | Father Lea always like to ask us funny questions during English lesson , eg,”What is LOYAL ?” Of course,no one knew or had the guts to answer his question in English . After moment of silence and all our heads kept down,he would give us the answer with his usual similing face , “LOYAL is LOYAL !” We have learned this simple way or trick of answering from him. Whenever any of us had the guts to use this simple way to answer his funny questions,he always seemed to be contended with his usual smiling face. I miss Father Lea !! |
| Contributed by: | Victor Cheung (89 AL) 2004-12-25 22:51:16 |
| Description: | It’s rattlingly sad to learn that Father Lea has passed away. He will always be remembered for his sense of humour and pleasant personality. A lot of funny memories are still sticking in my mind and I will certainly treasure them in my life. His jokes and smiling face will always be remembered by all those people who knew him. |
| Contributed by: | Mark Huang (85) 2004-06-29 23:37:23 |
| Description: | At Form 7, classmates were busy burning the midnight oil for readying themselves for the coming A-levels. Often students would fall asleep at ethics class, resting their head on the desk. Fr Lea never raised his voice (and he was kind of understanding). He would very gently say, “Anyone who would like to read the next passage, please put his head on his desk.” Then at final / mock exams for A levels, most students did not use their precious time to revise for the ethics exams. Many learnt the trick to pass the exam: once the test paper is received, the students would dictate the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be continuously for the duration of the exam. No student every failed that test when writing the exam like that. It’s well known Father Lea’s English was impeccable. Once he saw a student using a dictionary that was, in his views, not of a very good standard. He went to the boy, held up his book and said: “This dictionary is not so good. Maybe you should find a DBS student, and hand it to him and nicely say to him, “送俾你” (soong bei lei) (A gift for you)”. Fr Lea said it in his rarely used Cantonese, and I can still remember the broad cheeky smile on his face, clearly enjoying his own joke as much as we did. May God be as gracious to dear Father Lea’s soul as he was to us! RIP, Father Lea. We miss you. |
| Contributed by: | David Hsu (1973) 2004-06-29 13:37:12 |
| Description: | Father Lea was our form master of F3A of 71-72. His English vocabulary is astounding and whenever he introduces new vocabularies, we have to raise our hands and ask him to explain the meaning. As those English words are just not in the lexican dictionary there is no way we could get the meaning. He is kindhearted and never did spank any students except asking the student to stand on the chair for first offence and to stand on the table if of more serious offence. Can you visualise standing on the table and Rev Bro Casimir doing the routine walking the corridor exercise. It is the most scarry mind boggling treat. |
| Contributed by: | Lee Fong 2004-06-28 18:41:18 |
| Description: | I think Father Lea used to teach at a girl’s school before joining LSC. He said girls were very emotional so he preferred to teach boy’s school. |
Biography
A Requiem Mass for Mr. John Richard Lee, our beloved teacher and loyal old boy, was held on 10th December 2003. JR Lee, as he is usually referred to, passed away on 21st November 2003. The requiem mass was attended by Mr Lee’s family, Brother Thomas, Brother Patrick and over 30 old boys in the School Chapel. A special Memorial Book with 73 messages from old boys all over the world was presented to his family.
| Contributed by: | Brian Ho 2014-01-22 10:34:58 |
| Description: | Mr Lee was my formmaster of 5S2 in 1973. Every day, he delivered a nice short story to the class first thing in the morning. Many stories were about life, in addition to augmented English instruction. Mr Lee stressed that, if he did not teach us the proper way, other people in the workplace would laugh behind us instead of correcting us. |
| Contributed by: | Edwin Kwok 2009-11-16 17:57:55 |
| Description: | “STUDY YOUR SPECIAL BOOK AND YOU WILL GET CREDIT!” I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTION AND I GOT THE CREDIT IN THE EXAMINATION. LEARNING FROM HIS ENTHUSIASTIC WAY OF TEACHING, I GOT MORE CREDITS IN MY LIFE. THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! |
| Contributed by: | Matthew WU 2007-06-23 11:18:05 |
