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Publisher Chan Hin Ching’s welcome address:

YANG Berbahagia Datuk-Datuk and Datin-Datin, our Guest of Honour, Mr Tan Jiew Hoe, members of the Lamb family, fellow nature lovers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – a very good morning to you all.

On behalf of Opus Publications, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the launch of The Last Colonial Officer of North Borneo – The Enduring Legacy of Anthony Lamb.

Today, we do more than launch a book. We honour a life – the life of one of Sabah’s most respected adopted sons.

I warmly welcome our Guest of Honour, Mr Tan Jiew Hoe, who has kindly travelled from Singapore to be with us.

He is a keen plant lover, well known in botanical circles across our region.

A modest man, he has quietly supported plant conservation and research over the years.

He comes not only as a supporter of this book, but as a friend of the man whose life it celebrates.

His belief in the project helped bring it to life.

His journey here reminds us of a simple truth: the love of nature brings people together across borders.

For his generosity and friendship, we are truly grateful.

I also welcome Datin Anthea Phillipps-Lamb, together with Alex Lamb, Serena Lamb and Aeron Harrison, who have come from the United Kingdom and Germany to be with us.

Your presence means a great deal to us as we remember the man so dear to you all, Datuk Anthony Lamb.

Today is also a proud day for our publishing house.

This book owes much to Datuk C.L. Chan, who is my father.

Over the past two and a half years, I have watched him devote himself to this project with great care.

He worked alongside many others who knew Tony well to bring his story to the page.

What began as a book project became a labour of love – and of remembrance.

Tony Lamb holds a special place in the history of Sabah.

He arrived in 1962 as the last British officer to join the service of North Borneo before independence.

He made this land his home for more than 60 years, until he passed away in January 2024 at the age of 86.

Over those years, he became one of the leading experts on the plants of Borneo, and above all on its orchids, pitcher plants and wild fruits.

In 1981, he established the Tenom Orchid Centre, now known as the Sabah Agriculture Park, which continues to thrive today.

His many books have guided botanists and conservationists ever since – among them Rhododendrons of Sabah, Pitcher-Plants of Borneo, the well-loved Orchids of Borneo series, and his final works, A Guide to Wild Fruits of Borneo and A Guide to Market Fruits of Borneo.

But Tony’s legacy goes well beyond science.

He had a gift for friendship and a deep knowledge of nature, which he shared with great warmth and humility.

He inspired everyone he met – scientists, young botanists and members of the public alike – with his passion for nature.

Many who knew him described him as “a walking book of plants.”

The book draws on family records, old photographs, letters and the personal recollections of those who knew Tony best.

The result is far more than a simple biography.

It is a detailed record of Tony’s life, his work and his lasting influence on the natural history of Borneo.

Opus Publications and Natural History Publications have enjoyed a long association with Tony Lamb, publishing many of his most important books over the past three decades.

It feels only fitting that the story of his own life should also bear our name.

And so, I congratulate my father and all who contributed to this volume.

Together, they have completed a monumental work.

Their dedication and care will ensure that Anthony Lamb’s life and achievements continue to inspire those who come after us.

Finally, I thank all of you for joining us this morning (July 15, 2026) – Tony’s family and friends, fellow nature lovers, historians, botanists, conservationists and readers.

Your presence here today reflects the deep respect and affection that people held for Tony, both in Sabah and far beyond.

Ladies and gentlemen, we hope this book will do more than record a remarkable life – we hope it will remind us why the stories of those who loved nature must never be forgotten.

Anthony Lamb gave himself to the land he made his own.

Today, with this book, we give his story back to Sabah – and to the world.

Thank you, and I wish you all a pleasant morning.