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Singapore’s Jubilee year celebrations, all abuzz with the SG50
spirit, provided the perfect backdrop for the Class of 1981’s bash
on 1 August.
Our group would all have turned or would be turning 50 this year,
making the bash greatly significant for all present.
Having missed the previous get-togethers due to work commitments,
I was slightly apprehensive at meeting old friends, classmates and
teachers, many of whom I had not met since leaving school after
in 1981.
But I needn’t have worried.
As soon as my wife and II entered the doors of the Legends Ballroom
at Hotel Fort Canning, familiar faces came to greet me and it wasn’t
long before all of us were chatting as if we had only left school
yesterday. Soon smartphones were out and photographs, selfies
and wefies were being taken.
The always-strong ACS spirit was again in fine form as classmates
recalled how they had kept in touch through the years.
The organizing committee did a great job of coordinating the latest
event, with the 170-odd attendees being one of the largest that
had attended an ACS gathering.
Past teachers Mrs Lee Gek Kim who flew in from Melbourne,
Australia where she now lives, Mr R Sachidanandan (Mr Sachi),
Mr Ang Kok Tong,
Ms Angeline Khoo,
Mrs Sylvia Chan,
Mrs Esther
Foo, Ms Christine Bok and Mrs Lim Ghaik Kee, gamely joined in
the fun and laughter.
Alan Fu,
chairman of the organizing
committee, led us in a prayer
for Mr Sng Haw Par,
our former Anglo-Chinese Primary
School teacher, who was unable
to attend due to illness, and
emcees Hubert Tang
and actor-host
Nicholas Lee soon had the crowd in
stitches as they shared stories of past pranks and antics – several
of which Mr Sachi could still remember after all those years!
Mrs Lee Gek Kim delighted us with her cool rendition of the Keely
Smith classic ““I Wish You Love”.
Then everyone united to sing a medley of Dick Lee’ss
Home and the ACS
anthem, rearranged as a tribute
to the late Mr Earnest
Lau by Bernard Chan - 170 voices combined in passion to pound
out the lyrics. How my heart swelled with pride to hear and sing
those lyrics after 34 years!!
When the watches showed 11pm, most of us didn’t want to leave.
Meanwhile, future gatherings and parties have been planned with
WhatsApp chat groups already in full swing.
I am already looking forward to the next gathering..
Check us out on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
groups/acss81/.
Truly, The Best Is Yet To Be!
Arul John (Sec 4D)
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