Early 1960s The Chopstick筷子樓
There were few Chinese families in Bristol. The city's first Chinese restaurant, the Chopstick, was opened by Mr Wai Man Wong — and it became the place the community met and caught up.
當時布里斯托的華人並不多。首間中式餐館「筷子樓」由黃偉文先生開設,成為同胞聚會與交流的地方。
1963 Dragon Pearl, and an idea龍珠樓與一個構想
Mr Wan Loi Wong returned to Bristol and opened his own restaurant, the Dragon Pearl. A sociable man, he spent his time talking to other restaurant owners about forming a group so that families could look after one another. The idea caught on.
黃運來先生重回布里斯托,自行經營「龍珠樓」。黃先生善於交際,經常與其他酒樓東主聯絡,提議成立一個華人組織,讓同胞互相照應。此構想得到華人社區廣泛支持。
1974 The founders get to work籌備
A founding group formed and began preparing the Association, settling on a region that reached well beyond Bristol — Bath, Gloucester, Somerset, Devon and Dorset.
創辦人開始籌備組織,服務範圍遠超布里斯托,涵蓋 Bath、Gloucester、Somerset、Devon 及 Dorset。
1975 The Association is established正式成立
The Oversea Chinese Association (South West Region) was formally founded, with Mr Wai Man Wong as its first Chairman — a role he held for some fifteen years.
英國西南區華人聯誼會正式成立,黃偉文先生出任首任會長,任期長達十五年。
Soon after A home of our own自置會所
The founders decided the Association needed a permanent venue, and went door to door raising the money. With a bank mortgage on top, they bought the first property at King Square, Stokes Croft — a building with flats, a cinema, a restaurant and a community centre in it.
創辦人認為必須有一個永久會址,於是逐家逐戶叩門籌款,再加上銀行貸款,成功購入位於 King Square, Stokes Croft 的首個自置物業,內設住宅、戲院、酒樓及社區中心。
Then Bristol Chinese School中文學校
Living abroad, the founders wanted the next generation to keep the language and the culture. Literacy classes started in one of the restaurants and, once the Association had its own premises, became the Sunday school, today’s Bristol Chinese School. Among its volunteer teachers was Mr Chun Ying Leung, later Chief Executive of Hong Kong, while he was studying in Bristol.
身在異鄉,創辦人希望下一代能承傳中國語言與文化。識字班最初在一間餐館內授課,待會所落成後正式成為「英國西南區華人聯誼會中文學校」,逢星期日上課。前香港特首梁振英先生在布里斯托求學期間,亦曾義務擔任本校老師。
1997 A registered charity註冊慈善團體
The Association adopted its written constitution at a members' general meeting on 3 August 1997 and was registered as a charity.
本會於一九九七年八月三日的會員大會上通過會章,並正式註冊為慈善團體。
Today 15 Lower Ashley Road現址
The Association runs its own community centre in St Agnes. Everything that happens in it — the walking group, the taiji class, the health talks, the New Year dinner, Bristol Chinese school — is run by members, for members and their neighbours.
本會現於 St Agnes 自設社區中心。中心內的一切活動 —— 健步行、太極班、健康講座、新年聚餐、中文學校 —— 皆由會員自發籌辦,服務會員與鄰里。