Sin Jelly Belly of Weihaiwei

Joy Packer was a journalist, writer, radio broadcaster and keen traveller. She was also a “China bird”, the wife of a Royal Navy officer stationed with the Far Eastern Station, based usually either in Hong Kong or Weihaiwei (Weihai). Her autobiography Pack and Follow (1953) has many amusing and interesting China- and Asia-related stories including that of Sin Jelly Belly…

Sin Jelly Belly was, in the 1930s, was Weihaiwei’s naval outfitter. He was apparently an excellent tailor able to run up perfect fitting naval officers uniforms in a matter of hours. His son Jelly Belly Junior inherited both the business and his fathers large stomach.

The only problem was that (being trustworthy naval officers) they would leave their tailor a cheque which he would cash with his bank in Weihaiwei – when the London bank saw a payment required to a Mr Jelly Belly they were often rather suspicious of a fraud.