XClose

UCL News

Home
Menu

Dr Veronica Lam (1947-2004)

8 April 2005

A service of remembrance in honour of Dr Veronica Lam (Biochemistry 1969; PhD 1973) was held on 6 April 2005.

Dr Veronica Lam Dr Lam was a long-time supporter of UCL, in particular through the UCL Hong Kong Scholarship Foundation.

Dr Lam and her daughter Cynthia (MSc Environmental & Resource Economics 2001) died in the Boxing Day tsunami, the only members of the UCL community known to have been lost. Dr Lam was Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Hong Kong University. Among the many attendees at the blessing mass, held at the Catholic Cathedral in Hong Kong, was Mr Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of UCL, requested that Mrs Angelina Lee (LLB 1970) and other fellow governors of the foundation represent UCL at the service. He said: "The UCL community shares the sorrow and heartbreak of those in Hong Kong at the loss of Veronica and Cynthia. Veronica combined an outstanding scientific career with a rich family life. Her devotion to UCL was exemplified by the time and energy she put into ensuring that other gifted students from Hong Kong would have the opportunity to benefit from time spent at UCL."

At the service Mrs Lee paid tribute to Dr Lam's life: "I first met her some 37 years ago at UCL, when we were both undergraduates. Over the years, we kept in close contact and shared each other's joys, and trials and tribulations, of married life and motherhood.

"Veronica was born in 1947 into a traditional mercantile family which had established itself for several generations in Sandakan, British North Borneo. The family had businesses in forestry, plantation and transportation. Veronica's early schooling at a Chinese language school gave her a strong grounding in Mandarin, which stood her in good stead for her academic dialogue with China during the last 20 years. Rounding off her secondary school education as a boarder in Dorset, England gave her the strong command of English, and the confidence to communicate effectively and be at ease with her academic peers in the English-speaking world.

"Meeting Peter in London, getting married in 1971 and then setting up home in Golders Green whilst completing her PhD thesis was a period in her life that Veronica often looked back on with much sweetness. Moving back to Hong Kong in 1975, Veronica joined The University of Hong Kong where she worked for the next 30 years. Her work at HKU gave her much satisfaction and fulfilment.

"Cyril arrived in 1976 followed by Cynthia in 1979. As a career mother, Veronica juggled her academic responsibilities at HKU with the stresses and strains of motherhood. I know that her priorities have always been her family. Giving her beloved children the best start in life was always foremost in her mind, as well as not missing any opportunity to nurture family values as the children grew up. Throughout the time that Cyril and Cynthia were studying and then working in England, Veronica stayed close to them despite the distance and took every opportunity to spend quality time with them whenever she could.

"Peter and Veronica shared many happy moments doing things together. From simply enjoying their children's company as a family to taking family holidays together all over the world, enjoying Hong Kong's hiking trails, tennis, regular work-outs at the Jockey Club gym (where incidentally she was one of the longest active members), the Oriental Ceramics Society and renovating and decorating homes in London and Hong Kong. Being the scientist in the family, Veronica also gave Peter private 'continuing education' sessions in computer, the internet, DNA, the human genome and many other scientific matters. Over the 34 years of their marriage, they lived for each other and, through each other, for their children.

"Veronica also spent much time with her mother, overseeing and researching her medical and healthcare needs, especially in the last three years before her mother passed way in her nineties.

"Veronica was always ready to help friends and families who needed her guidance. My son credits Auntie Veronica for directing him towards his chosen career. 10 years ago he spent part of his summer at her laboratory. Veronica sat him down and revealed to him the science of DNA with her simple explanations, inspiring him to commit to a career in biotechnology. Four years later, Auntie Veronica similarly took my daughter under her wing. Veronica's many nieces and nephews no doubt also benefited from her guidance and wise counsel.

"Over the last 10 years, Veronica continued to support her alma mater, UCL, through the advice and time she freely and voluntarily gave on selecting scholars for the UCL Scholarship Hong Kong Foundation. Veronica - the most qualified amongst the UCL alumni in Hong Kong to assess recipients for the scholarships - was heavily involved in the time-consuming selection process every year. Her academic experience, and her excellent judgement and good sense, were invaluable. Her commitment was recognised when she was elected a Governor of the Foundation last November.

"Similarly, her sense of duty towards others motivated her to revive her childhood interest in the girl guides. She worked with the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association in their community health promotion program, and advised them on science-related activities.

"Travel to exotic places was a form of relaxation and recreation for Veronica. India, Burma, Kenya, and Russia were places she visited when they were still off the beaten track. The study of fine Ching Dynasty ceramics, and starting piano lessons in her early fifties, were the other diversions she allowed herself when time for family and work could be spared.

"Over the years, our two families spent many festive occasions together, and last Christmas was no exception. We had the pleasure of her family at our home on Christmas Eve and we shared many reminiscences and anticipations about our children. I recall that Veronica was very happy that Cynthia was enjoying her new job in London. She was also looking forward to spending more time with Cyril in Hong Kong. We wished them happy holidays in sunny Thailand and looked forward to meeting up again in the New Year. Sadly, this was not to be.

"Veronica was truly blessed with the good fortune of a close-knit family; with a loving and devoted husband in Peter, and affectionate children in Cyril and Cynthia. We shall always remember her cheerfulness, humility, warmth and generosity to everyone around her. We shall all miss Veronica who lived well respected and her loss is deeply regretted."

Professor Kathy Cheah, of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Hong Kong, also gave an address, 'Dr Veronica Lam in Academia'. For a pdf version of Professor Cheah's address, click here.