In memory of Mr. George Weys: 01 (London)

 

I first met Mr. Weys when I turned up at the interview for getting into SOAS to do my first degree.

There were two interviewers: Dr. David Pollard and Mr. George Weys.  They looked like a “good cop / bad cop” team, with Pollard’s malleable face and mouth in a perpetual smile, whilst Mr. Weys wore a stern near-frown, yet non-committal, look.  

(I learned some five years later that he was “diffident” — his own word — when he told me why he wouldn’t join the list of 96 consultants for the coffee table book that went with the Channel Four TV documentary series on China, The Heart of The Dragon.  Among other reasons.) 

The interview was conducted in Mr. Weys’s office.

Dr. Pollard did all the asking, “Why have you applied to SOAS?”, “Why for this course?”, etc., and smiled or even laughed at my answers.  

Mr. Weys sat there, looking at me intently — and sternly, not saying a word.

When Dr. Pollard had worked his way through his list, he asked Mr. Weys if he had any questions to put to me.

Mr. Weys said, “I know you don’t need to do your Special Subject until Year 3, but do you know now what you’d like to do for your Special Subject?”

I said without hesitation, “Oh yes!  Japanese!!”  His eyes lit up, and he broke into a smile.  

I then noticed that the bookshelves behind him were filled with Japanese books.  

I’d said the right thing!  I’d won this stern man over.

(London, 1978)