Hargreaves House

Hargreaves House. One of the original five sport houses in Penang Free School when they were set up by Headmaster David R Swaine in 1928 to replace the old system. The other Houses were named after Pinhorn, Hamilton, Cheeseman and Wu Lien-teh.

During my time in the school, from 1966 till 1972, Hargreaves House was the joker in the pack. Never first among the six sport houses (Tunku Putra House was added to the list in 1967) at the School Sports and usually languishing last or near the bottom in the standings.

An empty streak that lasted from 1959 till 1977. Significantly, ever since the School began keeping records after the Second World War, the boys (and girls) Hargreaves House only woke up in the Sports Day of 1958, 1977, 1987, 1994 and 1996. All somnambulists in the other years' competitions.

Therefore, I was quite amazed when I turned up for Sports Day at the Free School on 27 April 2019 to find Hargreaves House leading the field. At the top of the heap. This was the grip that the House held throughout and as the day progressed, the gap grew wider. Such was the dominance of Hargreaves House that I couldn't resist having a picture taken with the scoreboard. After all, this is still my House. I'm proud of their turnaround 😂