Neil Cudmore

By Jim Cudmore, father

Photo: Alex Towle

The most enduring memories I have of Neil are the 10 days I spent with him and Dinah in Hong Kong in November 1999 not long before they departed for New York to take up new posts in the Risk Waters offices there.

Before I flew out, Neil asked me to get a good bottle of brandy at Duty Free because it was so expensive in Hong Kong. I remember on the first evening, sitting with him on the balcony of their apartment watching the sun go down over Lamma Island, listening to a James Taylor CD (You’ve Got a Friend) and enjoying a few brandies.

Of the many things that we did during my stay, I particularly remember playing golf with him at Clearwater Bay and getting a ferry with a couple of Neil’s friends to play at the Nansha Golf Club in China where the Cudmore team came away victorious! Also, a challenging hike over the Dragons Back on a very hot Sunday morning with Neil, Dinah and some of their friends before a welcoming beer at a local bar (left photo, below). Neil and I had a very enjoyable meal at Stanley Thai not long before I departed Hong Kong (centre photo) and on the evening of my departure, Neil and Dinah accompanied me to the airport transit express train where we said our goodbyes (right photo).

Sadly, it was the last time that I would see them. I have always felt that on that awfully tragic day 20 years ago, I lost not only a son but a future daughter-in-law.

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