St Michael’s Institution, Ipoh.
I am indeed grateful to the SMI Alumni Association Klang Valley for organizing the Annual Dinner on the 28 April 2007, where school leavers for year 1967 were invited in conjunction with their 40th anniversary of leaving the magnificent Institution naming after His Holiness St Michael.
How to describe the feeling of someone who suddenly met up with the long-lost-acquaintances, of whom were totally parted for the past 40 years? It was really beyond description.
Before the dinner ended, the next appointment was made.
Our next gathering would be on the 5th January 2008, in Syuen Hotel, Ipoh, in conjunction with the marriage reception of Simon Yau’s son.
Trip to Ipoh
Left for Ipoh on 5 January 2008 before dawn. After checking-in at a hotel in the heart of Ipoh City, I contacted Meng Bok, who agreed to pick me up from the hotel where I stayed to the Syuen Hotel before 7:00pm. He came right on time with Choong Kooi.
View of the roof top of SMI from the hotel room.
How to describe the feeling of someone who suddenly met up with the long-lost-acquaintances, of whom were totally parted for the past 40 years? It was really beyond description.
Before the dinner ended, the next appointment was made.
Our next gathering would be on the 5th January 2008, in Syuen Hotel, Ipoh, in conjunction with the marriage reception of Simon Yau’s son.
Trip to Ipoh
Left for Ipoh on 5 January 2008 before dawn. After checking-in at a hotel in the heart of Ipoh City, I contacted Meng Bok, who agreed to pick me up from the hotel where I stayed to the Syuen Hotel before 7:00pm. He came right on time with Choong Kooi.
View of the roof top of SMI from the hotel room.
The Dinner
Stepping into the ballroom where the wedding reception was held, amazingly saw so many familiar faces. Some I had met during the Alumni’s dinner, while a few others I had not seen for the past 40 years, and what a shame that I couldn’t even recognize Moo Choy (Class monitor), Kah Guan and Joseph Leong.
There were altogether 14 old classmates and 2 teachers, namely Mr. Chan Khin Seng, our Form Master, and Mr. Wong Kee Fah, our History teacher.
Not all the 14 of us were staying in Ipoh. Michael Loke traveled all the way from Kuantan, while Marcel rushed down from Penang.
Stepping into the ballroom where the wedding reception was held, amazingly saw so many familiar faces. Some I had met during the Alumni’s dinner, while a few others I had not seen for the past 40 years, and what a shame that I couldn’t even recognize Moo Choy (Class monitor), Kah Guan and Joseph Leong.
There were altogether 14 old classmates and 2 teachers, namely Mr. Chan Khin Seng, our Form Master, and Mr. Wong Kee Fah, our History teacher.
Not all the 14 of us were staying in Ipoh. Michael Loke traveled all the way from Kuantan, while Marcel rushed down from Penang.
Kah Guan, Simon Lim and I were from Kuala Lumpur.
Tracing the images with a nostalgic class photo.
Tracing the images with a nostalgic class photo.
Chatting with Sirs.
Mr. Wong Kee Fah is still good with history.
He remembers the dates well.
In class, he taught us history without using text books.
All events were in his mind.
Let’s have a photo with Sirs.
“Sir, remember this person?”
Mr. Chan Khin Seng looking through the class photo.
During school, he conducted the moral class every morning.
For sure, we had not failed him.
The dinner ended,
but yet there were so much unfinished topics.
Still on the subject of the good old time.
Group Photo
Group Photo
A group photograph was taken before we left.
Seated: The spouses with Mr. Wong Kee Fah, Mr. Chan Khin Seng, Rev. Bro. Vincent.
Standing (L to R): Lee Keen Seong, Simon Yau Sai Yan, Yee Weng Hoon, Marcel Augustin, Loi Yew Kee, Divakaran, Ng Choong Kooi, Wong Meng Bok, Vincent Khoo Kah Guan, Simon Lim Bor Aik, Fu Suan Seng, Lai Moo Choy, Joseph Leong, Michael Loke Wai Leong
