Ricci Hall Old Boys’ Association

Sona Ceolchoirm: Fr DEIGNAN 90th Birthday Celebration Concert
壽考恆遠：狄恆神父生日音樂會

by Nixon Leung 梁迭起  (BSc 2014; MEd 2015);
     Alex Tsoi 蔡紹鑫  (LLB Year 2, graduate of WYK in 2016); and
     Christopher Yeung 楊峻杰  (BA&BEd(LangEd)-Eng Year 1, graduate of WYHK in 2017)

Arriving Hong Kong in 1953, Reverend Father Alfred J Deignan, S. J. has been serving in the field of Education and Missionary tirelessly with fruitful outcomes. He served as the Warden of Ricci Hall, The University of Hong Kong, as well as the Principal and Supervisor of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong (WYHK) and Wah Yan College, Kowloon (WYK). To celebrate the 90th Birthday of Fr Deignan, Wah Yan One Family Foundation organized the Sona Ceolchoirm: Fr DEIGNAN 90th Birthday Celebration Concert at Elizabeth Stadium on January 13, 2018. More than 2,000 old boys, students, parents and celebrities actively participated in this meaningful event, with the presence of Michael W. D'Arcy, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance of Ireland and Peter Ryan, Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong and Macau.

Fr. Deignan served as the Warden of Ricci Hall from 1970 to 1978 with his love and care to hallmates. Professor David Fang (Riccian 1966), Dr Peter Lam (Riccian 1967), Mr David Cheng (Riccian 1969), Professor Fok Tai-fai (Riccian 1970), Dr Joseph Woo (Riccian 1970), Mr Rick Tang (Riccian 1970), Mr Cheung Wai-hing (Riccian 1971), Mr Laurence Tse (Riccian 1971), Dr Peter Yew (Riccian 1971), Dr Stephen Chung (Riccian 1972), Dr Bell Tse (Riccian 1972), Professor Sydney Chung (Riccian 1973) and Dr Thomas Tsang (Riccian 1985) performed songs like “What a Wonderful World”, “I will Never Find Another You” and so on, leaving the audience astonished. Other than Riccians, Professor Paul Tam, HKU Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor (WYHK 1969) and Mrs Amy Tam performed “All I ask of You” with Professor Gabriel Leung, HKU Dean of Medicine (WYHK 1985) conducting the Orchestra.

Other than the breathtaking music performance, there were also interview of Fr. Deignan, who shared the stories of Hornell Hall Incident, Landslide Victory of Inter-Hall Malayan Alumni Challenge Cup of Riccians, as well as the contributions of graduates from WYHK, WYK and Ricci Hall to the society.

After Fr. Deignan’s remarks of gratitude, thunderous applauses came with wishes for Father’s good health, acknowledging his humongous contribution and effort on being a great educator for half a century.

自1953年來港，耶穌會狄恆神父於本地教育及傳教事業奉獻良多，不遺餘力，曾任香港大學利瑪竇宿舍舍監、香港華仁書院及九龍華仁書院校長校監多年。為慶祝狄恆神父九十大壽，「狄恆神父生日音樂會」於2018年1月13日假伊利沙伯體育館舉行，音樂會由華仁一家基金會主辦，逾二千位舊生、學生、家長及各界賢達踴躍參與盛事，愛爾蘭財務大臣及駐港領事親臨賀壽，場面盛大熱鬧而溫馨。

狄恆神父於1970至1978年間擔任利瑪竇宿舍舍監，任內作育菁莪，桃李滿門。演唱會當晚，利瑪竇宿舍舊生方津生（66年度利瑪竇人）、林孝文（67年度利瑪竇人）、鄭輔國（69年度利瑪竇人）、霍泰輝（70年度利瑪竇人）、鄔世傑（70年度利瑪竇人）、鄧一山（70年度利瑪竇人）、張惠慶（71年度利瑪竇人）、謝錦明（71年度利瑪竇人）、姚高雄（71年度利瑪竇人）、鍾家良（72年度利瑪竇人）、謝勝生（72年度利瑪竇人）、鍾尚志（73年度利瑪竇人）、曾浩輝（85年度利瑪竇人）等悉力登場，為神父表演《What a Wonderful World》、《I will Never Find Another You》等名曲，教人如痴如醉。除利瑪竇人外，港大首席副校長譚廣亨教授（69年度港華）伉儷及港大李嘉誠醫學院院長梁卓偉教授（85年度港華）分別為神父獻唱《All I Ask of You》及指揮樂隊。

除了繞樑三日的精彩演出，演唱會亦插播神父娓娓道來擔任舍監的難忘回憶，如「康寧堂事件」中利瑪竇人的年少清狂、宿友多年連奪馬來人盃的昂然霸氣、昔日莘莘學子畢業後在社會各界發光發熱等，都教全場嘉賓回味不已。

曲終人未散，狄恆神父發表感性謝辭後，全場掌聲雷動，祝願神父身體康健，壽考維祺，更感謝狄恆神父半世紀以來「立己助人」的無私貢獻。

Photo Credit: Wah Yan One Family Foundation
圖片來源：華仁一家基金會