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President
Ken Tong
Member
Profile details : Born in 1950 to a family of six children whose father was a farmer. Ken was the second oldest, with three other brothers and two sisters. It was a bold move by Ken’s father, who decided farming could no longer sustain a family of eight and new pasture needed to be sought.
At first, working as a labourer in the construction of many roads in Hong Kong, ken’s father was met with the opportunity to travel to and work in the UK. And it was by no means going to be easy. But one by one, and a year or two at a time, gradually, the family had made it half way around the world and settled in to their new lives in a completely new unfamiliar country to them.
In order to pay off the money borrowed for the plane tickets, Ken’s first jobs was to work in the kitchen of a restaurant in Birmingham, only earning enough for his food and accommodation and his debt. But soon, Ken decided to attend school, aged 15, so that he could learn English.
In the early 1970’s, Ken and his brothers had saved up just enough money to open their first restaurant business in Norwich. Business was good as there wasn’t much competition in Norwich, but after a few years, Ken and his brothers wanted to try other things, and there had sold the business to go their separate ways. Ken remained in Norwich and opened up his first Chinese Takeaway. By 1973, Ken married Pauline from Hong Kong, and they managed the takeaway together. In 1975, their first child was born.
After their second child was born in 1982, Ken had sold the takeaway and took on another shop in Norwich, but this time business was not so good. After a couple of years, Ken decided a change of environment was needed. Ken and his young family had moved to a small town in Gloucestershire called Dursley. There was only Ken’s takeaway in Dursley, so naturally, business was good.
Between 1987 and 1990, Ken actively participated in various Chinese community based activities. Together with his friend Yang Ming, Ken had established the first Chinese Association in Gloucester.
In 1990, ken and his family moved yet again. The time spent in Dursley was good for recuperation and recovery and to raise a young family, but Ken’s heart had always been with the Chinese community. Dursley was just too isolated. This time, Ken and his family moved back to Birmingham, and managed his fourth Chinese Takeaway. In 1995, Ken opened the first Golden Pond Restaurant on a site that is now occupied by the Birmingham Indoor Market. In 1998, The Golden Pond Restaurant had relocated to the Arcadian Centre – its current location. Since the early 1990’s, Ken had continued his beloved charitable work for the Chinese community. In 2002, Ken became the Treasurer, and then the Vice Chairman of The Midland Chinese Association. And in 2004, Ken was inaugurated at the Chairman of the same charitable organisation. In 2006, Ken and the Midlands Chinese Association had received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for outstanding contribution to the community, and had travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive the award and to meet the Queen in person!
In the same year, Ken, as a member of the Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club, played a major role in realising the Project Hope, which was to build a Primary School in a rural part of Southern China. The Project was wholly funded by donation money collected by the Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club. |
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IIP and Zone B Chairman
David Cox MJF Zone B Chairman
Member since 2003
Profile details : David Cox born in Barry South Glamorgan in 1955 moved to Birmingham in December 1980. David is a Commercial Manager for one of Birmingham’s leading casinos and has a partner who is also involved in the BCLC. Since his childhood David has supported various charities including RSPCA, Birmingham’s St Mary’s Hospice and Birmingham Acorns Hospice. He joined the BCLC in 2003 and has served as Club Secretary 2004/2005, Club President 2005/2006 and was re-elected as Club President 2006/2007. In 2005 with other BCLC members David attended the 88th Lions Club International Convention in Hong Kong before travelling to Wu Shan in China for the opening of the Birmingham (UK) Chinatown Lions Club School. |
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Lions Member
Raymond Cheung
Member since Charter 1987
Raymond Cheung, married with three sons is 51 years old. He came to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong in 1970. Since then he has worked in the catering industry and now owns his own restaurant. He is a Charter Member of the B.C.L.C. and was President in 1991. He has also served as Treasurer for a total of 8 years and has been Lion Tamer twice. |
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Charter Member
Jeffrey K.H. Yap
Member since Charter 1987
Profile details - Charter Member, President (4 times), Past Zone Chairman and a Melvin Jones Fellow. An active birmingham chinatown lions club member since the club's inception in 1987, keeping the club going while it went into decline and pleased that the club has grown and collected more monies for good causes. |
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Member
Keith Barber
Member since 1998
Profile details : An active Birmingham Chinatown Lions member since 1998. Held the post of Treasurer for four years, currently is "The Tail Twister" which he takes great delight in. Whilst visiting the Birmingham Chinatown Lions School in Wu Shan was given the Chinese name Hung Joa. He makes great efforts to support his calling.
Professionally he is involved in the Importation & Exportation of Automotive Passenger Vehicle Components with strong links to several manufacturers in Ningbo China. |
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P.R. & Web Master
Simon Reilly
Member since 2007
Profile details - Background is in the Film Industry and New Media. Worked in London and LA for various large Blue Chip companies. Currently working in the IT field for a new venture company that is gaining strength in the software development arena. 12 years of experience in graphic design and web building from complex ecommerce sites for people such as Amazon, BP and local businesses. Joined the Lions via friends...Liked the ideas and philosophy of the Lions... added that it is good karma. Also my girlfriend is a "wbc". |
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Charter Member
Joseph "Joe" Lee
Member since Charter 1987
Profile details : Joe Lee - a Chartered member, 2002 BCLC President, Club Treasurer, and
also a Melvin Jones Fellowship. Also a well known and respected businessman within the Chinese community.
