Word of Farewell to a Popular Resident Going Home Among the passengers who left on Sautrday by the R. M. Empress of Russia, for England vid Canada, was Mr. Stephen J. Decks, 0.8-2., who, having resigned his position of agency manager of the China Mutual Life Insurance Company, after 17 years of service, intends to spend a lengthy and well-earned holiday in the Old Country, Where his wife and daughter and two sons are now residing, the children being at school.
Mr. Decks' many friends in Shanghai will, doubtless, join us in wishing him a pleasant voyage and holiday and the generally expressed hope that he will revisit Shanghai again to take part in cricket and renew his activities in connexion with the Amateur Dramatic Club, in which he has for so many years been so prominent.
It was in 1906 that Mr. Decks first came to China, after having seen service through the South African War of 1899-1902 and otcome one of the first British settlers in East Africa. He joined the China Mutual Life Insurance Company on his arrival and was transferred to Shanghai as agency manager 12 years ago, since which time he has been particularly identified with Shanghai recreations.
He has always been a keen and enthusiastic cricketer, and while a sound batsman of the stolid and defensive type, is also one of our best wicket-keepers. In November last he represented Shanghai in this capacity in the Interport match at Hongkong and was highly commended by the Hongkong new:- papers for his good work behind the stumps.
His commendable work as Hon. Secretary of the Amateur Dramati Club_is well remembered. During the Great War his energetic and successful organization was responsible for the raising of large amounts of money for the benefit of War Funds, and his endeavours in this respect were rewarded in an honorary way when the distinction of the Order of the British Empire was conferred upon him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.