Professor Tony Sweeting BA MA, Oxford; PhD, HK

In memory of Professor Anthony Edward Sweeting, a memorial celebration and wake were held in Oxford on 14th August 2008. Tony's wake was held after the memorial celebration at The Oxford Centre, 333 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7PL. Followed by Tony's wake at The Oxford Centre. 333 Banbury Road, Oxford.

Tony's son-in-law Torquil Gibbs

Thank you for coming today to celebrate Tony's life.

Tony was born in Newport in 1938, the son of Richard and Hilda, and brother to Mike, Linda, Hilary and Chris.

Chris recalls that Tony often reminded him of the chores he had to perform as the oldest child. These included pushing Chris' pram round the Gaer to give the rest of the family some peace and quiet.

Tony attended Newport High School and obtained a full scholarship to attend Jesus College, Oxford where he gained a BA, followed by an MA in 1964 culminating with his PhD in 1989.

In 1969 he moved to Hong Kong to take up a post as Lecturer in Education at the University of Hong Kong.

He had three children by his first marriage – Jonathan, Juliette and Janine, and in 1975 he married San San and they had two children together – Justin and Jacinta.

He always referred to his children collectively as the "Five Jays" and, indeed his house in Hong Kong is called "Jays Nest".

I am one of Tony's son-in-laws, Torquil, married to Janine.

Tim, married to Juliette and Tom, married to Jacinta complete the set.

One of the many joys of Tony's marriage to San San was the opportunity it gave him to become an integral part of her large and fascinating family.

Tony once said that he "was a Welshman by birth, a teacher by training, an historian by conviction and a Hong Kong belonger by inclination".

After a productive and rewarding career, he retired from the University of Hong Kong in 1998 as a Professor in the Faculty of Education but continued to teach as an Honorary Professor in the History Department and to edit, research and to write.

I have asked each of his children to share a memory of Tony with you.

One was Tony, a normally proficient punter, leaning against the wall whilst standing in the punt at the mooring dock, with the inevitable result of him falling into the Isis.

Another was Jonathan, Juliette and Janine perched on the boot of his red MG at a very young age speeding around Hong Kong in monsoon conditions.

Similarly, Justin fondly remembers long drives around the island with Tony telling magical stories along the way.

Another was Tony hurling the children high into the air in the swimming pool to land with a resounding splash.

Tony introduced his children to every conceivable type of cuisine in order to stimulate their taste buds, and instilled a love of music in all of them.

Tony leaves three grandchildren.

William, Hector and Laura who have loved listening to stories on his knee told in his deep expressive voice.

I first met Tony 20 years ago when I visited Hong Kong with Janine and was initially a little daunted having heard about his achievements and, as mentioned on the website, his sometimes irascible nature.

However he gave me a very warm welcome both then and whenever we met up on his visits to the UK and our shared interest in politics, sport and technology gave us common ground and much to talk about.

It was fascinating to discuss current affairs with someone of his knowledge and global perspective and I will always remember our conversations.

As with everyone in the family, and those who have written on the website, I am in awe of the bravery and resoluteness he showed when facing his illness.

For me, this was demonstrated by his determination to come and see his grandson playing cricket when he was really not strong enough to do so.

Tony died after a long, courageous and brave battle.

Henry James once said:

"Sorrow comes in great waves … but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us it leaves us on the spot and we know that if it is strong we are stronger in as much as it passes and we remain".

We are now going to hear Dame Janet Baker singing Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, which Tony specifically requested be played at his funeral. The words are printed on the card that has been given to you.

I am honoured to have been invited by Sansan to speak in memory of Tony. We first met in 1976, when he inducted me into the finer features of Hong Kong University – mainly in the Senior Common Room. Subsequently we worked extensively together – both academically and to evaluate the quality of many curry establishments in Hong Kong. The latter task was undertaken on many occasions with our colleagues Philip Stimpson and Brian Cooke. Tony was not a person anyone could easily forget. He lived his life with an enthusiasm and honesty that was very distinctive. His views were not influenced by expediency or self-interest, and he detested anything that smacked of humbug or pretentiousness. He expressed himself robustly – leaving no-one in any doubt as to what he believed. This did not always endear him to the establishment, but Tony was always willing to speak truth to power.

His distinct mixture of enthusiasm, passion and energy could be exhausting for those involved with him. Some of it he expressed through the sports of rugby, rowing and hockey. I was a member of the hockey team he ran in Hong Kong, and as an umpire he redefined the concept of neutrality.

The same features were evident in Tony’s scholarship. When he was at full throttle, he worked with such intensity that he wrote flowing chapters – and usually before lunchtime. His scholarship focussed on his adopted home – Hong Kong. This was at a time when few scholars deemed the place worthy of study. His painstaking work on the history of HK’s education has defined the field for current and future generations of scholars.

Passion was also evident in his social life and in his intense commitment to his family. I remember his eyes glazing over when he spoke of Sansan, as he marvelled at his fortune in having her as his wife. And I will never forget the sight of Tony ejecting from the Senior Common Room a colleague, whom he thought had made a pass at her – wrongly as it happens.

As a friend Tony was a very kind person. Even whilst he was bravely enduring chemotherapy he would contact me to offer support at a time when I needed it most.

Tony’s legacy will live on, as his integrity and energy influenced many students, friends and colleagues. Numerous people here and in Hong Kong have experienced, and will remember with fondness, his friendship.

I know he would want us to raise a glass or two in memory of a life lived to the full and with passion.