Real-life adventurer Stuart Mason-Parker who defended Triads in court eventually found his 'Shangri-La'

Born in Ledbury, educated near Kidderminster and trained as a criminal lawyer in Worcester,  he became a prosecutor in Hong Kong, then changed sides to be a leading defence barrister, sometimes representing the Triad gangs.

He had guns pointed at him, was arrested and deported in Manila, and even the legendary Alan Wicker sought his views on the Hong Kong underworld for one of his Wicker’s World television programmes. 

In later years he was head of the law faculty at a university in Thailand, happy to just hang out with the stray dogs in his local corner shop. 

Stuart Mason-Parker

His daughter Sara said: “My father loved Asia, travelling around Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

“Burma was a particular favourite and he often made trips over to smuggle back Burmese tapestries, with rubies hidden on them.

“He would be lying in the back of a pick-up truck, plastic cover over him, as Westerners were not allowed to cross the border. He did get stopped and was held at rifle point, but money and bottles of alcohol seemed to get him out of a lot of situations.

“When he was temporarily in jail in the Philippines after inadvertently getting involved in a scam selling passports to a non-existent island, a friend was often allowed to climb over the fence in exchange for a bottle of spirits.

 “He was well respected by Triads in Hong Kong, they would call him ‘Uncle’ and always asked for him after he won a case.

“We would have cars and gifts left, but he would not accept, as then you would be part of their world. He would venture into the Walled City, never afraid of anything or anyone.”

Known as Parker to his friends, Stuart Mason-Parker was a Ledbury lad. His father Ron was a chiropodist and his mother Hilda ran a hair salon. They lived in a flat above the business in High Street.

He boarded at Sebright School, Wolverley, near Kidderminster, where he met his lifelong friend George Groves. Together they would share many adventures. He also played rugby for Ledbury, where his skipper was the local legend Trevor Bethell.

Parker was prompted into a law career by his mother, a fan of the American TV show Perry Mason.

After law school in London he trained in Worcester at solicitors Harrison Clark before moving across the city to Stallards.

During this time he befriended another young Worcester lawyer, David Hallmark, and they constantly kept in touch over the years.

Frustrated at not making the progress he wanted in Worcester, in 1979 Parker applied for a position in Hong Kong working with the Prosecutors Office.

This required a family shift to Asia and one which would bring new challenges.

He decided to switch from a prosecutor to a defence lawyer and began writing fiction books. 

Sara added: “My father achieved great success as a defence barrister and appeared on Wicker’s World discussing the situation in Hong Kong with Triads.”

 

Fifteen years later, he moved on to the Philippines and the bizarre adventure of buying a Pacific Island with an Australian fellow adventurer.

He was to be solicitor general and establish the constitution for this independent dominion, which would become an international tax haven with banking facilities.

These activities brought Parker to the attention of US Intelligence Services, which were concerned about the strategic importance of the island, and also the Manila authorities, which in 1998 arrested him.

But he was later freed without  charge and deported back to the UK. However, he hated being back in Europe and soon returned to Asia.

“Dad finally found his way to what he described as his Shangri-la, Hat Yai in Southern Thailand,” said Sara.

“His great passion was actually writing and aged 55 he decided to move away from practising law and completed a teaching course. He then applied for a job at Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai where he became head of faculty and spent his remaining working years lecturing in law.

 

"He was very happy there, living a quiet life among the street dogs, which were actually his preferred companions.

“My father was not a materialistic person, he lived every day fully, although he earnt incredible sums he left HK on a flight with just $20 in his back pocket looking for his next adventure.

“He loved to travel and embraced local culture.

“Everyone who was lucky enough to meet him spoke fondly of him, this unique person, who actually touched their lives and made them be more of a free spirit like him.”

Parker with his constant companion Leo

Stuart Mason-Parker died in hospital in Hat Yai after suffering a lengthy lung illness and is to be cremated at a ceremony in a Buddhist temple there.

He is survived by three children, Christophe, Sara and Nicholas and one grandchild, Brooke.

They will particularly remember his bed time stories about Pooch, the stray dog, and him rescuing stray dogs in Shek O and Penang.

Even at the end in Hat Yai, his constant canine companion Leo was known as being like Parker – old but strong.