彭淑兆医生生平 (English tribute follows Chinese text) 彭淑兆医生于1916年12月22日出生于广东一个基督化的医学家庭，是父母的首生掌珠。自小学至医学院毕业均品学兼优，为七位弟妹们的榜样及鼓励。 彭医生毕业于上海女子医学院。毕业后任职上海妇孺医院为外科与妇产科医师（Margaret Williamson Hospital）。1949年初赴香港执教于香港大学并协助病理学家侯保璋教授从事研究工作。因她研究有成，获得英国Leeds大学奖学金来英继续深造，1964年完成病理博士学位。后被伦敦Imperial Cancer Research Fund 聘请从事癌症细胞研究直至1981年尾退休。 1962年申请父母自中国到香港定居。1971年又接年老的父母前往伦敦同住。有八年之久白日上班，晚上又无微不至地照顾中风的母亲，毫无抱怨。她对父母的孝敬与爱心在众人前成为有力的见证，讓人将荣耀归与神。母亲过世後，她不但继续照顾父亲，更花了许多心血申请弟妹侄甥们到英国深造，并与久离不见的父亲祖父团聚。2003年87岁的彭医生与英伦好友和四十余年的国外生活告别，返回中国，先与大弟后与外甥希仁同住，得希仁夫妇悉心照顾安渡余年，直至2013被主接回天家，享年97岁。 彭医生是第四代基督徒，祖父外祖父及大伯均为牧师傳道人，从小看到母亲热心探访傳福音，给她很深的印象。长大後亲身体验到神的救恩，决志一生遵行主的教训。她热心参与伦敦中华基督教会之敬拜与事奉活动，较年轻时经常到各处分享神的话语。家中时常开放讓路过伦敦的朋友学生有落脚之地，一起享受神的恩典。多年来她收集了许多属灵书籍在家中成立了受託图书室（Amazing Grace Treasury），为要讓来家中探访的亲友和弟兄姐妹能有一个安静看书的环境，藉此得益更加认识神。 数十年来在伦敦生活，得蒙陈嘉团牧师夫妇，郭炳光长老夫妇无数的帮助鼓励，和众弟兄姐妹随时地扶持代祷。神的大爱藉着伦敦中华基督教会惠及彭家三代。在此特向神献上无限的感恩。愿主爱长流，主名得荣耀。 ----------------------------------------------------------- Lillian Pang Shu Chao (彭 淑 兆) was born in Guangdong, (or Kwang Tung, during the pre-Pinyin days), into a Hakka medical family. Her father was a much respected and loved medical doctor and her mother a midwife. As the eldest of 8, she was also to become a doctor herself, a career to be followed by 4 of her siblings. Excelling in school and university, she graduated with a B.Sc. and MD in China and chose to specialise in gynaecology . The fifties found her in Hong Kong where she joined the University of Hong Kong's Medical School, teaching and doing research. She then left for the south of England in the late fifties to carry out further research, returning to Hong Kong when her parents went to live in Hong Kong in 1962. She had been awarded a fellowship to do a Ph.D. in Leeds which she successfully completed in the relatively short time of 18 months on her return to the UK. She decided to stay in the UK, but because her medical degree obtained in China was not recognised in the UK, she had to take further tests to qualify as a doctor under the British system. It was a very tough time for her, having left her family and friends in China and Hong Kong. Her grandfather had been a pastor in China, and the Gospel seed which had been sown deep in her heart had blossomed into deep personal faith in Christ. Her faith in a loving Father was greatly revived and tested by trials and tribulations in the early sixties. The phrase, “by the Grace of God” was often on her lips, and by His Grace she overcame the many obstacles and obtained her British certification to practise in the UK. She chose to specialise in pathology and was soon to receive her FRCPath. A grant from the Medical Research Council enabled her to carry out research at St Mark's hospital with Basil Morson, who was later to be described as 'the world's leading expert on colon cancer', and 'the father of British gastro-intestinal pathology'. One of her papers on cancer control in colitis was published jointly with Morson, and was described by the editor as 'a very important paper as it provides clinician with a new method … of identifying patients with … risk of carcinoma '. This study was also cited in a review of 'Advances in the Twentieth Century: Colon and Rectal Surgery' (American College of Surgeons). The review pointed out that 'this finding [from their research] ... led to surveillance colonoscopy and target biopsies to diagnose dysplasia .. preventing colitis cancers'. No doubt it helped to save a number of lives. It was not surprising that she was to join the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) to carry out further research into cancer, until her retirement in December 1981. Many more important publications were to issue from her research there. During her sojourn in the UK, she was much burdened for her ageing parents in China. As the eldest of the children in her family, she took her responsibilities very seriously, and when her mother was disabled by a stroke, she decided it was time she moved into a house of her own and proceeded to make arrangements for her parents to join her. Most of the time, she had been living in rented accommodation, culminating in Doughty Street where she found fellowship with other Christians, many of whom also attended the Chinese Church in London. She managed to secure a property on Pentland Street in Wandsworth and adapted it to meet the requirements of her father and disabled mother. Her devotion to them was always exemplary, and many could not help but be touched by her tender attention to them at every turn. Trusting in God and with her characteristic meticulous planning, she also managed to ensure that each of her siblings was able to visit their parents in the UK. When her parents eventually passed away, her brother, Gordon, visited London and carved their headstone with his own hands. Despite her busy professional and personal life, she often found time to be a hospitable host to many in her home. Many will remember the simple and modest life-style she led. Yet she was generous and often sacrificial in her care for others. She was also involved in the Chinese Church in London, and for many years was an active member of the church council. With her fluent command of many Chinese dialects and English, she was often called on to interpret for many speakers at church services. Her advice was often sought by church leaders, including Pastor Stephen Wang, the founder of the CCIL and COCM. To many young Chinese Christians in the church, she was like a fond sister or aunt to whom they could turn for help, advice and encouragement. Many found that meeting with and talking to 'Dr Pang' was more than a problem-solving session – it was often a spiritually uplifting experience. Her beaming smile which lit her face, and the occasional twinkle in her eyes which hid a mischievous sense of humour were a tonic to many tired souls. Yet she was always self-effacing and modest, and would remind us that it is all 'by the Grace of God'. All the time she was in England, she was much burdened for the needs of her native country. She was always fervent in her prayers for the salvation of the people of China through faith in Christ. This was accompanied by the practical help she often gave to many visiting Chinese scholars she knew. Through her help, many were able to come to the UK to receive further studies or training, and, inevitably, to hear the Gospel from her. In the eighties, she suffered a stroke which left her with restricted movement and requiring others to help her. By then, her parents had died and she decided to sell her house and move into a flat. Her love of reading, especially Christian books, was evident in the numerous books which filled many boxes when the time came to move (these books were to form the "Amazing Grace" Library which she set up in her home). But this move was to be temporary and, in 2003, she was packing again to return to China to live eventually with her nephew Xiren and his wife Su Shan in Chengdu. She was dearly missed by her friends, and many found themselves adding the city of Chengdu to their itinerary when visiting China. Despite her growing infirmities, she was always welcoming and her warmth was matched by the hospitality of Xiren and family. Dr Pang passed away peacefully in her sleep on the 26th August 2013. (With information supplied by Allan Kwok and Grace Bovy, Lillian's niece. Cover portrait photo from Allan.) The family of Lillian would like to thank all those who attended the memorial service and also those who were unable to attend but whose thoughts and prayers were with them on that day. They would also like to thank all those who gave their help and support so willingly to make the day so special. God bless you all!