Mr. Thomas Chow Wai Tong

S J Lowcock’s way – Kenneth Sei, Former Sportsmaster

S J Lowcock’s way

“Tell you what to do and never bother how you get the job done” gave those who worked for him full autonomy. Then a pat on the back made the job-well-done even more gratifying.

The humorous comments of this cantonese-speaking-gweilo always helped:
– At a general meeting, A PE teacher questioned about the fault/unfairness of the measuring system (in those days students were graded according to their age and height). He’s the first one to react, ” I agree.  Measure them while they are lying on the floor.” After a burst of laughter, case closed.
– A team manager kept questioning our time-keepers about his athlete’s time. SJL quietly whispered, “Why don’t we give each  athlete a stop-watch and let them time.”

When LSC’s new school ground opened, they lacked the special javelin to use on the artificial turf. He let their javelin throwers practise at the small field. I recalled he talked to Ronnie Chan (our star javelin thrower), “Let’s help them, coach them and beat them at the championship.”

Mr. Casswell, the Director of PE Department, once told me, ” Your Headmaster always sweats for POINTS.” Every team member contributed a little to WIN.

Thank you for the fondest memory under your tenure. We will miss you.

Kenneth Sei,
Former Sportsmaster.
Vancouver, Canada

Jimmy Lowcock- an era of greatness – Alan Lam (’70)

In Fond Memories – Horace Chan (66)

I was a Form 2 boy when Mr. Lowcock became our Headmaster in the early 60’s. He seemed a very tall man in our small days. He was friendly. He was kind. He roamed our school ground carrying his signature ” Ha Kao” smile!

Mr. Lowcock makes it known that he believes that there is a uniqueness in every DBS boy and we can all be educated pursuant to our own best. That’s what makes him great in our eyes. His big heart and his passion were dedicated to our School and to all DBS boys.

I visited Mr. Lowcock with a few of my classmates towards the end of 2011… about two months prior to his passing away. We were so blessed to have the opportunity to do just that. Attached is a picture taken besides his dinning table. His signature expression still vivid….brings back so much fond memories.

Mr.Lowcock will be missed… and remembered by All.  God Bless !

Horace M.T. Chan (Class ’66)
Jan.28,2012 from Shanghai

DSOBA – Vice President Global
DSOBA – Vancouver Past President

Sharing from Simon Tse, Former Teacher & Master-in-charge of the DBS Athletics Team

Simon Tse, Former Teacher & Master-in-charge of the DBS Athletics Team (1977 – 1993); currently resides in Vancouver, Canada:

I am saddened by the news of the passing of Mr. Lowcock, an eminent headmaster and an instrumental member of DBS and Hong Kong athletics, a man of real capability and passion. He had the love, respect, and admiration of people throughout Hong Kong.

I remember when I was a student teacher, I was so blessed to be recruited by Mr. Lowcock as a teacher right after my practicum at DBS, the top school among contemporaries. By working in DBS, I was able to have the necessary facilities and environment for frequent, intensive training so that eventually I was able to accomplish my personal goal of excelling in the event of High Jump in Hong Kong. It was my obligation to maintain the domination of DBS in Inter-school athletics. In fact my mission would have been much more difficult without Mr. Lowcock’s unceasing support.

Mr. Lowcock’s deep interest and vigorous support for athletics was reflected in his frequent visits of the school team training sessions, inter-school athletics competitions as well as Hong Kong track and field open meets. Every year, he joined us at the inter-school competitions, and sometimes he put his arm around the athletes’ shoulders, making some humorous or encouraging remark about their performance, helping the boys feel much more energized, confident and motivated to strive for the best.

His influence on DBS and Hong Kong athletics was enormous indeed, and I am confident there were few men more loved and respected. He was a powerful inspiration to those of us who had the privilege of knowing and associating with him over the years.

I admired him tremendously. I mourn the loss of this dedicated Headmaster, a great leader and a wise and kind friend.

He was very special, and he will always have a special place in our lives. He will remain in our memories forever.

羅啟鋭 故事人生

From HK Economic Journal today (Feb 13th, 2012), written by 羅啟鋭, in memory of our headmaster SJ Lowcock…. Vigil service is 7pm Feb 14th at Hong Kong Funeral Home…