| Description: | I echo K Leung’s description on Mr Lee. He has his unique and effective way of teaching English. He bought different items to class and taught us a new word. One stunning example of the items was an axe. The other thing is that, he taught us by our mistakes and asked us to write it down in a “Special book”. My “special books” are still well kept at home. Thanks Mr Lee. Class of 5D 1982. |
| Contributed by: | K Leung 2005-10-01 15:42:08 |
| Description: | John Richard Lee is the first teacher who really taught me how to make good use of a Dictionary. He always insisted that we should look up a dictionary when in doubt of the meaning, pronunciation or where the stress should rest…thus correcting a lot of our mistakes and most importantly, he taught us to how to learn for ourselves. Thanks again my teacher, I’ll always remember you as an insisting and enlightening teacher. Class of S.4 1978 |
Biography
Peter Lee (58), second from left
Peter Lee (58), the elder brother of Bruce Lee (60) and Robert Lee (66), passed away of a heart attack on 3rd September 2008 at the age of 69. Peter’s Chinese name was Lee Chung Sum. Peter is arguably one of the all-time greatest fencers of our school. He was the Hong Kong colony champion, and among other competitions, he represented Hong Kong in the Commonwealth Games in Wales, United Kingdom, in 1958. Quoting from the “Sons of La Salle” school history book relating to Peter and his fencing team: – quote – La Salle began fencing in the late 50s, and won the Championship in the first interschool Fencing Competition in March 1958. Peter Lee (58), the elder brother of Bruce Lee, was the Colony Champion-at-Arms, and represented Hong Kong on a number of occasions. Peter was both fencer and coach to the La Salle Fencing Team, which later started a streak of winning the Interschool Fencing Championship from 1968,, amassing eleven victories in the next thirteen years. – unquote – Peter was not only a top athlete, but also a scholar. He worked in the government as an Assistant Director of the then Royal Observatory. He later migrated to Australia. Peter also taught in La Salle College for a time in the 1960s. Peter had two brothers and also two sisters. May Peter’s soul rest in peace. In the fencers photo, Peter is the second student from the right. In the group photo of the staff of the Royal Observatory (1983), Peter is fourth seated person from the right, with a hallmark La Salle student photo pose of crossed arms. (Old Boys, please offer any additional information on Peter, as we currently do not have much more. 8th September 2008) PS: thanks to Clement Chan (87) for pointing out some errors in the information, which have been rectified.
| Contributed by: | djuro george madjarevic 2013-09-13 17:42:47 |
| Description: | please,i need more information about peter lee and bruce jun fan lee school days. and more true facts! thanks and heartly greetings from island of krk north dalmatia croatia europe |
| Contributed by: | Clement Chan (1987) 2008-09-11 00:18:05 |
| Description: | Two more photos of Peter can be found here: http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/news/2004/pre0218c.htm |
| Contributed by: | Clement Chan (1987) 2008-09-09 10:58:54 |
| Description: | According to the recent interview of his ex-wife, Mary Cheung, Peter was only Assistant Director but not the “Head” of the Royal Observatory. Another proof is as follows: http://www.hko.gov.hk/abouthko/history/directors_c.htm The Directors were all Britons during Peter’s serving period. But we can also locate him in this old photo as follows: http://www.hko.gov.hk/abouthko/history/photos/gp_1983.jpg The gentleman who sit at the fourth from right is obviously Peter. May he rest in peace. |
Biography
| Contributed by: | Lee Fong 2004-06-28 19:05:55 |
| Description: | Was Lawrence a Physics teacher? I thought he’s a Science teacher. Some teachers said he’s an adept martial fighter and a Chi Kung master. When RE teacher Kwok sir suffered from diabetes, Leung used Chi Kung to heal him. |
Biography
The following is contributed by Clarence Ng (1969) in April 2010.
Mr. Liao’s Chinese name was 廖日新. He taught F.1 and F.2 students in a variety of subjects. Mr. Liao taught me Bible History. He read stories from the Old Testament to the class with his soft baritone voice. And among all the Bible stories he told in the class, the story of Samson was my favorite one. He was a very nice gentleman, and he took care of students. I remembered, once in a rainy cold evening, he offered me a car ride from the Majestic Dome to my home in his personal vehicle. I would still like to say thanks to him again, today.
After LSC, Mr. Liao assisted Bro. Felix at the new De La Salle Secondary School, Fanling, New Territories.
