Honorary University Fellows

Citation delivered by the Dean of Social Sciences, Professor Ian Holliday:

Mrs Helen Zimmern exemplifies the virtue of benevolence and the value of heritage. The daughter of Honorary Graduate Sir Robert Kotewall and Lady Edith, sister of Dr Bobby Kotewall, also an Honorary Graduate of this University, and wife of the late Mr Francis R Zimmern, Mrs Helen Zimmern brings together two families that have made enormous contributions to the development of Hong Kong and to the growth of the University.

Mrs Zimmern fondly recalls her father as being a dedicated servant to the people of Hong Kong, and credits him with passing down to her an appreciation of conversation, and the importance of philanthropy in trying to make society a better place. She counts the other great influence on her life as having been her husband, who was an alumnus of this University and a Morrisonian.

Quiet, gentle and gracious, Mrs Zimmern reminds us that it is always an honour to serve the community you call home, and that that community will always honour you in return.

The Francis R Zimmern Foundation was set up by Mrs Zimmern in memory of her late husband, and the Foundation has lent its support to many University facilities and research projects. These have included the establishment of the Francis R Zimmern Centre for Cardiology at the University, which has treated thousands of patients since its establishment in 2002, and in 2005, it lent its support to the research activities of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. As Mr Zimmern was a Morrisonian, the Foundation also supported the Campaign for Morrison Hall in 2003.

It gives me great pleasure, Mr Pro-Chancellor, to present Mrs Helen Zimmern for the Honorary University Fellowship, in recognition of her contributions to Hong Kong and the University.