It is with deep regret and sorrow the family announce the passing of Mr. U Kumuda, lovingly known to everyone as Grandad (PhoPho). He was a cherished grandfather, father and friend, beloved by all who knew him during his incredible 97 years of life. PhoPho passed away peacefully on Monday, 10th November 2025, in the comfort of his own home in Feltham, Middlesex. Surrounded by those he loved in his final moments, he now joins those he dearly missed, in a better place. 

PhoPho was born in Pyay, in the Bago region of Myanmar on the 20th of February 1928, to his father, Oo San Min, and his mother, Daw Than Shin. His father was a headteacher, and it was during this time that PhoPho began to study English. 

In 1942 and 1945, during the second world war, Myanmar was occupied by Japan. During this time, PhoPho joined the British reserve army in Myanmar as a young teenager. Following the country’s independence in 1948, he joined the Burmese military Directorate of Signals (Myanmar Signal Corps). PhoPho spent more than 20 years in Pyin Oo Lwin; the primary base of the Myanmar Signal Corps. During this time, he worked as an electronic signal teacher and was the Head Mayor for 8 years. In 1957, he married Daw Sein Sein and together they had seven children. 

Of these seven children, PhoPho is survived by: Daw Nwe Nwe and her children, Ma Sandar Lwin, Tim Min Aung and Ko Ko Lwin; Daw Theingi and her children, Soe Lwin Lwin, Zayar Aung and Aung BoBo; U Aung Kyi and his children, Nan Htut Aung and Zayar Thut and, Ma Phyu Phwe and her children, Ma Thit Sar and Maung Pyin Nyar. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. Soe Lwin. 

In 1965, he travelled to Japan on a scholarship to study Radiotransmitting and Receiving at the Shiogama School, alongside four military comrades. He retired from the Army around 1977/78, but continued working in the civil service for eight more years. In 1987, Daw Sein Sein passed away and at the end of 1988, aged 60 and following the 1988 Uprising, PhoPho became a monk. As part of becoming a monk, he was renamed to U Kumuda (previously U Kyi Min). In the early period of his monkhood, he travelled through different towns in West Myanmar along the coast near Toungup on a religious pilgrimage. During this pilgrimage, he stayed in various monasteries and helped to educate young children. 

The first time PhoPho came to England was in 1995, as a Buddhist minister. A few years later in 1997/98, he moved permanently and settled in the Birmingham monastery before later moving to the Waterloo monastery (which has since relocated to Colindale). He also spent time at the London Vihara in Wembley. As a Buddhist minister, PhoPho travelled around Europe, South East and East Asia for teaching and religious purposes.

On the 9th of December 2004, together with the Birmingham Senior Head Monk, he attended the World Buddhist Summit in Yangon, held at the Maha Pasana Cave. This international peace conference brought together Buddhists from around the world, including as far as Russia, to promote working towards a peaceful world. A couple years later, PhoPho was recognised as an Ambassador for Peace by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP). This recognition best encapsulates PhoPho’s life long values; living for the sake of others and contributing to a unified world of peace.

In 2011, he travelled to Kathmandu in Nepal to meditate as a monk with his best friend, U Zaw. At the Himalayan mountains, he retired as a monk after 23 years. However, his age did stop him from travelling. In the upcoming years, he visited India, the Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, PhoPho met Aung San Suu Kyi, the prominent Burmese politician and activist, known for her fight against the military rule of Myanmar and her advocation for human rights. To celebrate her election win of 2015, he was invited as an honoured veteran of the country. During this event, Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged PhoPho’s service in Myanmar’s fight for independence by re-badging his Order of the Star of the Revolution First Class medal; an honour awarded to those who contributed to the independence struggle across 1942 and 1945.

PhoPho has left behind a great legacy, not just in history, but also within each of us. Beyond his life’s achievements, those who knew him well will remember his wisdom, endurance and his deep desire to care for those he loved. He enjoyed cooking, often wearing his blue apron and preparing meals for his family and friends. Even when he could no longer cook, he would ensure a warm, heart-filling meal was always provided, often saying, “Medicine is food, food is medicine.” This was one of the many ways he expressed his love. As his granddaughter (Ma Thit Sar), I have fond memories of quiet, cold early mornings, when he would go into the garden to stretch while listening to the birds. He always told us that stretching was the key to his long and healthy life and loved to impart his words of wisdom whenever he could. He was sociable, loved eating pizza, cherished the company of his friends and often spent hours on the phone with them while cooking or watching tennis on TV. The house was never quiet with him, but lively and a home, and he was truly a father figure to many.

PhoPho’s final message was to live life following the ‘middle path’; to avoid both positive and negative extremes in life, have right speech, right actions and right thought to follow a balanced path in life. Although PhoPho’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, let us be reminded that the parts of him which we cherished continue to live on within each of us. Each of us are a mosaic of who we love.

The family request that any charitable contributions be made directly to them, to be passed on to the Myanmar Bright Star Children’s Charity Centre, in accordance with Grandad’s wish that the donations support his country and its children. Alternatively, these contributions will also be made to the local Burmese Buddhist temple (Sansa Ramsi Myanmar Buddhist Centre, SRMBC). 

Please join the family for the reception at the family home for food and drink, as PhoPho would have desired. Details for the reception will be listed below.