Cowboys @ OFA

An absolutely grand dinner last night at the St Giles Wembley, held to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of The Old Frees’ Association. I’d arranged for most of the chess-playing crowd to be seated together in a little area of the ballroom where conversation drifted between good food, old memories and, inevitably, chess.

Just some of the chess-playing members, together!

Apart from Saw See and I, there were Han Boon and partner, and Cheng Teik and spouse. Chian Min (CM) and Ronnie came solo without theirs. Lih Fong regretted that I had arranged for the chess players to be together, and he wasn't at it. But he was lucky to sit at the next table and so, he was quite nearby, Kannan told me that he had already prearranged to sit with the pickleball group, while Peng Seng was quietly placed somewhere else, having indicated nothing to me about his arrangements. Kai Ming, having left our chatgroup some time ago, was completely oblivious to our intentions, but he has his kakis too, I'm sure of it! I'm also pretty sure that next year, there'll be more people at the chess table when the others realise how much they had missed being around chess friends!

Chess aside, the other CM, Chow Kong Yow, was the guest of honour at the dinner. He spoke at length but sorry, I missed his speech completely as someone was engaging me in some conversation regarding an old absent friend of ours. 

I bumped into numerous other friends and acquaintances from across the years and also some Present Frees who were with the Board of Prefects, the School Band and the Free School Guiders. The headmaster, Syed Sultan, too was present, which marked the ever close relationship which The Old Frees' Association shared with Penang Free School.

Some may wonder why I had not chosen to sit with my old school cronies this time. For the past umpteen years, my classmates and schoolmates have managed to fill up at least one table at the OFA dinners. But this year, despite me asking them, none of them were interested in attending. This was a great disappointment to me. A new low in my opinion. At the very worst previously, there would be some of us filling up almost the full table of 10 diners. But not this year. I checked with the OFA office and saw none of my schoolmate friends' names in the register. Asking them once was good enough, not going to ask them twice. So I left it at that. 

That said, I still had Siang Juan and his wife at my chess table to fill in the remaining two slots. The surprise was to suddenly see Hock Siew saunter across the ballroom to where we were seated. He had noticed me and came over. Boy, was I surprised to meet him. Back from Melbourne where he now resides for a wedding here, and he took the opportunity to attend the dinner before flying back to Australia. Hock Siew is one of my oldest pals. Knew him from Standard Two at Westlands Primary School and from there, to Penang Free School together. 

Here's a picture of me with the Free School Guiders: Johan on my left and Nordin on my right together with Agilan, this year's School Captain. When we first met, Agilan and Nordin were only in Form Three. They'll be sitting for their SPM examinations next month. Here's wishing them good luck! As Free School boys, I' sure they'll do good in any examination.