George Pio-Ulski's father was an officer in the Russian Navy who was listed as missing in action in 1917. The family fled Russia in the spring of 1924 because of their precarious position under the Bolsheviks - Mr. Pio-Ulski believed they were the last people to get exit visas.
After time spent in Harbin, Peking and other Chinese cities, George Pio-Ulski went to Shanghai, and after the situation became unsettled there, to Hong Kong, arriving in 1937. He was a professional musician who could work in both the classical and the American band traditions and he found work leading the classical orchestra at the Hong Kong Hotel.
He and his wife Melitza were uninterned during the occupation, during which he continued to lead the orchestra at the Hong Kong Hotel. The couple lived in Cameron Road in Kowloon.
After the war, the orchestra played in the Gloucester Hotel. In 1947 Mr. Pio-Ulski felt the need for a new start, so he joined Hong Kong Tramways. He also changed his name to George Parks, as even Russians had problems pronouncing 'Pio-Ulski' correctly.
Mr and Mrs Parks retired to Perth in 1974.
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Changing name by deed poll
A copy of the entry from the Gazette:
28 THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JANUARY 2, 1948
NOTICE OF CHANGE OF NAME.
NOTICE is, hereby given that GEORGE PARKS of No. 23 Cameron Road, 1st floor, Kowloon, in the Colony of Hong Kong, heretofore known as GEORGE WLADYSLAW PIO-ULSKI being and for many years past a naturalised British subject has by a Deed Poll dated the 29th day of December, 1947, renounced and abandoned his name of George Wladyslaw Pio-Ulski and has assumed and adopted the name of George Parks and intends on all occasions hereafter and in all deeds documents actions proceedings matters and things to use the name of George Parks in lieu of his former name of George Wladyslaw Pio-Ulski.
Dated the 29th day of December, 1947.
GEORGE PARKS.
Mr Pio-Ulski
For a time I recall he played the piano at the Peninsula Hotel at dinners. I also took piano lessons
from him.
Irene
George Pio-Ulski/Parks
Irene - is it you - Ira (nee Smirnoff)?
Yes, that is me in the photo
Yes, that is me in the photo with George Parks (Poi-Ulski) at the piano, and the girl standing is Helen Zaharoff.
Irene Smirnoff Garfinkle
Piano duet
Привет Ира!!
George Pio-Ulski
Nor did Jan Morris manage to get George Pio-Ulski's name right. Writing of activities that continued during the Japanese occupation, she records: "Though the Hong Kong Hotel's snack bar has been turned into a tempura grill, George Pilo-Ulski [sic] the Accordion Virtuoso plays during tiffin." (Jan Morris, "Hong Kong", Penguin Books, 1997, p. 251).
George Pio-Ulski
I know, Jill!! I read her book many years ago and had to laugh when I saw my father's surname there! ;)