Fook Wah Tang

I have many fond memories of Fook Wah over such a long time. I remember as a teenager how welcoming he was when I came to visit Audrey at the hotel in Hastings and, as a very poor player of the game myself, being amazed at the speed and agility at which he played mahjong – not even looking at the tiles but being able to feel them with his thumb to know what tile he had. We enjoyed many, many fantastic meals with him, he somehow always knew the very best restaurants wherever we were, and could cook so well too. Once, while furniture shopping in IKEA in north London, we randomly bumped into Fook Wah near the tills – I asked what he was in the store to buy and he told us he’d come solely for the meatballs! In 2004 while visiting Penang for a holiday, we were fortunate enough that Audrey and Fook Wah there at the same time. Fook Wah showed us around, introduced us to family members and new restaurants, and took us to Ipoh to see some of the caves. The attached photo is us with Fook Wah outside Perak Cave. It was a pleasure and an honour to know Fook Wah, the most generous, kind and wise of men.

I have many lovely memories of Fook Wah. Always a kind , generous and joyful man. It always used to make me chuckle how he had a book in the car to keep him busy in London traffic, especially while queuing through the Blackwall tunnel. Sending love to all his family and friends.

I met Fook Wah through my dear friend Janet in the late 70’s My husband “Tony” and Fook Wah got on well from their first meeting. Fook Wah had some students who were struggling with reading. Tony taught English at Southgate college, and Fook Wah thought they could try to help some of them with their reading. Fook Wahs students admired and looked up to him enormously.  Fook Wah, Janet, myself and Tony would meet for dinner at a Chinese restaurant a favourite of Fook Wahs and Janet’s in Crouch End. He loved to treat his friends and would often quietly pay the bill before you could object. Many of his friends here today will have enjoyed his generosity and enjoyed a good meal with him. Fook Wah and I shared an interest in politics and had many feisty discussions. One of the last conversations I had with him in hospital a few days before he passed away, he suggested I join George Galloways party and I would be elected to Parliament straight away. He knew my feelings about George Galloway, his sense of humour was still very good and we had a good laugh. I will miss him, he was a dear friend.

To my very good friend Fook Wah. We first met working together at Langham School in Haringey. He was more like a Wise Uncle to me than a friend for over 30 years. He taught me a lot, from buying cars to buying houses and he will be missed a lot. Denzil & Family.

Happy memories of parties and delicious curries shared with you and Janet and playing badminton when we were younger.

It seems like only yesterday that we were kicking a ball in the soccer field getting ready for Sports Day, or hanging around the Industrial Arts Building waiting for Rev McGraw to show us the power tools, typesetting and how to make master keys. For the ulu boy, it was magic to see an electric saw slicing through a piece of wood so quickly and smoothly, like a hot knife going through butter, except for the ear-splitting squeals. (The kampong boy didn’t know about butter and hot knives, then!) As a local boy you made good use of the opportunity in that building. I envied you in your smart Boy Scout uniform and merit badges; you, Diong ong, Jue Chong, Wong Seng and the formidable Mr KKT who gave me an F for a picture of a night scene in our Art class. I tagged along on several of your camp-outs arranging stones to discourage night visitors which helped with my time at the Outward Bound School later. But it was a lifetime ago. Rest In Peace, Fook Wah! We will always remember your calm demeanor and feel a sense of loss.

Fook Wah was an extraordinarily kind and patient man. I knew the Tang family growing up in Hastings, but one of my best memories of him came in 2004 whilst backpacking through South East Asia. I happened to be in Penang at the same time as Audrey, Fook Wah, Rory and Robb. Fook Wah took one look at the primitive budget accommodation I was staying in, and told me to check out immediately and come to stay in his apartment. He patiently drove us around sightseeing and took us to amazing restaurants. It was fascinating to hear his observations on how life had changed in Penang since he was at school, and also to observe how he managed to learn the life stories of everyone he met, even if he only spoke to them for five minutes! When it was time for me to move on my travels he drove me to ferry port and as we shook hands he handed me a bag of tropical fruit that he had secretly prepared for me for the long train journey I had into Thailand. I have happy memories munching fresh jack fruit, dragon fruit and mangoes on the train RIP

