My Lamma Forums

[Lamma-Gung]

From Steve Cray:

"I am very sad to hear the Jenks has left us.
He ordered postcard size copies of this photo for his family, saying it was his favourite portrait of his senior years.
I took other photos of him but I like this one too, so posting it here is my way of honouring and remembering him. RIP."

[foreign body]

He passed away peacefully in his sleep, what a nice way to go, perfectly in tune with his gentleness. I didn't know him , but i clearly remember he would sit on the stone wall near the waterworks building to catch his breath, before climbing up to Tai Ping, his dogs running ahead of him. We would smile at each other...not something you do too often in this town. I noticed he had lost a lot of weight recently, and i feared for his health, as he looked increasingly frail.
The memory of him sitting outside Spice Island, with his straw hat and his dogs, is forever etched on my mind. RIP Jenkins.

[Nancy]

Great picture Steve; thanks. Tavis, I like your suggestion of a memorial lily pond. Jenks would be pleased. Anyone have the space?

[Lamma-Gung]

That's a really great idea!
What about using that nice little pond in the Tai Peng Community Garden, it's a smiliar size to the original Lily Pond.

Wouldn't that be a very suitable location, not far from Jenks home, easy to find and access for his friends and it would fit in very well with the wonderful spirit of the Community Garden! And in no danger of being filled in by construction waste any time soon!

[Marilyn]

Having been asked several times whilst walking through the village this morning "Oh you are taking care of Lara?" and further to Tiggers' message this post is to reassure everyone concerned that both dogs are being well taken care of. Lara by me and Waldo by Kate, ably assisted by her team of friends so he is never without company (or food!!!). Don't have a picture of Jenks with Waldo but I like this one of him with Lara.

[Lokkanat]

Indeed a great guy and and a perfect gentleman. I shall miss his sense of humour. I think a lily pond memorial would be most appropriate.

[defensive tulip]

a lily pond sounds wonderful, I think the tai Peng gardeners would be up for it, they're a friendly bunch!

[Lamma-Gung]

Picture from Ian Watson:

[Lamma-Gung]

News from Pia:

Amy, Jenkins's sister-in-law, wife of his brother Richard, living in Central, is wondering how many people would come for the funeral in St John's Cathedral in Central on Friday, 1pm?

She is also trying to organize a reception at Hong Kong Club from 5-7pm on Friday and wondered how many people might come from Lamma?

Who would want to speak in church - who could also speak about him at the reception. (or do a reading)?

You can contact Amy directly as she doesn't know Jenkins's Lamma friends personally yet: 9038 8468

An obituary will be placed in the South China Post on Tuesday, tomorrow.

[juparka]

my sincere condolences to his family and friends. He's such a kind and gentle soul. I fondly remember him by the lily pond most mornings/afternoons removing any obstructions to live water feeding into the lily pond.

May you RIP Jenkins.

[Marilyn]

As I would hate to have anyone turned away by the staff of The Hong Kong Club their dress code is:

Smart Casual

Not permitted: collarless shirts, denim (including jeans) and sports shoes/trainers

[High Plains Drifter]

So Jenkins is gone, but his gentleness and love will always remain. A wonderfully caring human being. Remembering him now brings a smile to my face...

[Lamma-Gung]

SCMP today, Nov 24, '09:

[gargoyle]

Rest in Peace, Jenks. You will be missed.

[Ahmee]

Very sad to hear the news. I will always remember his warm greetings to me and my doggies whenever we met on the way. Me and my doggies will all miss him. May Mr. Jenks rest in peace.

[Lamma-Gung]

Emails from Elaine, Jenks's ex-wife. I've forwarded them to his family, as requested:

"I was married to Jenkin for several years and only today did I learn of his passing. This e-mail is the only means I have of any communication with his family.

All of the posted comments are true - his love of animals, of family and of his worldwide community of friends was heartfelt. No matter what the circumstances might be at any given time he was a gentleman!

Please pass this on to Richard, to Amy and to Paul with my deep sympathy and genuine affection for them. I would love to hear from them.

Additionally, the following might be of interest to Jenkin's many friends. Especially the younger crowd.

