Published: 11 February, 2014
By STEVE BARNETT

MORE than 150 friends and family gathered on Saturday to celebrate the life and lasting legacy of a Chinese professor known for his “infectious laugh” and “positive thinking”. 

Tributes have continued to pour in for Professor Man Fong Mei, 67, known fondly as Benny Mei, after he died from sudden heart failure. 

Always seen with a smile on his face, Professor Mei was determined to bring Eastern and Western medicine together. It was an ambition that led to him opening the Acu Medic centre in Euston, which then moved to its prominent site in Camden High Street, where it became one of Europe’s premier establishments for integrated medicine. 

It was the perfect location to hold a special celebration to honour Professor Mei on Saturday, with people gathering to share their stories and memories. 

In a touching tribute his son Don, 39, recalled: “When I was a very little boy my father gave me and my sister a little red book, it wasn’t ‘Mao’s Little Red Book’, it was a blank book. And he told me, when I was six, ‘This is to record all of your father’s wisdom’, which, as I’m sure you all know, he was happy to share with everyone. 

“He said: ‘Whenever I say something wise, write it down’. The first thing we ever wrote was ‘positive thinking’, which became a mantra for our family. 

“You probably all have a very vivid memory of my father’s laughter and his smile, which was always genuine. He had an amazing ability to just let problems slide off his shoulders.”

The speech was followed by Chinese New Year celebrations, including a traditional Chinese lion dance.