Crus Acrrwrrrs - WrNn & Crrnss
Pnisoner at the Ban
An tGG Memhen Pnoduce$
Glassy Wines in Bondeaux
Lost Property
Wine convenor Barry Kalb reports on the Koo family's vineyard
Ralph Pixton strange when you think that the dear departed Pixie,
Against Him in its day was something of a classic for the
whose mellifluous voice was the most distinctive in Hong Kong broadcasting for more than three decades,
vicarious best from the bar of the FCC when China was a closed shop.
has now been dead over a year.
Ancient Order of China-watchers who did their ome people like a bottle of wine now and then. Some people are avid collectors, laying down dozens of bottles at a time. Some, like the Koo family of Hong Kong, go out and buy their own winery. According to Beverly Koo, she and her parents, Norman and Anna, are the only local Chinese family to have taken ttre current rage for good wine so far as to own their own French chateau. In fact, she says, her father has been drinking good wines since spending the decade of the 1970s in Canada. After returning to his native Hong Kong in 1979, Norman Koo went into investment and financial planning...and collecting good wine. "He has tons of wine here," she says. "He collects it to drink, notjust to display." He also joined the FCC in the early 1980s and daughter Beverly is also a member in her own right. In 1997, Beverly says, her father decided to indulge
his passion to the fullest, and began looking for a winery to buy. He found an old estate named Chateau La Bourguette for sale outside the famous SainteEmilion district of Bordeaux. It's not in one of the prime districts, and was not producing particularly distinguished wine, but it was the fulfìlment of a dream. Respected winemakers were called in as consultants, and the Koos began to turn things around. "The wine was not that great when we bought it, but we improved it," says Beverly, who now manages the business side of the winery. In Februar¡ the
FCC Bordeaux? The Koo family vineyard
authoritative Wine SþectatorgaveLa Bourguette's top of the line wine, Cuvee Prestige, a rating of 86 out of 100 no small achievement, and a portent of good things -to come. The family began bringing its wine to Hong Kong in a small way in December of 2000. They currently sell to private customers and a couple of Hong Kong restaurants. The family imports wines and spirits into China as well. The Cuvee Prestige 2000 will arrive here your assiduous wine convenor this coming summer has tasted it and found it thoroughly delightful, and extremely well-priced for a decent Bordeaux. It will be featured in one of the club's monthly wine promotions. I
Rather querulousl¡ Clare informed me that she did not have a single copy left as her only remaining copy had been purloined by a "friend" who had now left Hong Kong taking the book with him. Ir was with some surprise therefore that during my monthly browse through that bibliographical treasure trove the Hong Kong Club Library I came across a copy in mint condition. On settling down to read it, I was less than amused to find that the copy in my hand was the very copy that had been hijacked from the Grand Old Lady's flat. On the fTyleaf, written in her own distinctive handwriting, was the statement, "this is the author's copy" and this was signed by Clare. Now I know that there are those who say that the Hong Kong Club is peopled by thieves and vagabonds, but this is a view held mainly by those who fail to get in. However, an explanation might be in order.
development which has rocked the FCC Chess Club to its foundations, defending
champion Bob BehuII has declined to enter the 2002 tournament, citing work pressure. Behull, who cantere d through the inaugural tournament last year winning every game, will be missed, but the field for the 2002 version is nevertheless a competitive and interesting one.
UK television producer David Barrie was in Hong Kong shooting a documentary on the subject of Ralph
and his bizarre friendship with that grouchy old curmudgeonly actor Wilfred Bramble whose characterisation of the grumpy and dishevelled Dad in Steptoe and Son was one of the BBC's television classic comedies of all time. Wilfred Bramble came to Hong Kong often in the 1970s and stayed with Ralph, and the
two were a familiar sight in Ned Kelly's Last Stand, Waltzing Matilda, The Green Room and a number of
other Kowloon watering holes. This is not
Ted Thomas c
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played in last year's championship and Graeme frnished second. We have therefore installed him as hrm favourite for the 2002 title. The 2002 championship will be a double roundrobin, giving 10 rounds, to be played on Wednesday nights over the next three months. It will have innovative scheduling, in acknowledgement of the frequent need of Hong Kong people to travel at short
The conf,rrmed entrants are Sarah Henderson, Feng Chi-shun, Graeme Hall, Anthony Wong, Andrew Hart and Chris Champion. Anthony Wong joined the Chess Club last year and proved himself very competitive. He is among the early favourites. Andrew Hart has entered via e-mail and we
notice, in that each competitor will be allowed two time outs. That is, by giving no less than two hours' notice, any competitor may defer twice. Special rounds will be designated for the playng of deferred games and for
know nothing about him, which is ominous. Sarah Henderson, Feng Chi-shun and Graeme Hall have been supporters of the chess club right from the start. All
Chris Champion Convenor
to win great prizes!
completion of any adjourned games.
chamþs@netaigatorcom THE CORRESPONDENT APRIL/MAY
2OO2
THE CORRESPONDENT APRIL,/MAY
2OO2
a
muckraking, fly on the wall titillating story of a couple of old chums, but a serious tribute to a man who did a great deal for radio and another who did a great deal for television. Anyone with any information can contact David Barrie through me.
ooklovers
Chess Club n a sensational
Ralph Pixton is alive and well, which is kind of
Clare Hollingworth's book Mao and The Men