LONDON: It was a sombre moment when news reached me of the passing of one of Liverpool's oldest and most esteemed Malay sailors last Thursday.
Mohamed Nor Hamid drew his last breath on his 91st birthday, just three days shy of his planned departure for Malaysia to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with his family.
Known affectionately to the Liverpool Malaysian community as Atuk, Md Nor, or Pak Cik Md Nor to me, he embarked on his seafaring journey from Malaya in 1952.
In his decades at sea aboard British Merchant Navy vessels, he amassed a wealth of experiences, which he had generously shared with me on numerous occasions since my first meeting with him in the early 1990s.
He proved to be a source of invaluable insight for the film Pulang by Primework Studios, which was based on the real-life narrative of a son's quest to reunite with his sailor father.
In fact, he inspired one of the characters in the 2019 blockbuster, which was shown on Netflix.
Md Nor succumbed to asthma at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and his final resting place will be at the Everton Cemetery. Interestingly, this cemetery has become a solemn ground for him during his lifetime, as it houses the remains of comrades who shared his seafaring journeys.
The passing of Pak Cik Md Nor left me profoundly shaken for several reasons. Knowing he had intended to travel to Malaysia to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with his children and grandchildren, I made plans to visit him just before Ramadan, eager to reconnect and hear more stories. However, fate intervened and the trip was cancelled.
Since our initial encounter, when I embarked on a quest to connect with the Malay seafaring community across the United Kingdom, Pak Cik Md Nor had been an unwavering source of inspiration and support. He generously shared his captivating tales of maritime adventures, enriching my understanding of this fascinating world.
We first met in 1992, at No. 7 Jermyn Street, Liverpool, a dilapidated three-storey terrace house, when I was doing a special TV programme for Hari Raya.
The house along the quiet, leafy street holds more than historical tales of adventures of sailors from the shores of Malaya, Singapore and Indonesia. Throughout the years, it became the go-to place for students in search of Malaysian home-cooked food and company and now, for the Malaysian community to get together for celebrations.
During our first meeting, Pak Cik Md Nor, who hailed from Tanjung Keling, Melaka, had stopped his voyaging days and was working at a butcher's. He rounded up other former seafarers to share their stories and experiences since leaving Malaya for the British Merchant Navy.
For many young lads in search of adventure, securing a position on ships like the Blue Funnel was the perfect opportunity to explore the world. For the young Md Nor, who worked as an assistant cameraman and occasional actor at the Jalan Ampas Studio in Singapore, the decision was hastened by his mother's insistence on arranging a marriage with his cousin.
"I was young and eager to see the world," he recounted, his accent reminiscent of actors from old Malay movies. Despite hearing many of his stories before, his retelling of them was always filled with energy and humour.
One memorable tale involved being swept overboard during a storm, only to be rescued by another giant wave. Another recounted how he was tricked by an Ambonese sailor into saluting the Statue of Liberty, after being told that it was customary for visitors to do so.
"When there was no one around, I gave a salute!" he chuckled, slapping his thigh with amusement.
Leaving Tanjung Keling in 1952, Md Nor only returned to his village after 25 years, using his redundancy money to visit with his wife and two children. Despite the long absence, he faithfully sent money back to his parents, £10 at a time.
Upon his return, his mother gave his Irish wife, Margaret, the Muslim name Zubaidah.
Together, they raised seven children.
His stories grew livelier as he reminisced about his days at clubs, rubbing shoulders with famous singers like Cilla Black and even admitted to taking dancing classes as he was always stepping on his dancing partner's feet.
Throughout his life, his memory remained sharp, often assisting relatives in search of missing loved ones who had served on British ships. His notebook was filled with names and details, providing invaluable assistance in tracing their whereabouts. Mention a name and he would know where the sailor came from and which ship he sailed on.
Following his passing, Pak Cik Md Nor's dream of renovating and restoring No. 7 Jermyn Street, acquired in 1963 as a gathering place for Malaysians, remains unfulfilled. While the house is still undergoing renovation, there is much to be done to ensure its preservation as a hub for Hari Raya and Merdeka celebrations.
It now seems fitting for supporters to come together
and honour his memory by rebuilding this place, in a small
part of Liverpool, rich in history and heritage for the seafaring community and the Malay
world.