Passionate old ACSians never forget their roots.

Even long after leaving school, we are well linked by the inimitable ACS Spirit.

On 14 November 2003, our Class of ’51 visited our beloved Alma Mater in the new ACS Barker Road Campus. With Caesar’s “veni vidi vici” echoing in our minds, we took a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.

As we toured the pristine campus – arguably one of the best secondary schools in Singapore - there was this undoubted magnetic force reinforced by our social glue at work in spirit and mind.  Our group, which included David Sun from Tustin, California, USA and K. Chandran from Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom, soon found our bearings from the new Clock Tower quite effortlessly. In 1951, the three final year classrooms, then designated Senior A, B and C, were located on a slight slope next to the old Clock Tower. Not to miss the historic significance of our visit, we stood proudly, close to the very location for a group photograph which so aptly bears testimony to our long and happy association with the School.

Historically, it must be remembered that within these 3 classrooms we spent one of the best years of our lives, “doing, nothing much”.

We must record with thanks our appreciation to the illustrious ACS (Barker Road) Principal, Mr. Ng Eng Chin, for permission to organize this sentimental journey. Mission accomplished, we dispersed as quickly as we came.

Fellowship lunch at Mooi Chin Restaurant was a different kettle of fish. As we relaxed, unplugged, joked, shouted, and recalled the good old days, one inevitable question crossed some minds. How many of us will be able to enjoy and witness our grandson(s) ‘graduate’ from ACS (Barker Road) or better still, share the joy when grandson(s) bring home a book prize or two before completing Secondary 4 in the coming years?

The ultimate ‘prize’ of ACS history is the acquisition of a deeper understanding of its Past, Present and Future. If you disregard history, you will miss the ACSian connectivity. The Class of ’51 constituted an integral part of prewar and postwar student population. In view of our commitment, we are now firmly plugged into the OBA Alumni System. We “un-stan” (understand) as Mr. Chan Siew Jiang did, that the Future augurs well for all future generations to come.

Yes, our recent memorable journey back to Barker Road provided a wonderful seminal experience. Enriching, refreshing and simply nostalgic. What’s next? Will old men dream dreams? Definitely!

Mr. Sng Cheok Kye

Class of ‘51