THE COUNTRY's oldest schools held their respective annual academic events and reunions to mark their distinctive historical marks in Penang.
Recently, the Penang Free School celebrated its 208th anniversary graced by the Yang di - Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak at its historical premise along Jalan Masjid Negri here.
The Governor was met on arrival by the principal Syed Sultan Shaik Oothuman and Roland @ Rozaidi Abdu Hassan, an official with the state education department.
The Old Frees Association (OFA) also hosted a dinner at the St Giles - Wembley Hotel for their alumni where Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo was present.
The OFA celebrated their 101st anniversary with a sumptuous dinner, charity rollouts to several bodies and much laughter as well as bemusement to mark the occasion.
Jagdeep pledged to help the school with the purchase of some digital equipment for their computer laboratories.
Earlier, the fifth oldest school - the St Xavier's Institution which was founded formally in 1852 continued their tradition of hosting school reunions among the old boys.
Although SXI was said to have been founded in 1787, but due to some technical oversight, it went unrecognised, the school's old boys similar to the OFA beamed with pride about the school and the achievements of its students in Malaysian society.
The SXI Class of 1981/1983 also held a reunion within the school compound.
The students and teachers hailed from St Xavier’s Primary, St Xavier’s Branch, La Salle Primary schools as well as St Xavier’s Institution.
The event, held in the school hall, saw an impressive turnout of more than 130 ex-students and 20 former teachers and guests.
Organising chairman Mark Stephen recollected the cohort’s suggestion 10 years ago, during the 50th birthday gathering, to install air conditioners at the Heah Joo Seang Hall and they were now able to enjoy the cool air.
Emcee David Chew then took centre stage, guiding the crowd through a rousing rendition of the school song, which was met with enthusiastic applause.
In a reflective segment, the attendees paid a heartfelt tribute to those who have passed on, honouring the memory of their departed friends and ex-schoolmates.
The alumni of SXI in Penang pride themselves by holding monthly reunions every month for their old boys of various years, said the board chairman Victor Tan.
It has become a routine obligation for the school board members of the nation's second oldest school to be invited to attend and of late, the school's famed bagpipers club, are also in attendance to live up the spirits of their old boys.
The Class of 1971/1973 had earlier gathered at the community hall of the City of Dreams condominiums in Straits Quay to mark the occasion that they are now 70 - years old.
Organising chairperson John Tan, who is the eldest brother of Victor, said that it is always a pleasant surprise to host such gatherings as one never realises the importance of multi-racialism until one sees the old boys together - laughing and eating as one.
The bagpipers were led by the current Brother - Director Jason Blaikie, who played his instrument to his heart's content to cheer on the old boys. - October 31, 2024.
