PFS mini-reunion

My old school pals had a happy reunion today at the E&O Hotel today. Partly, the reason for this reunion was to celebrate that most of us are passing the seven-decade-old birthday this year. Time certainly has flown. I said "most of us" because there were a few at this reunion who have yet to reach this age, being from the Express class while in Primary Standard Two. In fact, technically, myself and Oon Hup consider ourselves "only" 68-plus as even our 69th birthdays are still half-a-year away! Then there are a very few who are already 71 because they were in the Remove class at Penang Free School. But by and large, the majority proudly wear the 70-year-old badge on their sleeves. 

This makan-makan session had been weeks in the planning. What was first planned as a get-together of friends from the 1969 Form 4 Science One class turned into an open invitation for schoolmates from the other classes to join in. Thus in the end, there were 17 of us old cocks, including three from Kuala Lumpur and another three from Australia. Could have been two more old cocks had they not pulled out at the last minute. And then, before we left the hotel, another old mate turned up with his wife! These pictures showed the sequence of events.

The full group at the lunch reunion. From left, Yoong Koy, Subramaniam, Seng Chye, Sip Choo, Eng Siang, Chang Meng, Sani, Oon Hup, Swee Poh, Guan Khim, Hock Soo (standing), Kean Chuan, Wooi Tong, Chye Chye, Kim Guan, Hock Thiam and I.

Picture taken after we had left the Sarkies Restaurant. As some had already gone back earlier, those left were Hock Thiam, Guan Khim, Sip Choo, Chang Meng, Yoong Koy, Chye Chye, Oon Hup, myself, Eng Siang, Wooi Tong, Seng Chye, Kim Guan and Hock Soo.

The final picture for the day. We were joined by a special friend from Singapore who had rushed down from the Penang international airport just to meet up with us. By them, our group had further dwindled in size to only seven, including our Singaporean friend. From left, Guan Khim, Oon Hup, Chang Meng, Kim Guan, Leong Teik, myself and Eng Siang.

ADDENDUM: There was another picture taken of five of us whose friendship went back even further to our Westlands Primary School days.

Chye Chye, Guan Khim, Oon Hup, myself and Subramaniam