Gerry was born in Guangzhou, China and came to Manchester as a teenager with his family, completed his education in UK, graduated from University of York and joined the family business, Yang Sing Restaurant, at its inception, and also ran the family’s restaurants at the Trafford Centre.
Gerry had been a successful restaurateur for over 40 years and during this time has also been involved in property development and, in recent years, in building education links with China. However, He retired from the restaurant business during Covid in 2020.
The success of the Yang Sing and its great popularity gave him an opportunity to become a real part of the community of Manchester. He has great affection for and pride in his adopted home. In fact, he now describes himself as a Chinese Mancunian!
Gerry has been actively involved in the commercial, educational, charitable and cultural life of the city of Manchester for many years. During which he has enjoyed a variety of roles with MOSI, the Prince’s Trust, MIDAS, Withington Girls’ School and The University of Manchester, to name but a few.
In 2003 he was honoured to become the first Chinese President of Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He received honorary doctorates from University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan university and University of Bolton and was awarded The University Medal of Honour by the University of Manchester.
He is currently President of one of Manchester’s oldest charities, Disabled Living, a governor of Bury Grammar School, and a trustee of the Palace Theatre & Opera House Trust.
As a respected member of the Chinese community, he often acts as their spokesperson. He works closely with Manchester China Forum and is a member of the Advisory Board of UK National Committee on China. He is leading the community, working with RHS, in the creation of a classical Chinese Garden, the Chinese Streamside Garden, in Garden Bridgewater in Worsley.
In 2017-18, Gerry held the role of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. He connected and engaged with the charitable, voluntary, faith, ethnic, cultural and business communities in Greater Manchester and was inspired by the strong sense of community, civic pride, generosity of spirit, innovative energy, enterprise and good will that he found. He describes his shrieval year as: ‘enjoyably busy, brilliantly fun, amazing, exhilarating and sometimes extremely moving.’