2012年2月13日
羅啟鋭 故事人生 
老校長的歌 
… 我一直不能忘記，念中學時一個盛夏的傍晚，天氣火辣辣地炙熱，我剛獨自練習完三個多小時的越野跑，於灰濛的暮色中，疲倦地走過學校的草坪，繞過校長宿舍側門離開的時候，所看見的景象。
我看見我的老校長，坐在宿舍陽台外的一張舊籐椅上，默默地流淚。
老校長沒有看見我，他大概沒有想到，在這個靠晚靄藍的時分，還會有學生未回家，更會抄他宿舍旁的私家路下山。無論如何，即使當時的暮色已開始蒼茫，我還是隱約看見老校長坐在一台古老的留聲機旁，背負着一個朦朧而龐大的身影，像個小孩子般抽搐着，哭得非常難過。
頑固的草原
我一下子看得呆了，也不知道該上前安慰他，還是裝作沒有看見，但我這樣想，老校長平素在人前，一向是個幽默偉岸、揮灑自如的英國紳士，現在這種時刻，他大概會希望自個兒安靜地好好哭一場吧。我也就再不多想，其實也再不敢多想，便躡手躡腳地按原路折回草坪，快步走往學校的另一端，準備往石階那邊下山去了。
我慌亂地踏過草坪，心中只望自己可以快點消失，別讓老校長知道有學生曾經偷偷路過，看見他偷偷流淚，只是那晚上的草坪，卻好像特別頑固茁壯，特別漫無邊際，彷彿比我剛才所走的二十多里的越野跑，更頑固茁壯，更漫無邊際，而老校長的低泣聲，卻一直在草原上追趕着我，尋找着我。
我腳步浮亂地走着，也不知道如何才能夠逃過這些哭聲，我但覺它無處不在，恍惚就混和在炙熱潮濕的盛夏空氣裏，網羅着大地。
然後，許久之後，一切才終於平伏下來，我再次感到大自然的寧靜，生命也終於痛定思痛地回復了它的溫柔，只是，當我正要回過氣來的時候，才一定神，忽然便聽到草原上的空氣中，原來正播送着一首我從未聽過的老歌，一首老校長剛才一直重複又重複地播送着的老歌。
我不知道剛才的我怎會完全聽不到這歌，也許是因為老校長的哭聲實在太震撼，太叫我冷不提防了，叫我只懂得沒命奔逃——我的意思是，老校長曾經以他父兄般的嚴荷，責備過我；以他聖公會的基督精神和教義，原諒過我；以他恨鐵不成鋼的心情，放棄過我；可是，他從來沒有試過，以凡人的肉身，在我面前軟弱過。
是的，我在老校長一切的嚴荷、教義與恨鐵不成鋼之前，一直頑劣地從不屈服，但那個晚上，我在他軟弱的凡人肉身面前，給楞楞的殺了個措手不及，甚至有點早熟地頓悟過來。
哭泣的老歌
老校長於兩星期前的一個清晨，安詳地辭世，享年八十二歲，喪禮將會在今個情人節的當夜和翌日舉行，我不知道他們選取這個日子有什麼特別的意義，但我記得許多年前，我早逝的哥哥離開時，老校長替我家打點了很多事情，包括那個小教堂內的喪禮，當時喪禮在婦女節後的第二個星期五舉行，大概也沒有什麼特別意義，反正今天我明白，很多時候，即便是生與死，其實也沒有什麼特別的意義，更何況喪禮與喪禮的日子呢？
至於那首盛夏草原上的歌，我倒是在後來才知道，一直沒有結婚的老校長，每次聽到這歌，都會禁不住流淚，那是我在念大學時，跟一個與我從同一家中學升讀上來的舊生，於另一個盛夏的傍晚，在大學宿舍內，聽另一首他每次聽到都會流淚的歌時，得知這個真相的。
今天，我當然也知道，並且了解，每個人的心裏，都有這麼一首歌，曾經令他快樂，如今令他心碎；正如每一對戀人，都有一首他們永遠記着的歌，叫他們夢縈魂牽、肝腸寸斷，只因這歌背後隱藏着的秘密，和一段隨着歌聲逝去、卻又偏偏頑固地不斷回來的心痛與相思。
畢竟，今天我同樣知道，無論我們如何相愛，無論生命如何相欺，無論鐵終於成不成鋼，一切都只會早晚成灰。

Remembering SJ Lowcock – Fred Lui ( Class ’63)

SYDNEY JAMES LOWCOCK – in remembrance – Fred Lui and Martin Tam (Class of ’63)

Sharing for Mr. Lowcock – Eric Chan (’92)

Twenty years after I left DBS, if there was any superior during my days that I still pause and think about every so often with great fondness, it would definitely be Mr. S.J. Lowcock.

During my years, I only knew him as the ex-headmaster. But he was still very attached to the school, its activities and its people – most famously his attachment to the Athletics team, of which I was glad to be a part of.

While most teachers impressed me with any combination of their shrewdness, stern demeanor, or humorous nature, Mr. Lowcock seemed everything of that and more. He would drop by at track meets or practices, and would strike up conversations with us in a manner that is uniquely “him”.  Exactly what he would talk about I don’t recall, but I definitely remember the feeling – it was down-to-earth, humorous, warm, and showed a sense of fatherly care.

