Island School will open its new campus in August 2022. The school’s future and its legacy are being secured by the alumni who have come together to develop a network of support. Two of the newly formed Founding Patrons, Jimmy and Tehmi Master, DaVinci, explain the impact of their school experiences and why they think it is important to invest in education. 

School days 

Tehmi: First of all school gave me a huge sense of independence. By the time I was ready to go to university I felt really confident, I felt that I could manage on my own, I felt I could live on my own. When we [my brother and I] went to school there were no special tutors. If you were weak in something the teachers told you to come to school half an hour earlier for one-on-one support. And they managed us [the students] that way which was really really nice. 

My education helped me because of the breadth of study. I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I went into social sciences after school. I was an average student at school, but I did much better at university because I was ready for it. I hear that the students say the same thing today. 

Jimmy: I came to Island School in 1972 starting in Year 12. Island School was in the old British Military Hospital on the other side of Borrett Road then. A couple of weeks after joining [school] we were told that we would be moving to the upper school in the new building. So one fine day, a lesson was  suspended, and we were told to pick up the tables and chairs and drag them across the road.

We moved into the Da Vinci block and the zoo block, so called because it housed the school’s zoo (also known as the biology block).

When 20 Borrett Road opened it was a very new school and I think the facilities were far superior to anything else in Hong Kong at that time. The other interesting thing was we had a number of different people in the school. It was a great place where one could mix with other nationalities - it was good fun. It was an enjoyable diverse place to study. Island School’s catchment area was in Mid-Levels so we all lived in a similar area. 

Teachers 

Tehmi: The teachers were all just a couple of years older than us so we had lots of fun times outside of school as well as inside of school. We sort of grew up together with them, especially by the time we reached our A-levels. We socialized with them. We were invited to their homes, it was a very informal fun atmosphere. I think everyone knew there was a line that could not be crossed. 

Jimmy: David James was a History teacher when daughters started at school and then became Headmaster. I think he was truly exceptional in pretty much every way. Exceptional in the way he managed the school, managed the curriculum, and managed the children. He was and is a very unique individual. 

Investing in education 

Jimmy: Hong Kong is a place where if we don’t have an educated population we are simply not going to survive. China is way ahead of us in terms of education and technology. If we are going to have an impact as a city in Asia we need an educated population and we have got to get it right. 

Tehmi: Education is so important. If you don’t give them [children] a wider, broader education, graduates are just not going to make it, it is just so competitive. It is a tough world out there. 

Still in touch

Tehmi: My year group is 1975 - O levels. We have a huge What’s App group. We stay in touch almost every single day with people all over the world. There are not many [1975 Islanders] left in HK. We have had a couple of reunions of our own and most people came back for the 50th celebrations. We are planning another reunion as soon as we can travel again.

Jimmy: There are about 20 people from my year group in HK and we have a What’s App group of about 30 people from overseas. Many used to come to Hong Kong on a regular basis but not since Covid. But there are reunions in Sydney and London planned. 

Click here to find out how you can be involved in the new campus and support the school future and its legacy.