I’ve left this till very late I know, because I just didn’t know how to pay tribute to the best listener and most unjudgemental person who had ever lived. Everyone else has mentioned his extreme generosity, kindness and sense of humour. But I will always remember with great fondness and gratitude the times I really tested his listening skills (more like ‘chewed his ears off’) – dear Fook Wah would just listen intently without saying a word. If he proffered a few words at the end, they’d comprise only uplifting, positive ones, forming constructive and sage advice. Aiyo, feeling too sad now. There’s so much more I could say about you, Fook Wah, but I think you know how deeply we (Iskander and I) feel about you. Tak payah lah chakap orang lain. Besides, we can still chat like we always did what – with me yapping away and you nodding and smiling indulgently. Do convey our loving wishes to Maureen, Uncle Seet and Aunty Betty. I guess even the angels may need to unload sometimes … and now they have you! So much love. Always.

I had the privilege of knowing Fook Wah through his wife Maureen with whom I taught in the late 70’s and 80’s in Hackney. I was so lucky to have known Fook Wah and Maureen. JAGUARS – What a car! Maureen always had one. Fook Wah would buy a wreck and do it up and Maureen would drive it to school. Sometimes Fook Wah would drive Maureen to school. I would be at bus stop BB in Balls Pond Road when along came Maureen. You cannot imagine how happy I was to get a lift with my son and later on a daughter. In those days you had to fold up the buggy, buses were usually jam packed with no room for us. Then along came the Jaguar! We had some wonderful long weekends and half-term holidays at D’Arcy Hall. So much love and kindness. My family and I have been truly blessed to have known Maureen and Fook Wah. May their spirit continue to guide and inspire you. Audrey your practice of mindfulness bring you peace and comfort. Vivette

Special thanks to Janet, Audrey and Karen for the streaming link. It was a beautiful ceremony for a great man. Uncle Fook Wah made time for all of us, making sure my children, nephews and nieces were looked after. He will be dearly missed when we visit London, especially the Duck rice meals and durian pancakes we always bring for him Goodbye Uncle, we will always remember you. Tengku Farih, Idora, Enisa, Faidz, Fadzlan, Feidzal, Erina, Danial and Yaya

To Americans of a certain age, Fook Wah’s life seems almost like a story from the pen of Horatio Alger—rags to riches by hard work, goodness, and “a little bit of luck.” Horatio Alger’s heroes were definitely not born with riches. When I first met Fook Wah’s family, they (mother, father (known to all as Ah Fatt), and four boys) lived in one room (maybe 15’ x 15)’ slightly raised above his father’s tuck shop at the Anglo Chinese School in Sitiawan, where my father was the Methodist missionary principal. This was about 1953 and I lived in the mission bungalow adjacent to the school buildings and a short walk from the tuck shop. In the early 1950’s I spent countless hours visiting my friends at the tuck shop, especially Fook Foo, my classmate, and his older brother Fook Wah. For a long time I considered them my best friends. I remember taking over an old record player and my 78-rpm records telling the story of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. We listened to them over and over. We also endlessly played Monopoly on the tuck shop tables when nobody was eating there. I like to joke that Fook Wah owed me a certain percentage of his wealth, since I got him started in real estate.  Actually, by some time in the 50’s Ah Fatt had saved enough money to buy a car, and a nice house and a few acres of rubber trees maybe half a mile from the school and tuck shop. So hard work, intelligence and success for Fook Wah were actually genetic, not from my Monopoly board game. But Audrey can send me a big check (cheque) if she likes!  I went off to boarding school in India in the late 50’s and didn’t see my old friends at the tuck shop as much.  But during my  vacations  back home in Sitiawan from high school in India we would sometimes get up very early and ride our bikes to watch the sunrise at the bridge at  old Sitiawan. Off to America in the  60’s I heard that Fook Wah had gone off to England and had become an “orang kayah.” Fook Wah’s  big mistake, from my perspective, is that he went to England, rather than America. We would have benefitted greatly from his presence. Can you imagine Audrey speaking with a Chicago, New York, or New Orleans accent? Fook Wah, all the ACS Sitiawan tuck shop Tangs, and their families will remain warmly in my heart and memory forever. Rest in peace old friend.