Biography
The following announcement was made on 10 September 2006: Dear All I just received an email from Brnadan Lim (84). I am saddened to share the passing away of Mrs Rosalina Lim, at the age of 94. Mrs Lim passed away peacefully in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on 8 Sep. She was 94 years old. Mrs Lim was exceptionally close to the La Salle family, and the Lim family is probably one of the closest families connected to HK La Salle. Besides being an LSPS teacher in the 60s and 70s, Mrs Lim was also the wife of Mr Benedict “Tiger” Lim, who was a teacher in our St Joseph’s Branch School, Chatham Road, TST (1917-1931), and he was one of the first teachers to teach in La Salle College starting December 1931. Mr and Mrs Lim had two sons, Oswald and Basil, who attended LSC in the 50s, and in turn, their sons also attended La Salle in the 1980s. The funeral will be held next Saturday in Baltimore, USA. However, the family does not plan to have any ceremonies or memorials in Hong Kong. Let us pray for the soul of Mrs Lim. Grant her, Lord, eternal rest. And let everlasting light shine upon her. Please grant peace and comfort to the Lim’s at this time of sadness. With sadness and warm regards, Mark Huang
Biography
Brother Sebastian Lim was one of the pioneer-staff of La Salle College. He devoted his life in educating the youth in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore for over 35 years. Brother Sebastian served as a teacher, Prefect of Boarders and supervisor of primary schools. He later became the Principal of St. Anthony’s School, Singapore in 1966. Then Brother Sebastian returned to La Salle College for a short while teaching Catechumen class, before he was forced to retire to Malaysia due to illness. He was a small man in size but had a big heart. Thousands of students were impressed by his devotion to education and his kindness. The school library of the old La Salle Primary School, Hong Kong was named after him. Brother Sebastian passed away in Penang on 8th October 1969.
Biography
Mr. Francis Xavier Loo’s Chinese name was 盧錦倫. Upon finishing his high school education in Hong Kong, he went to study in the United Kingdom. After obtaining a diploma from a UK University, with a major in business administration, he lived and worked in the UK for many years before returning to Hong Kong.
At La Salle College, Mr. F.X. Loo was a devoted HKCEE English guru and an award winning boy scout leader. With over 20 years experience with HKCEE, he compiled every English structure question and answer into his classroom lecture notes. For each HKCEE English composition topics, Mr. F.X.Loo was the only teacher that would write sample essays and distribute them to the students. He trained every student and practiced with him on a one-on-one basis for the oral portion of the HKCEE. For his dedicated commitment to prepare every student’s English conversation examination, quite often he would have gone beyond the classroom. That was the way Mr. F.X.Loo had helped hundreds of La Salle boys passing HKCEE English with Distinctions and Credits, making LSC one of the most reputable English language achievement programs in Hong Kong; at the same time he nurtured LSC into a prestigious school in Hong Kong.
He signed his name as X.Loo, and most of the students called him X.Loo, and all the students should have known him by that name.
< Information supplied by Clarence Ng (69) >
Biography
The following is contributed by Clarence Ng (1969) in April 2010.
Mr. Mann taught F.1 and F.2 Chinese at La Salle College in the early 1960s. He was one of the oldest teachers for the youngest boys at our school. Mr. Mann was born in the Qing dynasty and grown up genuinely in classical Chinese literature and Confucian education. His experience was teaching a variety of schools in China, including rural village schools, schools for the blind, and etc. The subjects he taught was mainly reading and writing Chinese.
He was the most talkative teacher in the classroom, but it did not mean he was always teaching. Most of the time, he was simply complaining that students did not respect elderly people (teachers), the same way as he did, when he was a kid. When he stood on the podium to lecture, he used artistic hand movements, very similar to crane style kung fu and/or a puppet show artist. Those made most students laugh. It must be the experience he acquired when he was teaching at rural village schools in China. He played seek and hide with students, and tried to tell jokes during the class section like a comedian. But his jokes were average and he upset some people to create those jokes.
Those old boys who had Mr. Mann as his Chinese teacher would likely remember him as an old style freelance comedian with his amazing artistic hand gestures, who likes to perform an entertaining show for young children.
Biography
Brother James Marcian, son of James Cullen, was born in Ireland on 31 August 1868. He never actually served in La Salle College, but it is believed that Brother Marcian composed the lyrics of the School Song. It is known that he also wrote the lyrics of many other Lasallian schools in Asia, including that of our sister school, St. Joseph’s College, Hong Kong. Bro Marcian served two terms as Director of St Xavier’s Institute, Malaysia, the first was from 1912 to 1915, succeeding Brother James and the second for a brief period in 1917. Brother Marcian was greatly revered by many people as Novice Haster at the Novitiate in Pulau Tikus, Penang. He died on 2 September 1938 in Hong Kong at the age of seventy. See also: http://www.geocities.com/smi_ipoh_online/smi/history/Our-past2.html
Biography
Brother Lewis McGiverin was born in the USA on 25th August 1864. He arrived in Hong Kong on 13th April 1934. He passed away in the USA in 1938.
Biography
Brother Wilfred More was born in Savoy on 28th January 1886 and arrived in Hong Kong on 16th May 1933. He taught Class 6 in the late 1930’s. He left for Indo-China (now called Vietnam) in March 1943 and retuned to La Salle College on 20th April 1946. He died in St. Teresa’s Hospital, Hong Kong in July 1960.
Biography
Born in the USA on 5th December 1901, Brother Celestine Morin arrived in Hong Kong on 2nd November 1938. He taught Class 8. He passed away in Canada in 1975.
