SJ Lowcock

From James S.C. Fong Class 73

Sharing about Mr Lowcock – Dr Norman Yung

From Amos Yong Jr 77

The past month or so, I had been thinking about my dear Mr Lowcock.  I had a hunch I would hear news about him, but did not expect it would be on his passing.  

Like many of my fellow schoolmates, we were able to interact with Mr Lowcock during our school years at DBS.  We each were touch by him in a very special way.  Our young lives  were so influenced by him.  My fondest memory of Mr Lowcock is when I see him.  He always seems to want to ‘tease’ me with his knock knock joke.  He would start to say knock knock.  I would say who is it.  He would say Amos.  I would say Amos who.  And he would say A MOSquito bit me.  Knock Knock.  I would say who is it.  He would say Andy.  Andy who.  And he would say AND he bit me again.  Because of that, he would never forget who I was, even after years of not seeing him.  What a memory he had!!!  We always had fun with this.  Always.

Another major recollection of mine is his comment on my Assembly speech.  I had spent 10 minutes sharing with my fellow schoolmates the importance of really knowing what life is all about.  Is it about fame, fortune, family or fun?  Or is it about faith?  I mentioned unequivocably my faith in the Scriptures, we always read at Assembly.  The Scriptures states that man is a sinner and has no hope of life eternal apart from the work of Christ’s life, death and resurrection from the dead.  I stated Jesus Christ WAS resurrected from the dead, but Mr. Lowcock corrected me at the back of the school hall, that I should have said Jesus Christ IS resurrected from the dead.  He was correct because Jesus Christ still lives today and IS resurrected to ensure anyone who puts their faith in Him will have eternal life.  I am forever grateful to Mr Lowcock for that correction.  

He always saw potential in his students.  He, matter of fact, seemed to gravitate to the ‘naughty’ ones.  But these naughty ones, as far as I can observe, later in life have succeeded in many ways.  Whether I can attribute their success to Mr Lowcock or not, I do not pertain to know.  But this I do know:  He was there to help his students become better men.  I have a lot to thank him for.  

Now our dear headmaster, mentor, friend and confidant is gone from this life.  I do hope I will see him in the life to come.

Mr Lowcock may you rest in peace.

Words about Mr. Lowcock from an old boy – Chan Kam Tim

TRIBUTE TO S J LOWCOCK – Canon David C. Ellis, DBS School Chaplain 1965-69)

JIMMY LOWCOCK

Although I was a close colleague with Jimmy for only four year during my time as school chaplain at DBS in the 1960’s I have long regarded him as one of the great influences on my life.. When I last saw him in 1998 he was still the same Jimmy.

After being a refugee in the war years he returned to Hong Kong to witness the dire poverty on the streets when refugees from the mainland arrived in great numbers. His mentor at that time was Bishop R.O. Hall whose compassion-in-action contributed so much to Hong Kong’s recovery. Jimmy like R.O. had an enormous heart for the poor. When Hong Kong lacked much of a middle class he established a fund which gave free places at DBS for some of the poorest boys who later proved their worth. He hated all forms of hypocrisy. Self-righteous Christans were branded as ‘Pharisees’.He used to say that few understood his own brand of Christianity, least of all himself, but in retrospect I believe it was close to that of St. Francis in his humour and love of life and total lack of self-regard. His remarkable sculptures in wrought iron portrayed the Christ whose suffering he deeply felt and understood.

Distant as I have been from him across the world and beyond the gap of years I deeply grieve the loss of one who changed and envisioned me as he did countless people who for a while were privileged to walk with him. But I give thanks to God for dear Jimmy and both pray and believe that he will be surprised by heaven.

Canon David C. Ellis, DBS School Chaplain 1965-69)

thoughts and memories – Erik Cheung ‘82

Personally, I did not have much contact with Mr. Lowcock when we were sharing our last days at DBS; I was neither the top of the class nor the athletic type. As I worked in the education field for 20 years, I know the quality of a principal is vital as it attracts talented educators to serve. Without such guidance, my teachers would not have the space and dedication to nurture our development then. Thank you, Mr. Lowcock.

