Last Thursday, we were treated to a remarkable story when Christine Betterton-Jones shared the tale of the Red String of Fate at a joint meeting of Travellers Tales and the History Group.
But what exactly is the Red String of Fate? It’s an ancient belief from East Asia, rooted in Chinese mythology, that an invisible red thread binds two people destined to be soulmates or crucial figures in each other’s lives—no matter the time, place, or circumstances.
Christine’s account took us back to 1930s China, a time torn apart by war, where her parents’ unlikely paths crossed. Stan Betterton, who left school at 14 to become a sign writer, had embraced Quaker pacifism and joined the Friends Ambulance Unit in 1941. He was part of a vital mission, transporting humanitarian supplies through Burma to China, then under brutal Japanese invasion.
On the other side, Margaret Chang Kwei Ching was the daughter of a wealthy and influential Shanghai family. Her life was upended when her first husband, married to her through arrangement, died fleeing the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1942.
Margaret became a liaison officer for the Friends Ambulance Unit, where fate intertwined her story with Stan’s. Their meeting was the moment the Red String truly tied them together. They moved to London in 1947, welcomed Christine into the world, and began their new life in a small North London home.
Behind this personal story lies a backdrop of global upheaval. Yet Christine told it with a blend of honesty and warmth, sharing tales of Margaret’s struggle and resilience adapting to the harsh realities of post-war London, and of course Stan’s unselfish support for the Chinese people in their battles for survival in the 1940s.
Her talk was a masterclass in storytelling, weaving together history, travel, and family legacy. After a thoughtful Q&A, Group Leaders Angela Chantry and Keith Smith expressed their thanks, marking the end of an unforgettable afternoon.
