Pioneering Paulines

Born in Taishan, Robert Der studied at St. Paul’s College between 1915 and 1920. He furthered his studies in the United States, and worked as a department lead for Sincere Shanghai and a manager for the Nam Wah Ginger Factory, among other positions. In 1934, he co-founded the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, serving on the board until 1962. Between 1946 and his death, Der also chaired the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce.

Baptised in 1918, Der served with passion, and was particularly active in educational work. He founded the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce English School and the SKH All Saints’ Middle School in 1951; the former closed in 1980. Der’s faith in the Christian cause can be seen in his stern refusal against a government proposal to turn All Saints’ Middle School into a subsidised school, voicing his belief in religious freedoms.

謝伯昌生於台山，於一九一五至二〇年間就讀聖保羅書院。後赴美國攻讀商科，先後任職上海先施部長及南華糖薑廠經理等職。一九三四年，謝氏參與創辦香港中華廠商聯合會，擔任會董至一九六二年。一九四六年起任九龍總商會理事長。

謝氏於一九一八年受洗，自此一生奉獻基督，尤好敎育工作。一九五一年，謝氏創立九龍總商會英文中學（一九八〇年停辦），同年又創立聖公會諸聖中學。一九七九年，政府邀請諸聖中學改爲政府津貼中學，但謝氏反對，堅守敎會辦學自由的理念。