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The longest serving foreigner on Lamma

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Toad in the Hole

Post subject: The longest serving foreigner on Lamma

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2003 11:24 pm

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:35 pm
Posts: 156

I would imagine that John 'The Fishermen's Friend' Grey would have spent more continuous time on Lamma than any other foreigner. In 1984 he had already been on the island many years. I would expect he had lived continuously on Lamma for at least 30 years. He was called the Fishermen's Friend because he represented the local Chinese fishermen at relevant board meetings when the colonial power was still in operation. He also wrote long involved letters to the SCMP on diverse fishing matters and spoke fluent Cantonese. Raised in Shanghai, how he came to be on Lamma is of course shrouded in the mists of time. A close friend of 'Frank the Thump' Murdoch he often occupied a table with Frank in the YSW High Street before there were so many bars that it rendered the practice obselete. Perhaps the 'Lamma-zine' should honour this island stalwart. Hunter the Stick Insect is interesting with his junk but cannot compare in historical terms with John the Fishermen's Friend. :!:

Last edited by Toad in the Hole on Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject:

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:27 am

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Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

Tell me more! How to reach him?
Is he still living here? Anybody could get me in contact with him?

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Post subject: Jonathan

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2003 11:25 am

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2003 9:13 pm
Posts: 124
Location: Pak Kok

That would be Jonathan Gray. I guess Frank would certainly know where he is. My Dad knew them fairly well. His letters to scmp were always "worth reading", lets put it that way!

My family came to Lamma in 1977, I was 10 then. We lived in the house in Po Wah Yuen that I believe the owners of the Island bar now own (is it Sharon? I don't know them really). Every morning we'd get the 6:25 a.m. boat and take the 12A bus up to McDonnell Rd and walk up to Island School. We left in 1985/86 - I returned in 1993.

Some more old-timers that are still around from those days include -

Eric Karlsen ("Lord Karlsen")
John Kier & Carolyn Ord

Now, I live in Pak Kok Tsuen !!

Last edited by GM on Sun Aug 10, 2003 10:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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bbchris

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2003 2:51 am

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Posts: 660
Location: Hong Kong

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Jonathon Grey has passed away

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:43 am

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

V J {L_WROTE}:

Jonathon Grey has passed away

I might have missed a post somewhere but dear Jonathon - "The Mayor" of Lamma passed away two days ago, 10 years to the day that his wife (Gloria) died.

Jonathon had been suffering immesurably against a very nasty brain tumor, which required him to have a needle shoved through his eye to inject some radioactive shit into this tumor every month for the last six years - no wonder he got pissed every now and again!

But myself and my wife truly mourn the passing of this wonderful, great, kind-hearted soul, much-maligned and often misunderstood GIANT of a man who fearlessly held steadfast to his beliefs and contributed so much to Hong Kong.

He came to HK in the late 40's, a refugee of Irish and White Russian parents from Shanghai and was the first gweilo to live on Lamma. He spoke many Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hakka and Hokkien, maybe more...), championed the fishermen of Hong Kong and became their voice against government policies. He served on the Islands District Board. the North Lamma Rural Committee, and the District Council. He was also godfather to many local Chinese on the island.

It was a great honour to know and love this truly great man!

May he rest in eternal peace':lol:'

Unfortunately I've not been able to find out what funeral arrangements have been made for him - if anyone knows, please post.

Please forgive my spelling (Jonathon or Jonathan). (Gray or Grey)?

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Eulogy

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 10:53 am

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

Unfortuinately not having had the privilege of knowing this local celebrity myself, I'd like to do a eulogy about him for the next Lamma-zine next week, in the on-going series on "Laudable Lamma Luminaries".

Could those who knew him post their memories and remembrances of the man, please?

Also, who knows details of his funeral?

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Toad in the Hole

Post subject: Truly an odd coincidence, sadly

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 5:29 pm

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:35 pm
Posts: 156

What an odd coincidence, to bring up Jonathon's name on your website as a complete newcomer, and for this to happen. The 'Lamma-Zine' truly has an opportunity to honour the first foreigner to live on Lamma -- and to have such an impact with the local Chinese. Perhaps Lamma-Gung can dig out a photograph of Jonathon in his prime. Surely Frank Murdoch would know of one. :bonk:

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Photos?

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2003 5:34 pm

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

Toad,

Yes, I'm already trying to find a photo. But all my potential sources are off Lamma travelling for now. Anybody else got photos of Jonathan?

How to get in contact with Frank Murdoch?

Meanwhile, Toad, tell us more about the man!
Lots of Lamma newbies here, I'm not the only one not having known him personally, I think?

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V J

Post subject:

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2003 1:48 am

Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 9:02 am
Posts: 67
Location: Wang Long Village

There's a disticnt possibilty that Bob Davis has got pix of him. I have too but their all pre-digital i.e they need to be scanned. Steve Cray of SCMP I believe did an interview and some pictures quite recently but he is in Nepal at the moment.

Jackson of "Jackson Property Agency" told me his funeral will be on August 18th but promised me he would post a notice in the Island Bar.

Just for reference my wife dug up Jonathan's name card recently, it reads:

General Secretary: The Joint Association of Hongkong Fisherman

Founder/Advisor: The Yung Shue Wan Fisherman's Better Living Co-operative Society Ltd

Member: The Marine Department Consultative Comittee for Fisherman's Representatives and Associations.

