Willie & Edgar Reed with Middlesex Hockey Team.jpg

Fri, 10/01/2021 - 08:16

Wilfred "Willie" Reed first took up the sport of hockey while studying at St. George's College in Weybridge, Surrey, with his two older brothers, Robert and Edgar.  Willie worked at the sport for nine years, eventually representing St. George's, and then being selected to represent Middlesex County, along with his brother Edgar. Willie played centre-half in his first county match in 1928. In the above Middlesex hockey team photo, Willie is seated at the far right, with his brother Edgar standing directly behind him. 

Willie returned to Hong Kong in 1929, where he continued to play the sport for two teams, the Hongkong Hockey Club and Club de Recreio. In 1934, Willie played his first interport for Hong Kong against Macau.  He went on to represent Hong Kong in every interport for the next eight years. After the war, Willie returned to the sport from 1949 to 1952. From 1953 onwards, he continued to play for Recreio, this time playing second and third division hockey, well into his early sixties.

Willie's love for sports included cricket and tennis.  He was in the Recreio team which won the 1938-1939 league cricket championship.  Willie was the club tennis champion for two years and doubles champion for eight years.  In addition, he took part in the first league run by the Hongkong Badminton Association and was a member of the Recreio team which won the Men's "B" League that year.

He enjoyed watching the football games that aired on television, and Manchester United was a favorite.  Willie was interviewed in 1967 for the South China Morning Post when he was 61 regarding his sports achievements.  Around that same time, an article appeared in the sports section of another Hong Kong newspaper (Hong Kong Standard?), written by Bill Funk, Publisher and Editor. That article appeared in a weekly column entitled Roundup's Sportsman of the Week.

His love for sports continued up till the time he passed away at 65 on March 20, 1971, the year he was retiring as Company Secretary and Chief Accountant from Gibb, Livingston & Co. Ltd. in the old P&O Building. 

 

 

Date picture taken
1928
Author(s)