Sam Chau

Spreading the Chinese Word

Name: Sam Chau
Age: 53
Born: Hong Kong
Lived in Scotland: 25 years

Sam Chau is Head Teacher at the Chinese School at Stow College, Glasgow. He came to the UK to join his brother who was studying in Birmingham and decided to head north in search of greener pastures…

"I was attracted by the famous scenery in Scotland. I felt it would be a lovely place to live, peaceful and clean. I also liked the people. They seemed more friendly than those down south and there were far more business opportunities."

"When I came to Scotland 25 years ago, I didn't experience too many hurdles apart from the language barrier which wasn't easy for me." 

The Chinese are now the second largest ethnic minority community in Scotland with a 20,000-strong population. Sam brought something unique and essential to his community in Glasgow.

"My wife, who is also Chinese – we met when I lived in Birmingham – and I started a Chinese printing business 16 years ago."

"We were the first to bring the Chinese typeset (including computer fonts) to Scotland. We provided services to the local community and local council which made a great change to the culture."

An intrinsic part of the Chinese community, Sam is also Manager at the Wing Hong Elderly Centre in Glasgow's Garnethill area. He talks about the importance of the centre to the community:

"We offer many activities at the centre including a lunch club. We also give invaluable help in translating bills and letters as well as a health care service. Although most of our 700 registered members are Chinese anyone is welcome to come and look in." 

Sam is also something of a TV celebrity. Earlier this year, the BBC Scotland's long-running gardening programme The Beechgrove Garden treated the residents of the centre to a garden makeover, after Sam and the management team had written to the programme.

With the help of the BBC, Strathclyde Police and £5,000 from the Community Partnership Fund, a slice of Chinese culture was created in the centre of Glasgow. 

"I really think the garden has broken down cultural barriers in the community. We had lots of volunteers from the Garnethill community, which was great." said Sam.

"It has brought great pleasure to the staff and visitors, and the elderly members can relax here and even grow vegetables."

Anyone in the area can benefit from the garden, which also features the pavilion from the One Million Days in China exhibition, donated to the garden by the Burrell Collection. One Million Days in China ran at The Burrell Collection, one of Glasgow's top art galleries from July 2004 to February 2005, and explored and celebrated 4,000 years of Chinese history and culture, through Sir William Burrell's world-class collection of Chinese art.

As Head Teacher at the Chinese School at Stow College since 1997, Sam tries to give pupils a taste of their own culture, which they may not otherwise get by growing up in Scotland. But Sam doesn't only teach Chinese students.

"There are now 40 non-Chinese out of the 400 which I teach, both adults (including business people) and children. I try very hard to promote the Chinese language and teaching to the locals. If we have a cultural understanding it can help to eradicate racial prejudice."     

Asking Sam why he thinks interest in the Chinese community has increased so much, he said:

"Much of it is down to the growing economy of China. The name of China on the world's stage is getting bigger now and it's hard for anyone to ignore this. I think parents are sending their children to the Chinese school to equip them for the future."

"China has a population of 1.3 billion – one out of every 10 people in world are Chinese. The importance of the Chinese language and culture is getting more obvious now, with more people wanting to learn about it."

Sam has two children. Callum is studying architecture and Holly recently graduated and works in IT.

"I am very proud of my Chinese culture but although my wife and I are delighted to pass on the messages such as respecting your elders, but we don't force them."

"My kids are Scottish, with Scottish accents and follow Scottish customs. We affectionately call them bananas – yellow skin, white heart!"  

If Sam has any advice to give to those wishing to come and live and work in Scotland it is this:

"Scotland is a great and peaceful place for learning but work hard, without thinking about trying to be successful and you'll get there."

Related Information

• The Dragon, the Unicorn and the Rooster: Scotland's links with China
• Chinese School, Stow College, Glasgow
• UK government's Chinese Event in Shanghai
• Feature about the Chinese Garden for BBC Scotland's The Beechgrove Garden
• Chinese National Day Features
• Chinese Embassy in the UK
• One Million Days in China Exhibition
• Glaswegians Celebrate Chinese New Year
• Find out more about Glasgow