Member: Aquaculture Sub-Committee (Advisory Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries)

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Walid Jumblad

Post subject:

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:24 pm

Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2003 2:31 pm
Posts: 60

The SCMP of Saturday 9th August had this announcement:

Jonathan Gray
Passed away suddenly at his home on Lamma Island on Monday, August 4, 2003.
A memorial ceremony will be held at the Hong Kong Funeral Home, North Point on Saturday
August 16 from 6pm to 11pm.
Mass will be said at the Funeral Home on Sunday, August 17 from 1pm to 2 pm.
Sadly missed by family and friends.

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Jonathan in the news

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 10:31 am

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Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

1. Big interview and feature story on Jonathan Gray (correct spelling of his name) coming up this Friday, Aug 15, in the SCMP, written & photographed by Lamma's very own Steve Cray.

2. Eulogy on his life, basically a collection of write-ups from his many friends, in the 1st-anniversary Lamma-zine this weekend...

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Toad in the Hole

Post subject: SCMP article could be interesting

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:24 pm

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:35 pm
Posts: 156

Lamma-Gung, could you put the SCMP article into this string when published so overseas posters can have a gander. Cheers Toad

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: SCMP story on "Fisherman's Friend"

Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2003 11:50 pm

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

OK, here it is, fresh from a friend who's a paying subscriber of the SCMP website; for our overseas friends, plus the few locals who might have missed it.

It was hard to miss, the story was announced from the top of the cover page that day, incuding a photo. Even the newspaper vendor opposite Spicy Island was pointing out Jonathan's picture on the SCMP cover, selling out all copies early that day...

Fisherman's friend

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Last edited by Lamma-Gung on Sun Aug 17, 2003 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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foreign body

Post subject:

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 3:04 pm

over 400 messages posted

Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2002 10:46 pm
Posts: 457
Location: yung shue long

where is the picture?
I have just clicked on the lamma e-zine link, and...no picture.

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Problem?

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 4:10 pm

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

You get only the text, but not the picture of Jonathan when clicking the "Fishermen's Friend" link above?

Or you have a problem loading the Lamma-zine #23 link in my email signature?
In either case, just refresh your browser, please.

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Alan

Post subject: Re: Problem?

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2003 4:23 pm

Discussions Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 7:06 pm
Posts: 5046
Location: Tai Peng

Lamma-Gung {L_WROTE}:

You get only the text, but not the picture of Jonathan when clicking the "Fishermen's Friend" link above?

Works fine for me, on So-net.

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Toad in the Hole

Post subject: When is the Lamma-Zine coming out

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 3:52 pm

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:35 pm
Posts: 156

OK Lamma-Gung, when you going to hit us with the delights of the Lamma-Zine so we can read all these eulogies to JG you told us about. Keep up the good work chum. Can't see K@ these days. Maybe he has moved back to Lamma! :lol:

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Lamma-Gung

Post subject: Re: When is the Lamma-Zine coming out

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 5:58 pm

Site Admin, Webmaster, Lamma-zine Editor

Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2002 1:22 pm
Posts: 10011
Location: Pak Kok Village

Toadie,

I'm working on the Lamma-zine day and night, all through last weekend, still 1-2 days to go. It'll be the biggest (and best, I hope) Lamma-zine ever, far beyond 20 pages.

Remembering "The Fisherman's Friend" will be one of 10 feature stories. Just got the last write-up on Jonathan from Nick the Bookman, after chasing him for almost two weeks. Meanwhile, the SCMP quoted most of Frank Murdoch's write-up, written for the Lamma-zine originally, in their big story.

But they asked Frank for permission first, no problem, as I've pinched quite a few Lamma-related tidbits from the SCMP occasionally, crediting them, of course.
I also got hold of the outtakes from the SCMP story, with a few more great Jonathan quotes not published yet, for example:
"Tung is a man with a great heart but surrounded by somnambulant sycophants on huge salaries"

Please be patient for another 2 days or so...

k@ has moved to Malta, building tourism website(s) and enjoying the cheap wine. But he's ready to move on again, I think...

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Toad in the Hole

Post subject: What about a statue or memorial to Jonathan Grey

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 12:33 am

over 100 messages posted

Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2003 4:35 pm
Posts: 156

Following the death and funeral of Jonathon 'the Fishermen's Friend' Grey I wonder if anybody would consider a modest campaign to erect a plaque or memorial to Jonathan near the pier or Main Street in YSW. He was unique in that he was the first gweillo on Lamma.

He was probably the only person capable of coordinating a campaign to better the lives of the destitute fishermen in Lamma and beyond and for bringing harmony and understanding to both local and foreign communties. And, also by dying on Lamma as a foreigner he made a powerful statement in itself.

Let's face it the local Chinese have made plenty of dollars from the thousand of foreigners who followed Jonathan's mould-breaking trail in the seventies. They would probably support a campaign to remember Jonathan and it would add a lasting reminder of life on Lamma for many who only pass briefly through this remarkeable island :wink:

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Alan

Post subject: Re: What about a statue or memorial to Jonathan Grey

Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2003 12:49 am

Discussions Forum Moderator

Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2002 7:06 pm
Posts: 5046
Location: Tai Peng

Toad in the Hole {L_WROTE}:

Following the death and funeral of Jonathon 'the Fishermen's Friend' Grey

Was he buried here? Only the native islanders are allowed to have graves, theoretically. I knew one gweilo whose ashes are in the Columbarium near the Youth Hostel.

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