Marching towards the Centenary

The 21st of October is a very busy but special day for me. For the past decade or so, I find my demeanour undergo three distinct mood changes as the day progresses from morning to night. My schedule starts off very solemnly enough as I fit in a visit to the old heritage Protestant Cemetary in Northam Road. There, I would join the Prefects and teachers of Penang Free School and Hutchings Secondary School for the annual commemorative service for Robert Sparke Hutchings. The service is led by the Ministers from the nearby St Geroge's Church and normally, I notice the presence of some other Old Frees as well as a few parishioners from the Church.

The Free School Prefects and their Senior Assistant, Leonard Selva

Revd Ho Kong Eng and Revd Tim Nichols leading the commemorative service

The School Prefects with their past and present Senior Assistants, Ho Nean Chan and Leonard Selva

The Old Frees at the conclusion of the service

Three of the Old Frees who had participated in a past PFS leadership workshop. Former School Headboy, Inesh, on the right

Another group picture of the Old Frees

Front view of Hutchings' grave

Side view of Hutchings' grave

The text of the Order of Service (top and bottom)

Inclusive of the singing of the school songs, the service ended after 15 minutes

The recording is, unfortunately, not clear as I had forgotten to adjust the camera's setting. But it was still possible to follow the service from start to finish.

From the Protestant Cemetary, I proceeded to the Free School for their 206th anniversary Speech Day. In the last 13 years, I've only missed Speech Day once in 2018. Last year's Speech Day was a very low-key event in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and was held at the Penang Digital Library at the far end of the school field. In fact, it was almost cancelled until The Old Frees' Association impressed on the previous Headmaster that it must be held to uphold the tradition to mark the School's anniversary. But this year, the situation is almost back to normal and Speech Day was again held at the Pinhorn Hall with a new Penang Governor and Headmaster marking the formal occasion. My mood was decidedly upbeat - a change from the solemnity of the visit to Hutchings' grave - when I arrived at the Free School and put on my jacket.

Myself with Dr PP Shah and Johnny Ooi

Arrival of the Penang Governor. It would be Ahmad Fuzi's first time at a Penang Free School
Speech Day after being appointed to this position last year.

Greeted by the School's kompang and Chinese drums

The Guard of Honour awaits him too

The story behind this ceremony is that traditionally, the Free School pupils wear metal badges on their shirt but somehow along the way, the metal badges gave way to cloth badges. In the last few years, there was an effort to bring the metal badges back into usage as it was recognised as a school tradition. But let me say that during my time in Free School, none of us wore any badge - metal or cloth - on our tunic. Free School boys stood out by not wearing any badge at all.

TO BE CONTINUED.....