As we all know, Jenkin was an exceptionally intelligent though very private man. He was a voracious reader - discussing books with him was always a learning experience.

During his school years he consistently broke athletic records in numerous events. He was a strong tennis player and never would he have cheated on a line call. Ditto as to his game of golf. I am originally from Montana - we shared a home there at a year round resort where we skied, hiked and rode horses. While at Sandhurst, Jenkin played polo. Watching him ride was a wonderful sight. His horses seemed to sense his affection for them.

Listening to his recall of his childhood in Kenya, complete with a beach home on Mombasa, was magical. The stories of Jenkin's young life there with his uncle, Judge Hugh Mills-Owens, his wife, along with Richard, Paul and Grandmother Rosamund told of a life none of us will never know.

Surely his new residence is allowing him to continue to be excessively kind. It is bright and sunny and he is in complete peace, tending to his beloved friends, animals and plants and flowers.

Thank you for considering this. I am with all of you in my heart today.

Sincerely,
Elaine Wakefield (nee Hiles)"

[Lamma-Gung]

Email from Alene and David Freidenrich, former HK residents:

"It is sad to realize that dear old Jenks has passed on. I can remember the "old days" when you could not walk into the Captain's Bar at the Mandarin Oriental when you would not see Jenkins there always so graciously offering to buy you a drink. He had a very generous streak in his "salad days".

"Then, there were the days of playing tennis with him at the Ladies Recreation Club when he never lifted a racket to practice, but always had a lethal stroke on the court.

"We are glad that he passed on in peace with friends surrounding him."

[Marc Antony]

Jenks had a very nice send-off at the cathedral, well attended by Lamma folk, relatives and friends, and including some fond reminiscences well delivered by Mr Jones (otherwise known as Dickstock).

[DickStock]

Marilyn, I took that shot of the two in the Spicy Island some years ago....as I recall, Jenks had to CHASE me madly to get a hard copy to send out as an Xmas card.....GAWD those were (are) the days.....

[Lamma-Gung]

Here's the simply wonderful eulogy by Mr DickStock, after asking me for "some copy-editing":

"Jenkin Waldo Hiles was born in 1938, into a world about to be engulfed by war. Over his first few years, the war would touch him deeply and directly, and take from him…His 2 Uncles Killed in Action in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines....His Father, WALDO, a Squadron Commander in the RAF Bomber Command, shot down over Nazi Germany...taking the war straight to the enemy.

And then, when he was just a lad…after these OUTRAGEOUS losses; perhaps one of the best things that happened in his life, he was taken in and raised as a son by his Aunt and Uncle's family, The Mills-Owens and moved to Kenya with them and his two new brothers, Richard and Paul, who are here with us today.…

He attended the Prince of Wales School in Nairobi, received British Army Officer training at The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He arrived in HK in the early sixties with the rank of Captain, lived in Queensway at Murray Barracks…. Apologies for my lack of detail about this part of his past; I hope to hear more of that from others at the wake later on this afternoon.

I'd like to talk about the last two decades when I knew him well…only 22 years…I don't remember meeting him...BUT, I don't remember ever not knowing him.

In the past week, one word: Gentleman…on Facebook, in the streets, on the ferries, everyone: He was a Consummate Gentleman of the Old School. If you look in the O.E.D, there will be a picture of Jenkin, with a rakish grin and one of his famous hats. (The pic I had in mind was co-incidentally published in the funeral program!)

Strangely, lots of people on Lamma didn't know him by name, it may sound odd,...Lamma is a place where you can pass people in the street for YEARS, nod and smile…but if you don't share a ferry with them, or a "hobby", you might never get to meet them…all you had to say, "the guy with the dogs and the hats…" And they would immediately spark on him…."Oh THAT was Jenks???? Such a GENTLEMAN."

Btw, Jenks would be amused that it's ME up here tawkin'…I'm a "Septic tank" after all, and he was the consummate British Gentleman...but he lived in my HOMELAND for several years…spent time in Greenwich Village in the late fifties, ground zero for the beatnik years…the poetry, art, music, non-conformism…and THE LADIES. Can you imagine what that must've been like for Jenks? He must've been in HOG HEAVEN. He was quite the ladies' man I'm told. I can believe that. He's always brought to mind David Niven.

