2 Mar 2009 – A Tribute to Shakib Gunn
Yesterday, an elegant memorial service to honour Shakib Gunn at the Swissotel was coordinated by Hagley & Hoyle. Over 100 people were there to pay their respects. SG and I shared a common interest with genealogy. Recall him telling me about how his mother, Irene was supposed to be on Titanic’s maiden voyage. But at the last moment, her mother forbade Irene to make the trip.
SG was the editor for The Gunn Tribune, Issue No 1, 2003 – A family newspaper published once every fifty years! This is so typical SG humour. Thus, the next issue should be published in 2053; hopefully his grandsons will continue with the tradition. Must learn from him the way to do a family newspaper, especially the part about every fifty years 🙂
My appreciation to the management & staff of H&H for the privilege to be the mistress of ceremony to honour SG. The poem below was sent by SG to various members of the Singapore Vegetarian Society in the past year. His way of saying farewell??
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry – Elizabeth Frye
I can not but comment on the passing away of Tio Shakib Gunn, a good and great man of simple yet true virtues… I am happy that his association and his interests have honoured him in their own simple way, for the innocence and child like joy that Shakib Gunn has brought us all… Here in the Philippines, kites and kite flying is also practised widely, but it is only Shakib Gunn who introduced us to how kite flying has truly become not only a personal pastime but also even a professional avocation… I will for ever remember the awe and joy that he brought us when he flew one of his big kites here at the Rizal National Park in Manila, thus drawing crowds of children and various men and women strolling at the Park, equally awed by the beauty and wonder of big kite flying… But most of all, we remember Shakib Gunn for his kindness, for his magnanimity, for his generosity, for the goodness of his heart, his innocency of spirit, and his freedom loving spirit… Not to forget his humour and his magic that he will always tell us, his various experiences in various countries, and his family life in England… He came here in the Philippines during the early 2000 for a visit to his son-in-law’s family here, of whom I am one, and he came to like and love our country… Along the way, he never forgot to give us words and deeds of wisdom and kindness… He has influenced me in ways I can never forget, and of which I am much thankful for… Tio Shakib, thank you for your goodness and for the kindness of your spirit… Your acts of little goodness make you one of the greatest in our hearts… We know that you are flying your kites there in heaven, and smiling down at us, knowing how much you have given us, your joy, warmth, innocence, and child like simplicity of the joys of life… Till we meet again, Tio Shakib, you will always be missed…
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Hi Amy, I’m Sharmila, a producer of an upcoming mediacorp ch 5 show in which we want to feature people who were in advertising in the early days – like the late Mr. Gunn, and Ms Peggy Tan etc. Could you please get in touch with me? My email is pinkmovie@gmail.com . Hope to hear from you soon.