HIS JOIE DE VIVRE WAS INFECTIOUS - AND IT RUBBED OFF ON ME. THAT HAS DEFINED MY PERSONALITY SINCE - TO THAT I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
Here is a report from the UK Guardian,
which does not flatter wealth, so could be relied upon as unbiased and
unflattering!
“Sir David Tang, the Hong Kong socialite,
businessman and unlikely latter-day champion of the NHS, has died aged 63.
Tang, who divided his time between Hong Kong and London, where
he was a feature at A-list parties and known for his spiky column in the
Financial Times, had liver cancer.
In one of his final columns for the paper he wrote a moving tribute to the NHS hospital at Hillingdon,
west London. Its medical staff helped to prolong his life earlier this month
after he was flown by private jet from the French Riviera when he suffered a
haemorrhage.
Tang, who mixed with the rich and famous and counted members of
the royal family as his friends, wrote of his admiration for the NHS staff and
his gratitude at being treated by the NHS rather than a private clinic as
planned. “I will howl and hunt down anyone who dares to question the NHS,” he
wrote.
He was educated at the exclusive Perse school in Cambridge after
being sent from Hong Kong to England at the age of 13 unable to speak English.
“My mother always told me that the UK provided the best
education in the world, to which I now add the best hospital care in the
world,” he wrote.
He added: “I am glad I have paid my taxes in this country –
before with reluctance, but now with alacrity. I hereby demote Asclepius and
genuflect to Nye Bevan, founder of the NHS.”
Tang founded the high-end fashion brand Shanghai Tang in 1994
and ran a string of private clubs and restaurants. He was knighted in 2008 for
his philanthropic work both in Britain and Hong Kong.
He was a critic of the authorities in his native Hong Kong and
expressed fears for the island’s plight under Chinese rule. In a speech last
year he accused its leaders of “hugging most of our somnambulant tycoons, and
that elephantine Communist party in China”.
The UK consulate in Hong Kong tweeted that he was great friend
and partner of the consulate.
He was also major patron to the London Symphony Orchestra. In a statement, it said: “Having entertained
the orchestra and our guests at several of his establishments, his zealous
attitude to life and generous personality will be fondly remembered.”
Tang had been planning to throw a farewell party next month at
the Dorchester hotel in London after learning he only had a few months to live,
according to Ewan Venters, chief executive of the luxury department store
Fortnum & Mason.
“Personally, I think the world is a little duller for the loss
of David and at such a relatively young age,” Venters said.
Tang’s friends included the late Princess Diana, model Kate Moss, with whom he was often
photographed at parties, and the Australian actor Russell Crowe.
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson told the Evening Standard her
30-year friendship with Tang changed her life. “He made castles in the sky for
my girls and I, we travelled the world together,” she said.
In a 2007 interview, Tang was asked how he came to know so many
notable people. “You mean how did they know me?” he replied.
He is survived by his British-born wife, Lucy, and his two
children by a previous marriage.
For
anyone interested here are a few more links, the Daily Mail has the most
photographs of his numerous friends in high places!
To Conclude:
He was always flashy, even at school,
where if he came at 13 NOT knowing any English, by 16 he had a posher English
accent than even the Royals, who are a little common as far as aristocratic accent goes. His chauffeur used to
pick him up in the family Rolls Royce. He was impeccably dressed in those days
as well, so his 'joie de vivre' was infectious, and I thought I may one day bump
into him, but sadly that never happened, just to recall some old times. He was
planning a farewell at the Dorchester on September 6th to meet his
friends before he died, but sadly he could not make it to his final date! It is
clear he had a full life, and he was able to leverage his wealth and talent in
the way he wished.
A legend in his time.
1 comment:
joie de vivre has its downside too!
Already this month 24 people have asked me for money
They think it signifies wealth!
If only they knew I had less money in the bank than any one of them
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