Chinese visitors

Several representatives from a Wu Lien-Teh research society based in Beijing, China, are currently visiting this region to learn more about Dr Wu Lien-Teh. Their travels had taken them to Singapore before they headed in Penang and from here, they will be proceeding to Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur in the next few days. Where else in Penang would they visit first but Penang Free School where Wu Lien-Teh (also known as Gnoh Lean Tuck during his schooldays) had his roots? He was the Head Prefect in 1894.

Having known of this visit more than a month ago from The Wu Lien-Teh Society Penang, I had arranged for the Free School Guiders to be available to show the Chinese visitors around the School. First stop was the Pinhorn Hall where they congregated at the back, careful not to disturb a school function taking place at the same time, contentedly paying attention to the wall plaques. Apart from the Head Boys plaque, a lot of their interest was also on the Queen's Scholars plaque where Gnoh Lean Tuck's name had featured.

From the Pinhorn Hall, they proceeded to the Archives Block to look at the precious Wu Lien-Teh books and photographs. They spent quite a while there and ended up exchanging souvenirs with the school's Senior Assistant, Leonard Selva. I have to thank the Free School Guiders and the School Prefects for spending some time with us. And also to the Headmaster, Syed Sultan, for permission to walk around the premises.