Erik Cheung ‘82

In memory of SJ Lowcock – David Wong Class of 1965

In Memory of Mr. Sidney James Lowcock – the Headmaster’s House – Peter C. Kwok (Class of 1965)

In Memory of Mr. Sidney James Lowcock – the Headmaster’s House

Where was that special “classroom” in which extra lessons were taught and learned on Hill Kadoorie?   The Headmaster’s House. 

The House had served different headmasters through the years.   For my years, it was Mr. Sidney James Lowcock.   There could be many reasons why Mr. Lowcock had chosen to continue with the tradition.   One of the reasons could be that he preferred to be close to the school and his students.   After all, it was only a pleasant few minutes walk to school each morning across the field, a good warm-up with a healthy pre-load of fresh air for a long day at the office.   However, the more important reason perhaps was: Mr. Lowcock wanted to make himself and his 2-story old house accessible.

To me, Mr. Lowcock had made our headmaster’s house an integral part of our campus on Hill Kadoorie. I may have learned my academics in many different classrooms in the main school building, my practical skills in the laboratories in the New Wing, and experienced that added dimension of school life on stage in the Assembly Hall with the orchestras.   However, when I became a boarder in my U6 year, my horizon widened.   As a senior boarder, hence free from all lights-out restrictions, I was able to stay at the headmaster’s house until late.   It was there, given those additional after-school hours, through the many days and nights in my Upper 6 year, that I was privileged to both know Mr. Lowcock better and above all, learn about my “self” much more.   

DBS had been known for offering a rounded education to its students.   Being active on the music-arm in our DBS tradition, I thought I was “rounded”, meeting the challenges in time-management between the demands from academics and extracurricular activities.  Little did I know that to be “rounded” in music, I needed to open up my tunnel vision, extend my understanding and involvement in music beyond the classical.   Still could remember how captivated I was when first introduced to jazz by Mr. Lowcock, listening to the body-moving, finger-snapping sounds by MJQ, the Modern Jazz Quartet.  Mr. Lowcock was holding a drink in his hand, with his body gently swaying to the rhythm and the syncopated thumps of the double bass.     “That’s the way to enjoy music!” I said to myself that night.   Not body-stiff, neck-tied and sitting still in the etiquette-laden concert hall!    I was amazed by the fact that despite being called “Modern”, the jazz group actually followed such old classic musical forms as baroque counterpoints, something I was familiar with and could therefore appreciate the new sound almost immediately. At that moment, the boundary between the almost aristocratic classical music and the people-friendly music, such as jazz, began to blur; the wall separating them began to tumble as I began to realize the more important purpose and true meaning of music. I finally unlearned my biases, and thereupon became open to question the meanings of not only music in particular, but also life in general.   It was Mr. Lowcock who had shown me the way, just as he had enlightened many others, both before and after me. 

Mr. Lowcock had made his residence into an open “class room”, an extension from the main school across the field.   During his years, Mr. Lowcock had made his house an “open” facility, a “House of Discoveries” for all who came through the door.   The Prefects, the boarders, the day-boys, our school’s budding artists, painters, achieving athletes and the musically inclined… each would have his own unique encounter and story to tell.   David Sung (Class’65), my Upper 6 roommate, had told his. It was also where my other artistically gifted roommate, late Victor Yeung Charn-hung, was finally able to verbalize his deep-seated fear of the unknown and uncertainties, in dealing with his health and financial problems as he contemplated on applying for college in the US. Mr. Lowcock challenged Victor with more than a token stipend, but more importantly also with a lesson to learn in successfully completing a project. So night after night, Victor would disappear from our dorm room, working overtime on his project when our remaining days on Hill Kadoorie were numbered. There were times he hinted he could not make it, but he also expressed how important it was for him to start and be able to finish the project. He eventually overcame his self-doubts and went on to finish his drawings of our headmasters’ portraits, now lining up the walls of our Assembly Hall.  [To this date, I still ponder what pain and sufferings he must have gone through after his DBS days before he finally took his own life.]

The headmaster’s house was a popular haven where we were encouraged to not only challenge the established with courage and determination, but also our self.  In the process, many would discover our own “self”… in our innocent nonage.  Mr. Lowcock made it happen.

Peter C. Kwok

Class of 1965

In memory of our beloved headmaster and great teacher – Dr Anthony Tang Class of 71

Mr Lowcock- Peter Kosolcharoen Class of 1965