SJ Lowcock

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.

In Memory of Mr Lowcock – Edmond Lok Class of 1975

Mr. Lowcock had left behind the legacy of a great educator and he will be sorely missed.

Deepest condolence to his family and loved one!

Edmond Lok
DBS Class of 1975

From Clyde Kwok

Mr Lowcock- Peter Kosolcharoen Class of 1965

Mr Lowcock – Chan Wai Shing Class of 1962

SJLowcock – Thak Chaloemtiarana

Mr. Lowcock (I always called him Har Gow) was a superb teacher, motivator, and excellent coach.  He tried most of the time to be tough (gruff even) but we all knew that he was kind and generous to all of us.  Although he never taught me in class, he did offer to tutor physics to me just before the School Cert exams.  I forgot why he did this–perhaps he saw my grades in the sciences and wanted to make sure that I would pass at least one science course require for the School Cert.  He was so good at explaining physics to this humanities/arts student that much to my surprise I actually passed the physics exam with a high credit.

As a motivator of young minds and budding scholars, he knew when to challenge us and when to push us.  At one point (again, I cannot understand what prompted the occasion), he told me that I would either ‘fall flat on my face and would amount to nothing, or that I will achieve great things!’  That remark gave me pause.  I took it to mean that staying average was not an option that I should try my best at everything even if I would fail.  You will recall that most of us were ambivalent about being picked as school prefects because we would have to change and to act more mature and to distance ourselves from our friends.  I was sure that I was not ready for the appointment as a fifth former but Mr. Lowcock made me a prefect, perhaps to show his trust and support for someone who was young and had insufficient self-confidence.  I think that I and fellow prefects matured overnight.  I was a boarder prefect with (those names I still recall)–my brother Thip (senior prefect), Leslie Fang, Kenneth Wan, Joseph Chow (deceased), Patrick Choy Kwok Hung, Wong Zee Wah, and one or two others.

Mr. Lowcock also used athletics to give us pride in achievement and to boost our self-confidence.  I was never sure if he was ever an athlete but he was a good coach and motivator.  He taught me to high jump, gave pointers on how to throw the javelin and discus, and how to run strategic races.  I remember that out of the blue he entered me in the HK Open Pentathalon event one year just to see how a high schooler can compete with fully grown atheletes.  The competition was gruelling–five events in both track and field in one day.  I did not win but was not last either.  I still thank Mr. Lowcock for pushing me to compete.  At one point, he also sent a few of us rookies to compete in an interschool meet to run the invitational 4×100 relay (myself, Au kin chung, Chaikiri (Dicky) Srifeungfung, and another more seasoned sprinter whose name I could not recall).  We did win that race to our utter surprise.

I also appreciated his ecumenical view about religious beliefs.  You may recall that back then, there was a large contingent of Thai boys at the school.  We were mostly Buddhists but we all attended Assembly, read biblical passages, studied the Bible, attended Chapel and Church on Sundays.  I do not think that any of my Thai classmates converted to Christianity.  It was Mr. Lowcock who reassured us that all was well when he remarked that the ‘Buddhist Thai boys’ had beliefs and morals that was close to Christians.

Lastly, Mr. Lowcock tried to make us well-rounded boys (a prize that I surprising won in Form 3) by exposing us to his love for Broadway musicals.  He would invite us to his house to listen to ‘West Side Story’ on his phonograph (I do not think that he had a stereophonic set up).  It’s too bad that we were too young to drink back then.  I would have loved to sit on his sofa with a glass of cognac and a good cigar and to engage him in a deep discussion of West Side Story and its social and political implications.

All in all, Mr. Lowcock made us live the life of what makes us a DBS boy.  He was our exemplar and for that we owe him our successes and achievements.

Mr. Jimmy Lowcock- Unforgettable – Victor Yung (Boarder No. 9)

Dear relatives and beloved ones of Mr. Jimmy Lowcock,

His unforgettable smile; sayings; negative to positive encouragement; helping others spirit will always treasure deep in our heart! 

Please accept the deepest condolences with respect and fond memories,

Victor Yung (Boarder No. 9)

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