WHEN he was asked by his son, Paul at his birthday in September, 2018, if he could make it to 100, Frank Hilton gave a big smile and said “I’ll try”.
The 98-year-old may not have reached a century, but he sure lived a good life.
A pioneer, a fighter for the rights of children living with disabilities — this English gentleman who left the comforts of chilly England would pass away in sunny palm swaying island Fiji, a country he would call home since he arrived in 1967.
Mr Hilton passed away peacefully at the Home of Compassion on January 2, 2019.
His eldest daughter, Patricia Davies said her father was a kind and loving man who left behind a legacy not only in Fiji but the Pacific.
“He came to Fiji with mum 51 years ago, on a two-year posting to help establish a special education school, but decided to stay on because he felt there was so much to do,” said Patricia.
“He was dedicated to Fiji and to the children who lived with disabilities.”
Born on September 26, 1920 at Bury (near Manchester) Lancashire, England to parents Henry and Hilda Hilton, Frank served in the Royal Air Force during World War II from 1938 to 1945. He married Honora (Nora) Ashworth and had four children — Patricia, Michael, Paul and Martin.
Mr Hilton trained to become a schoolteacher and later migrated to Australia in 1958.
According to his son Paul, Mr Hilton joined the Department of Education in Sydney and taught in a number of public schools.
“He took a particular interest in special education in the early 1960s and was promoted to the position of principal at a Special Education School in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
“In April 1967, he was seconded by the Australian Government to establish special education in Fiji, which included educational and support facilities for physically handicapped, blind and deaf children,” he said.
In 1969, Mr Hilton started the Suva Crippled Children School (now Hilton Special School) with just 25 children who were brought in from around the country.
He travelled extensively within Fiji to identify the handicapped, blind and deaf children and made arrangements for them to obtain any possible medical attention through the medical department and was instrumental in setting up similar schools and support in other Pacific Islands.
Paul remembers these travels with fondness.
“My brother and I grew up here and we’d accompany dad and mum to villages and even went right to the Lau Group so it’s been part of our lives just as much as it has been for dad. He was able to get these children to receive operation — some were actually sent overseas for operations.”
Mr Hilton was later honoured with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Companion of the Order of Fiji (COF) by the Fiji Government in addition to a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary International.
His tireless work resulted in the formation of the Hilton Organisation, which manages the Hilton Special School, the Hilton Early Intervention Centre and the Hilton House Hostel.
His biggest supporter, Nora wholeheartedly assisted him in all that he did at the same time while raising four children.
She passed away in 2013.
“Mr Hilton would often ask ‘why do I live long, am I blessed?” described his caregiver Viti Marseu.
“I would tell him of course Mr Hilton, you are indeed blessed.”
Mr Hilton is survived by three of his four children, 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
