SEREMBAN: FRANCIS Xavier Pritam Singh was beaming as he recalled his schooldays’ exploits at the Old Paulians Association (OPA) annual dinner held at the Royale Bintang Resort in Seremban recently.
Francis, 68, is a former Seremban post manager and was an OPA committee member until 2012.
“Back in 1964, I represented St Paul’s Institution in football, hockey and athletics.
“I am still playing badminton and was the state singles champion in 1976.
“Our 1964 batch took five years to regroup at today’s dinner to celebrate our 50th year through Facebook and the Internet.”
Ng Ah Ming was strong in athletics, representing SPI in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
He was a physical education lecturer in Specialist Teachers Training College (MPIK) from 1981 to 1987 and in Technical Teachers College (MPT) from 1987 to 1991.
Currently an insurance agency manager in Kuala Lumpur, Ng said: “Although I was a sprinter, I won the state combined schools meet in the A Division (boys’ Under-18) javelin.
“I recall being trained by DK Dutt and John House master Chin Kong Foo. Apart from being the athletics captain, I also captained the football team.”
Another schoolmate is Richard Lim Kong Poh, who was a teacher and athletics coach in La Salle Petaling Jaya and SMK Sultan Abdul Samad.
Lim has lived in Adelaide, Australia with his wife Agatha Fah and two daughters since 1988.
With his left shoulder in a sling, he said: “Unfortunately, this afternoon I had a fall near a shopping centre in Seremban Two just hours before this dinner but I was determined to attend it to meet all my former classmates.
“Back home, I still play badminton in a club and do gardening during my free time.”
Also residing in Adelaide are Vincent Chong and wife Gidget Chui.
Chong, who has two daughters and three grandchildren said: “I retired from the RMAF as an acting Lieutenant Colonel and worked in Adelaide as chief pilot and flight instructor until I hurt my back.
“In the SPI athletics A Division team, I was a 100m, 200m and 4x100m runner as well as a sergeant in the Cadet Corps.”
Hilary Sta Maria had the honour of serving SPI as the principal from 1998 to 2004.
Hilary, who represented SPI in athletics as well as football and hockey as a forward, said: “It was good to have had the opportunity to meet up after having left school 50 years ago.”
-NST
