From Gooner to Hammer,

You came from UK. I was both in HK.

You like hiking. I like hiding.

English teaching is your mission. Chinese copywriting is my only way for making bread.

But we shared the same view. The little garden at Grantham Hospital, where we can see your room, is a beautiful place for chatting, smoking, sunbathing and breathing.

 

You are a Hammer. I am a Gooner.

At the day we met, 6 Oct 2012, you betted Arsenal would defeat West Ham United. I retorted that Arsene Wenger has never won Sam Allardyce.

The result is West Ham 1, Arsenal 3. You lost the game but won me.

 

You are a gentleman. I am a naughty old boy.

You said I am different from the gang. However, I want to join the mates this time. We are all full of sadness.

 

You believe in science. I believe in God.

I hope to say you made mistake, my teacher. Then we can meet again in some day.

 

Again, I am happy to visit you, John.

 

 

Houston Lau

Class 93-94, RC

Message from Ivan Chan

Learning English at Raimondi

Coffee time in your kitchen

Taking photos around Hong Kong Park

Blues jam in your living room

So many memories, thank you so much, John.

Ivan Chan

(Raimondi College)

Message to John (from Sheena and family)

We Miss You, John.

~Edward, Sheena, Josiah, Joseph and Johnathan

 

 

Thank you for being a teacher and friend.

You are our favourite teacher and friend.
When I was young, you went hiking and shopping with me;
you read storybooks and dined out with me;
when I was sad and felt sorrow, you comforted me.
You have inspired me and lightened my life;
you gave me and my family lots of good memories;
you are my great teacher and friend forever.
You are my great teacher forever.

Sheena


Uncle John, thank you for teaching me to play the games on your I-phone.
Thank you for hiking with me in Aberdeen.
Thank you for playing with the toy car on the roof in Aberdeen.I will not pick the leaves from your plants anymore.

 

Uncle John, R.I.P.

 

Josiah

 

 

Miss You Forever (Queenie Yung)

In 1986 was the first time I met you,

You were so cool,

to appear in a girls’ school.

It is hard to explain the way I felt,

The first time I knew a NET teacher.

A friendly face welcomed me,

I was so thrilled that I could not believe.

After the days of secondary school,

You still remember to call me on phone,

I feel happy and never alone.

Without your support,

I couldn’t acquire the OU report.

Thank you for your care,

You are willing to share;

Thank you for your encourage,

Let me fulfilled with courage;

Thank you for your teaching,

I never forget the days with you go hiking.

Though unwilling to let you leave,

Departure gives you relief.

You were gone so quickly,

I didn’t kiss you lastly.

If I only had five minutes,

The morning you passed away,

I had to give you one last hug in a tight way.

Wishing we could stay just awhile longer.

Our beloved teacher, we miss you forever.

Meet you in the heaven.

Goodbye, Mr. Watts.

Queenie Yung (LKL Secondary School)

Message from Julian Quail

My Condoleances to all ...When I last exchanged emails with John in July ,I'm afraid he didn't let on how serious it all was...so, an extra shock...

It was from John , in 1995, that I took over the lease of his Shelley Street flat... I stayed there for many years...

May he rest in peace...

 

Julian Quail

Message from LPM

Mr. Watts,

 

I miss that day we share the cigarette together. I miss the meals we two had together. I miss the oral class we had in 3A. Thank you for comforting me when I called you on the way to Lam Yai Island. Your encouragement are still in somewhere in my heart. I will keep this for the rest of my life.

From LPM

Raimondi College Graduate of 2010

Message from Samson Tong

Dear Mr. Watts,

You were our torch of wisdom and our role model of moral courage.

Thank you very much for your enlightenment and guidance in our lives.

Yours,

 

Samson Tong

 

Raimondi College Form 3A, 1991 (Mr. Watts was the English Teacher);  Form 4B-5B, 1992-94 (Mr. Watts was the Class Teacher)

In memory of John ~ Last trip to Cambodia in April, 2012.

So long, John! I will miss you.


Carmen

Message from the Principal of Raimondi College

Employment History of Mr. John David Watts with Raimondi College.

2.9.1991 - 31.8.1997 Employed under the Permanent Expatriate English Language Teacher(PEELT) Scheme

1.9.2000 - 31.8.2006 Employed under the Native-speaking English Teacher(NET) Scheme

1.9.2006 - 31.8.2007 Served as a part-time English teacher

During his stay with Raimondi College, Mr. Watts taught English, oral and reading to Secondary 1 - 7 students. He served as an advisor for the school's English Debating Society, Press Association, Photography Club and HK Award for Young People. He maintained a friendly relationship with the students and contributed greatly to sustaining a high level of proficiency in English among them. His efforts in bringing the school's English Debating Team to the first runner-up and second runner-up postitions in the 18th and 19th Sing Tao Inter-school English Debate Competition in 2003 and 2004 respectively were highly commendable.

Mr. Watts will long be remembered as a "torch of wisdom" for students, a great teacher for RC and a dear colleague for all those who had worked with him.

May he rest in peace.

G.W. Au

My Friend John Watts

Well John,

 

I’m drinking my first coffee of the day, made, as always, in the JW way. I’m glad you decided to leave the LSE and come to Swansea in 1972; I remember that brilliant sound system with its tape deck and two enormous white speakers. We never resolved whether The Doors or The Grateful Dead epitomised West Coast American music but we certainly knew how to relax to the Floyd and Traffic with an occasional Bach fugue.

 

 

We bonded over music and motorcycles. I think back to those small 50cc machines buzzing around the country lanes of Blaenpenal that tiny hamlet in mid Wales where ‘the caravan’ was perched. It was actually more of a ‘cararoom’ because you’d stripped all the fittings out and replaced them with exotic floor cushions, eastern wall hangings and a sizeable collection of paraffin heaters, which, although effective in the cold Welsh winter, surely defied all the rules of health and safety. How we walked and talked: I remember two conversations in particular, one on the merits of different sheep breeds in their approach to puddle jumping and secondly how the Welsh town of Lampeter was a microcosm of China! As always when you explained it, everything made perfect sense.

 

You walked like the wind and I could never work out how you managed to move with such effortless speed. I’m 6ft 4 and you are a bit shorter, yet it was always me who struggled to keep up. Our last meeting two summers ago was no exception; even though you were still recovering from a motor cycling accident I was always arriving in second place at the coffee houses we visited.

 

It was good to catch up, have a smoke and a talk. Always a good talk. It’s been a privilege to know you, old friend and I will miss you.

 

 

 

Mike James