I awoke this morning to news in Singapore's Straits Times of the death of Kwa Geok Choo, the 89 year old wife of Lee Kuan Yew, the founder and first prime minister of Singapore. Her husband of 63 years survives her, and her son is the current prime minister of this tiny island state.
It was so moving to read the life story of this lady in today's newspaper. She gained a double first in law at Cambridge University where she studied with her husband-to-be during the period when Singapore was still a part of the British Empire. It was in 1950 that she returned to Singapore with Lee Kuan Yew, who she had secretly married in London, after after becoming a barister.
In 1965 Lee Kuan Yew succeeded in negotiating a separation from Malaysia and then indpendence from Britain. At that time, this infant nation was a poor backwater in South East Asia. Thanks to his leadership, it became one of the most prosperous countries in the world.
In effect, has been a benign dictatorship since its birth. While we beleive that democracy is best, it is really hard to crticise Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore is surrounded by democracies which have suffered signficant political instabilities and economic problems in contrast to this extraordinary place.
Mrs Lee's death has prompted a torrent of news coverage about the history of modern Singpaore and the acheivements of the nation's first family. Her long marriage to Lee Kuan Yew was a true love story, and the newspapers are adorned with wonderful black and white photographs of a young romantic couple enjoying their student days together in Cambridge.
Only six weeks shy of being 90, this elegant lady's passing, while sad, was not a tragedy. This contrasts hugely with news from London of the hit and run death of death of a 20 year-old Singaporean Cambridge medical student whose body was found on Haverstock Hill on Thursday night. She had been hit by a vehicle that had driven off without stopping.
Tragically, Mingwei Tan was killed on her 20th birthday. She had been knocked down near Hampstead's Royal Free Hospital - where her shoes were found - and dragged 1.6km. Her body was found near Belsize Park Tube station in North London.
I know this area so well, and actually went to school when I was twelve just around the corner from where the accident took place. So this news has particular resonance with me.
This beautiful girl was cut down in the prime of her life, apparently by a bus. Police are unsure whether the driver was even aware that he hit her. Nevertheless, she has gone.
While the Singaporean nation morn the death of Mrs Lee, the parents, family and friends of Mingwei must be devastated by the loss of this young woman.
"We will miss you. Your lovely sweet smile and your ever-passionate attitude towards things in life will always remain in our hearts. May God bless and watch over your family as they go through this period," said one message from one of her former teachers.
I hope to report happier news tomorrow.
Grandpa Jonathan
Singapore