During the early years, he would invite the Athletics team to his place (I went to one such gathering) to just hang out, eat and chit-chat.  Again, all this was very vague in my memory, but I remember it was a kind gesture for him to host us.

What left my indelible respect for him is during my last year in Form 6. I was fortunate to be named one of the co-captains of the Athletics Team (with Barry Tsui). While I was elated, I had always thought of myself as a really shy, skinny kid who wasn’t especially accomplished and wouldn’t stand out (I never even won a medal in any inter-school individual event). Even so, Mr. Lowcock would, in a few occasions, deliver me personal, hand-written notes, offering advice, observations of the team, and usually generously giving his encouragement or compliments. I can’t tell you how much it boosted my confidence and self-worth.

Somehow, he also found out that I was the chief editor of Steps that year. That year, it got published so late that it literally went to press after I left HK for school abroad. While most everyone was focussed on how slow it was, a few weeks later, I was absolutely taken by surprise to receive a two-page, hand-written letter from Mr. Lowcock, telling me his thoughts on it, making very detailed observations about its content, and generally, being very complimentary and encouraging of the editors’ efforts. I still keep that letter to this day.

I don’t presume to know Mr. Lowcock very well, but yet, I feel I do. I don’t even know if he remembers such a person as me.  Now that I’m all grown up, I understand that for someone of his stature to connect to his students in such a private and commanding way speaks volumes to his character. He is willing to spend significant time connecting with his students, knowing he had very little to gain, but simply to build them up.

Mr. Lowcock: Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. The life lessons I learnt from you is so much more than anyone had taught me. You taught me that words and actions
make a difference, and to see the good in everyone.  At times these are difficult lessons, but I know they are the one of life’s best lessons. Rest in peace, Mr. Lowcock.  You deserve the best and I always keep you in my heart.

Eric Chan

(class of 1992)

My Impression of Mr. S.J. Lowcock – Steven Chow ’64

It was probably within two weeks after the 1960/61 school year had began that Mr. Lowcock first spotted me playing football on the field. I was a new boy and a boarder, attending Form 2D. As I was walking up the concrete stairs facing the field, Mr. Lowcock asked for my name and where I had come from. I told him that I had transferred from Wah Yan HK and when he asked me why I left there, I did not reveal to him that I had been invited by Wah Yan to leave. Instead I had made up some excuses. It was only in recent years when I read Mr. William Smyly’s transcript of his interview with Mr. Lowcock that I learned that Mr. Lowcock had  very close association with Kowloon Wah Yan and the Jesuits ( S.J . for Society of Jesuits and these were also Mr. Lowcock’s initials  ). He had even spent a year at Kowloon Wah Yan helping to set up their laboratories. I am certain that Mr. Lowcock had checked me out but he never brought up this subject again.

When Mr. Lowcock became headmaster in 1961/62, I was in his From 3C physics class. To this day, I am still in posession of the Black DBS Lab book containing his comments in the margins. That year, while I had never been exposed to field events,.  Mr. Lowcock had encouraged me to toy with the discus and the javelin and in due course, I became a member of the B grade School Athletics team. A year later, when I was in Form 4B, I was the treasurer of the Intermediate choir under Mr. Kiang and one day, an envelop bearing my name was delivered to me. It was a note from Mr. Lowcock saying that while I may have many good reasons, he asked me not to miss anymore choir practices. ( I still have the note )

When boarders had to stay in school on some weekends, it was Mr. Lowcock who had invited me to go over to his house and asked me to do oil painting with him. He was most generous with his time, patience, boards, equipment and paints. I admire this man for he had introduced the arts, music, competitive sports and that learning is not confined to the classroom, laboratories or textbooks.

After I finished Form 5 and went back to DBS for the School Leaving Certificate results, at the time I had already been accepted by a Canadian University for a B.Sc. Course. Mr. Lowcock had invited me to return for From 6. When I told him that I shall embark on a science degree in Canada, he bluntly told me that I should not go for science. Instead, he suggested that I should consider selling Japanese dolls as a future career. Mr. Lowcock sure had a talent in spotting  the personalities of his students.

Thank you Jimmy, for introducing the Charleston dance, the Peter Gunn music and jazz, the peanut characters, the mustache, the oil painting lessons, and that it is alright to be a non-conformist.

Steven Chow ’64
Boarder Prefect – 1963-64
DSOBA General Committee Member – 1981-96
DBS Fund Raising Committee Member

P.s. After completing my B.Sc. ( Biology ), I switched course for an MBA and a PhD ( economics )

Headmaster _ Mr.Lowcock – Simon Ho ‘73

Very sad to hear his passing;

No words but RESPECT.

Thank you, Mr. Lowcock, for guiding my grow up years.

Simon Ho ‘73