“When I’m 64” was the theme for this reunion dinner for the cohort which left school in 1967 O level, and 1969 A level, celebrating 45 years of having left ACS.

Planning started early because we were determined to search for classmates with whom we had lost contact. We found quite a few them. Canada: Ho Poh Lin, Susheela Daniel, Dick Ho, Florence Fam & Yong Hon Sung; USA: Annie Ho, Kanayson Kiribala, Ruby Lee, Shueh Mayen, Oscar Chung and Jeannette; Donald Woo in the Netherlands; Carol Cheong in the UK; New Zealand: Rajendran, Yong Chyan and Lai Wah.

We even found our A level teacher Ms Wong Mei Lin in Toronto, Canada!

Many returned from overseas to celebrate the event with our Singapore based schoolmates: Rhordon from Canada; Rajendran, Yong Chyan and Lai Wah from New Zealand; Ruby and Annie from the USA; Kee Juan from China; John Thomas, Rabi, Hin Bian, Deepak, Tony, Penny, Bock Chye & Manjit from Australia; Avtar from Thailand.

Rhordon came back to Singapore 2 weeks earlier and stayed with Scouting-mates for more personal bonding over meals and other mini-reunions before and after the event.

For example, Rhordon & his wife Leila, Kong Chung and Cyrus went to Bali; Yong Chyan and Lai Wai came a few days earlier and with Rhordon and wife, were entertained to a “Roti Prata” making session at the Casuarina restaurant. These few weeks before gave us opportunities to catch up and reminisce our good old days.

The committee met regularly intending to plan for the dinner but these meetings were sessions of food, wine, fun and fellowship, when we caught up with one another.

On the 10th of May, 2014, a total of 130 persons attended the dinner, held at the Singapore Island Club Ballroom. 10 teachers turned up for the dinner but we missed the presence of Mr Earnest Lau and Mr Lee Hah Ing. Mr Lenn said grace for us and, after singing the school anthem with great gusto at full volume, we dug into the food.

The reunion dinners for our cohort are special because we include the girls who joined us in the Pre-U years, recognising their contribution to our lives. They are often involved in organising the dinner, and entertainment. Mr Lee Hah Ing, in his last address to this group in 2004 remarked that “We loved each other dearly”.

To entertain us this time, Wai Hong and Terence, as MCs for the night sang the Cliff Richard song “When I am 64” making an amusing entrance, acting as geriatrics with walking sticks to boot. This set the theme for the night as many or us are or will be 64 soon.

Next, Jeffrey Leow shared with us his reflections, regaling us with his amusing anecdotes of our days of yore.

The ACS Glee Club was well known for their folksy, guitar backed singing and had made appearances at the Kuala Lumpur and Penang Methodist Festival of Sports. Some ex-Glee Club members like Wei Min and Wai Hong on the guitar; Piah Woon, Ai Kiong, Irene, Greta, Annie, Terence and Rosalind, got together to play and sing a medley of songs from the 60's: Leaving on a Jet plane, Turn Turn Turn, For Baby.

The dinner ended with group photograph taking and the nostalgic singing of Auld Lang Syne. Many stayed back to finish off the wine and catch up with one another.

Ng Wei Min, Sec 4C, Pre U 2 Science A

The Swimming Team: Kok Choy, Penny, Mr Ying,
Mr Lenn Wei Ling, Jeffrey, Ruby, Irene,
Henry (Kok Hui), Tony (Seck Ping), Frank.