"Uncle Leo's online-memorial"

[082903@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

			I pray for Uncle Leo.
			I honour "Uncle Leo" 
						
						
						A Burmese Student
						in Australia.

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               "Biography of Mr. James Leander Nichols"
 
 
 
 James Leander Nichols                   Born: 8/6/31 in Rangoon Burma
                                         Died: 22/6/96 in Rangoon Burma
 
 Better known as Uncle Leo he was the son of George Alexander Nichols, a
 Greek descendent, who owned a stevedoring shipping company, Nichols & Sons
 Ltd. in Rangoon. As the Nichols' were pro-British, when the Japanese invaded
 Burma during the second World War the family had no choice but to walk out
 of Burma leaving their wealth behind them. Uncle Leo's father died while on
 the long treck to India.
 
 Uncle Leo went to boarding school in the hills of Darjeeling, India.
 
 After the war the family returned to Burma where Uncle Leo was the third
 generation Nichols to be working with the third generation Scandinavian ship
 owners. He worked with his Uncle Jimmy Gray, manager of the company and his
 brother Alexander, now deceased.
 
 Married to his current wife Felicity in 1951, Uncle Leo took a position with
 United Liner Agencies as their General manager in Rangoon. Felicity and
 Uncle Leo have five children, William, David, Celia and Lorna residing with
 their mother in Australia and Aileen in the United States. When Ne Win came
 to power in 1962 the company was nationalised and Uncle Leo had once again
 lost security.
 
 Soon after he was appointed as Honorary Consul General for Norway, Sweden,
 Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. Uncle was forced to give up the position
 in 1981 when a close colleague acting on behalf of the government of Burma
 was accused of corruption. Uncle was taken in for questioning for three days
 while his colleague was imprisoned for many years. Uncle gave up his post,
 however he continued to work representing the governments in an unofficial
 capacity.
 
 During his life he spent much of his spare time working and donating to the
 sick, frail, old and young. He dedicated the last decades of his life to
 helping those people less fortunate and weaker than he. Working through the
 Roman Catholic Churches in Burma, Uncle Leo supported thousands of orphans
 and ensured that they had the best possible opportunity to make a life for
 themselves. They all loved him dearly as did all people from all corners of
 the globe who had the honour of meeting him in his diplomatic capacity.
 
 While Uncle Leo was not frantically political he had a dream for his
 country. Godfather of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he was her faithful and devoted
 friend. Through her he could see hope for his country and he lusted the
 freedom her determination will one day bring the people of Burma.
 
 Uncle Leo died at the hands of the military dictatorship of Burma. Arrested
 in May 1996 for, according to the military," operating and illegal fax
 machine", it is believed his three year sentence was in reality punishment
 for loving and helping Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
 
 After serving two and a half months of his three year prison term Uncle Leo
 died on the 22nd. June 1996 at 11 A.M. at the Rangoon General Hospital. It
 is believed that he was moved from the prison hospital to RGH just one hour
 before his death. A military conducted autopsy, without independent
 monitoring, found that Uncle Leo had died from a brain haemorrhage.
 
 The Funeral, which was conducted by the military, was held at Saw Bwa Gyi
 Christian Cemetery. While friends and family did attend it is understood
 that the military warned them not to.
 
 At 2.00 P.M.  on the 23rd. of June 1996, Uncle Leo was laid to rest. He will
 be remembered as one of the great fathers of Burma and a man who's passion
 for his country and his people exceeded all else.
 
 There will be a memorial service on the 30th. of  June in Rangoon provided
 permission is obtained from the authorities.

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