Biography
The following was offered by Clarence Ng (1969) in March 2010.
Mr. Nair was our Indian physics teacher, a blessed Catholic from the South Asian sub-continent. He graduated from an Indian university and taught high school in India for many years before he joined LSC in Hong Kong. He was very beloved by the students. Mr. Nair and his family lived in Kwun Tong, where he was among us. He presented a very gentlemanly appearance in a three piece suit, complete with cologne, gold rings, and gold watch.
Teaching physics in plain English was his specialty. He started by explaining physics terminology with simple English word definitions. First, he defined it, word by word together with English grammar, to create a meaningful sentence to the students. Afterwards, he interpreted the same English sentence using mathematics. Often in order to help every student to learn physics in the class, he taught English and mathematics along with physics. He said to the class more than once, “Teaching Hong Kong students is very similar to teaching Indian students. Both need help in English and mathematics to understand physics, because English is not your native language.” With patience and inculcation, he made a sophisticated subject into a simple easy learning idea.
While he was teaching at LSC, his son was attending La Salle Primary School. In 1966, Mr. Nair was running from the Majestic Dome to the primary school under the torrential rain to look for his son, after learning the primary school wall had collapsed. Soon, he came back, soaking wet with a smile on his face and showing a sign of relief. He said to the class, “The primary school wall collapsed, and I have found my son safe.” Then, with his hands wiping his face, he continued saying, “Now you have seen how much a father loves his son.” He was indeed a loving father.
I remember a particularly anecdote from an all LaSallian schools athletic event at Mongkok Stadium. Every attendee was wearing shorts, with the exception of Mr. Nair. As always, he wore a three piece suit. However, he did not look odd; in fact he looked good when he held the microphone calling the names of each participating students and announced the results of each game. He really looked like a sport commentator or news reporter on the television… Laugh out loud.
An article offered by an old boy recalls his encounters with Mr. Nair.
http://www.lscoba.com/news/articles/firstday.html
| Contributed by: | Raj Nair 2014-02-25 22:31:06 |
| Description: | Mr. P.S.B. Nair started his career as a teacher in the southern Indian state of Kerala, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in teaching at the tender age of 19. He worked at a local government school until the age of 32. It was during his time teaching in the government school in Kerala that he met his future wife in one of his senior classes. In fact, he ended up teaching all the siblings as well. After getting married and having two young boys, he was offered the chance to join his cousin in Hong Kong who had a successful business in textiles. Mr. Nair relished the opportunity of providing a brighter future for his family as well travelling overseas to an exotic locale to start his new job opportunity. Upon his arrival to Hong Kong shores in September 1962 and after working in the business field for a year, he became disillusioned with the harsh realities of the wheeling and dealing that takes place in a flourishing trading company and decided to pursue his original passion for teaching. He arrived with resume in hand at the general office of La Salle College and was offered a job teaching Physics by Brother Felix Sheehan. He was later to recount how the main thing that attracted him to take the teaching position at La Salle was the breathtaking beauty of the campus, especially our beloved majestic dome, which was reminiscent of the dome of the Taj Mahal to this homesick educator starting off on a new career trajectory. After teaching for a few years, Brother Felix asked him to teach a matriculation class Chemistry and Mathematics. Despite his initial reservations about teaching a subject that was not his forte, the Form 7 students under his tutelage attained outstanding results and this drew the admiration of the school management that hired him and led to him being promptly offered a permanent position among the staff. From that moment on, Mr. Nair devoted himself wholeheartedly to the school and students for the next 29 years, during which time he was given the senior post of Discipline Master of the school. This was a job at which he excelled since he was a very disciplined person and wanted the students to cultivate their own sense of responsibility. With a third son on the way, Mr. Nair wanted to provide for his family well and decided to supplement his income by teaching in an evening school three times a week. Despite the heavy workload, his strong work ethics and keenness to succeed enabled him to eventually purchase a home right next to La Salle College at 1 College Road. His three sons all graduated from La Salle College with the youngest becoming a doctor, the second a PhD graduate working in the corporate sector and his eldest son following in his footsteps by pursuing a career as a NET in a local government secondary school. All his life, Mr. Nair felt a strong sense of love and devotion to La Salle College and Hong Kong and he would always tell his friend and acquaintance about how Hong Kong is the best place to live in the world. However, after his retirement in 1992 at the age of 62, Mr. Nair felt it was his duty to return to his homeland in order to take care of his elderly parents and he stayed there until his demise in 2012 after his health had deteriorated. His felt great pride in seeing both of his grandsons enter La Salle College to continue their studies where he had devoted his career. |