Ampleforth in Hong Kong: A Strong and Growing Community

The Ampleforth community gathered in fine style in Hong Kong recently for a wonderful evening at the Hong Kong Club, bringing together Old Amplefordians, current and former parents, and friends of Ampleforth from across the region, generously hosted by Mrs Agnes Chiu Lee, mother of Christian Lee (D19).

The event was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the strength of the Ampleforth community in Hong Kong. The warmth in the room reflected the deep affection that so many hold for both the College and the Abbey, and the conversations throughout the evening were a powerful reminder of how vibrant and engaged the Ampleforth family remains, even many thousands of miles from the valley. Current Parents offered great insight into the school to prospective families, with Old Amplefordians such as Rupert Manduke Curtis (D95) sharing their positive experiences of visiting the school recently with fellow OAs. As always, we are grateful to Andy Kong (C04), Pat Poon (C05), Garry Chung (A97), Chris Wong (B90), Terry Mahoney (E61) and the wider Amplefordian group who do so much to keep the College and Abbey connected with Hong Kong.

During the visit, Fr Wulstan, Emma Craig (Head of Development, Ampleforth College) and Edward Perry (C80 - CEO, The Ampleforth Abbey Trust) had the privilege of meeting many members of the community and hearing first-hand about the continuing connection that Old Amplefordians and parents feel with Ampleforth. The visit also provided an opportunity to spend time with a number of younger Old Amplefordians now building their careers in Hong Kong and we were delighted to welcome Veda Lau (B22), Conan Au (C22), Angel Pang (A22) and Hamish Seddon (H17) to the event and the OA Hong Kong WhatsApp group.

One of the most striking aspects of the Ampleforth network in the region is the way in which established members of the community welcome and support younger OAs arriving in the city. Hong Kong has long been a place where young Old Amplefordians take their first professional steps overseas, and the generosity of advice, introductions and friendship offered by the wider OA community makes an enormous difference as they settle into life in a new city.

We are hugely grateful to the many members of the Hong Kong community who hosted and welcomed Fr Wulstan, Emma and Edward during the visit, offering such generous hospitality and making the trip so memorable. This included Dominic Berner (J03), who welcomed Emma to Harrow Hong Kong to share insights into the educational landscape in the territory, Nicholas Ng kindly organised a lunch for the group, Ignatius Wong (Former Parent) organised a visit to Wah Yan College, a leading Jesuit school and Alma Mater of Ignatius and fellow former parent Sir Donald Tsang, who joined us for the event, and Mrs Teresa Lai organised for the Ampleforth delegation to attend Mass on Sunday in a vibrant Catholic community in Kowloon.

The evening at the Hong Kong Club was a fitting celebration of a community that remains deeply connected to Ampleforth. It was clear throughout the visit that Hong Kong continues to be home to a strong, supportive and vibrant Ampleforth network, and we look forward to many more opportunities to gather together again in the years ahead.