Organizing among many things a specialist in our - Golf 4-Ball fund-raising Tournaments.
Youth activities - Karaoke, Badminton, Football, Table Tennis etc...
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Charter Member
Tony Yau
Member since Charter 1987
Profile details : Awaiting text |
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Member
Kwok Keung (KK) Wong
Member since June 2006
Kwok Keung (KK) Wong was born in China in 1954. He moved with his family to Hong Kong when he was 2. KK ran a successful pharmacy business in HK. In 1999, KK moved to the UK with his family. In order to integrate into local society, KK decided to work in Birmingham Chinese Society where he organised activities and offered help to local community. In 2001, KK joined Overseas Chinese Association School; he was invited to join the board in 2004. KK is eager to help young generation to learn about their mother culture therefore he joined the UK Chinese Education Foundation as a Vice President in 2005. KK joined BCLC in June 2006, he is now an active member in the Club and he enjoys every moment of it. |
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Member
Wei Du
Member since 2006
I was born and grew up in Shen Yang, North East China. I have studied a diploma course in Law at the Shen Yang School of Politics and Law. After finishing my education, I then worked for a Pharmaceutical Company. Coming to Oxford to study English in 2003, moving to Birmingham to continue my studies in 2004. In 2005 I went to Wu Shan as a guest of the Lions for the opening of their school and I joined the Lions after my return from China in 2006. I enjoy the friendship of the Lions and think that their charity work is totally worthwhile. |
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Lions Member
K.K. "Dennis" Cheung
Profile details : Awaiting text
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Lions Member
Jian Dai
Member
Profile details : Awaiting text
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Lions Member
Kevin Khoo
Member
Profile details : Currently a Property and Commercial Solicitor, has been the club's secretary for the years 2005-2008. Kevin and family moved to England from Malaysia, after having practised law there for about 8 years, sometime in 2001 to pursue his postgraduate MBA degree. Kevin and family decided to make Birmingham their home and the Lions a part of them. Kevin enjoys badminton and is interested to regularly organise badminton tournaments as part of the club's activities. |
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Lions Member
Ken Shim
Member since 2006
Profile details : I have been with BCTLC since November 2006. Since joining, I have learned the way charity fundraising events are organised and the experiences are refreshing. My profession is in the field of civil and structural engineering where I currently working as a freelance Structural Engineer involving in wide variety of projects.
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Lions Member
Andy Ung
Member since 2008
Profile details : Andy came to U.K in 1980. And has lived in Birmingham ever since. Worked for Thorn EMI for 11 years. Now runs his own Catering Busines. Joined the Lions in 2008. |
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Lions Member
Louis Woo
Member since 2007
Profile details : Born in Sabah Malaysia. I arrived in the United Kingdom as a student in the mid 60’s. Having finished my studies in mechanical engineering, I worked for numbers of years in the design office. I then sought a change in my career by establishing my own business which, I did for over 16 years. I thoroughly enjoyed this time of my life, as it was rewarding, challenging and successful. Alongside the business, I was heavily involved with working with the West Midlands police / courts; there I developed a passion to help the community by translating and interpretin.
Having retired from the business and reflected on what I miss doing, I decided to contribute to the community in a positive and rewarding way, hence, my involvement with the Overseas Chinese Association School. In addition to this I have worked at the Birmingham Chinese Society for over 7 years.
Projects which I have been involved with included: Immigration, Elderly, providing information, advice and guidance, New Deal for unemployed ’18-25’year’s olds, Employment, Youth, Interpreting and Translation.Again, this time is rewarding as I contributed to the community and help the Chinese people in integrating into British Society.
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Secretary
Geoff Hinsley
Member since 2008
Profile details : Geoff returned to Birmingham in 2005, having spent 3 years here in the 1970’s.
He is a business performance consultant and is an associate with a global cross-cultural leadership development organisation. He runs a property maintenance business in Birmingham, which keeps him in touch with his engineering background. Formerly a Lucas apprentice and subsequently a student at Aston University, he set up a successful engineering company which specialised in creating solutions to ‘interesting’ production challenges. He enjoys being a member of the Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club
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Lions Member
Charles Zhou
Member since 2008
Profile details : Charles has a vast experience of the hotel industry in China working as the manager for Cathay Pacific, Nicole Hotel of Hong Kong and others when he first started out in Dalian, China. In 1998, moved from the Hotel industry to work in the Recruitment Industry as the Manager of a prestigious agency in China. In 2007 Charles, came to the UK and setup his “Phoenix Company” and in 2007, the Omeya Group. Also Charles runs a Free pick up newspaper which is published every week. This paper is seen in all the Chinese communities of the UK. Look out for the adverts of up and coming events of the Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club. The newspaper title is call 华彩周报 in English this means "Wonderful Times". |
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