(It turns out that the previous para was mainly the invention of my own demented imagination…but I swear I BELIEVED it at the time….but the time line doesn't pan out. Maybe someone told me he served in Greenwich???)

Later, he lived out in Big Sky country: Montana. Had a House in Big Sky, Mt, and an American wife…they separated many years ago, he told me more than once that they remain friends...I believe that too….He loved America and the people.

Jenks LOVED to live the GOOD life…and I believe he found it and built it on Lamma Island.

HK People LUV to make their little jokes and digs about our island…Oh, the hippies...the dogs…the bohemian lifestyle (whatever THAT means). But Lamma represents the good life and Jenks Reveled in it.

And you know, for all the jokes and 'cheap shots' it is absolutely AMAZING, the number of 'you people' who seem to roll up on a weekend or a bank-holiday...clogging our streets, bringing foot-traffic to a crawl…wave after wave of HK-side humanity.

Jenks could often be found at a table in the shade on Main St…maybe in front of the Spicy Island, or perhaps down the street at the Deli Lamma...maybe a cold one in front of him, his two beloved dogs WALDO and Lara at his feet…….(The image I had in mind was co-incidentally printed in the funeral program!)

It happened EVERY time I was ever with him….sometimes several times in the course of an afternoon. He might stop in mid-sentence. His face would light up, he'd launch himself out of his chair, wade into the crowds and start pumping some old friend's hand. He'd spend a minute or two chatting, say his farewells and send them on the way to the beach or the Pigeon Restaurant or wherever.

Then he'd sit down and reminisce to us for a moment about the people he'd just so warmly greeted. He had a memory for detail…a deep fondness for his friends…and a LOT of old friends….Do you know him, Jenks? WHY, OF COURSE I DO…known them for 40 years!

Last Thursday, I bumped into his brother Richard at the Club on the hill where they so often had lunch together. Richard told me of he and Amy visiting Jenks the previous day. I resolved to go that very afternoon. Mid-afternoon I am down on Johnston Road in Wanchai, vainly trying to catch a tunnel bus to Aberdeen and the hospice…There just WEREN'T any. I'm about go give up. Maybe tomorrow, I think. (Only an excuse. Who REALLY want's to go to the hospital?) But then a voice tells me that I'm a first class PUSS if I don't get my shit together and go. So I did…

I walk into that Hall of Death, terrified of the visions and the smells, scared to see my friend Jenks...but then I see two beautiful LADIES at his bedside and I remembered who my friend was. I stayed for awhile, held his hand, gave him what I believe was his final sip of beer...just happened to have a tinny in my bag…and left quietly...he was gone within a few hours....

This is often said...that don't make it any less true. If you have someone you need to visit…Don't delay, do it today…

I wanted to say this fifteen years ago, but I FINALLY said it very near the end…."You are the role-model for me…You EPITOMIZE the art of growing older gracefully and with dignity….and FUN~!!!" He seemed to dig it, but I got the bigger pay-off from finally saying it, I am sure of that....

Two more items need saying:

He had a cause…The Lily Pond. He took a great interest in the small pond at the foot of Tai Peng Valley, on the way up to his house. For a while, some vandal kept pulling the stones out of the 'dam' and the pond would partially drain. Jenks organized a work crew and some concrete, and they made a proper 'stone wall' of a dam. And the vandalism stopped.

But of course, as is the Lamma Way, some builder in the village decided to dump several tons of building refuse, rubble and lapsap RIGHT IN THE POND. Killed it. DEAD.

But maybe there's a happy end; last week I met some folks from a conservation group recently formed. "Living Lamma" They propose to make a sanctuary, a memorial garden, or pond, with lilies and maybe a bench….I think Jenkin would approve...

Jenkin's good friend Kumar reminded me the other day of something that Jenks absolutely LUVED. And he did it EVERY day…so I just want to know:

Hey Jenks, did you finish the Times Crossword Puzzle today? Can you help us…What was 27 across?????

Thank you. Peace."