Free School reunites

My alma mater, Penang Free School, will celebrate its 210th anniversary in October this year. Not on the 21st of October, though, as that date apparently clashes with the examination schedule. Instead, the main celebrations will take place on the first and third of October, with the school's Speech Day on Thursday the first, followed two days later by a full day of activities organised by the Penang Free School Foundation (Yayasan Penang Free School), culminating in a homecoming dinner that evening.

The celebrations are not merely about marking another milestone in the school's long history. They are also an opportunity to bring the Free School community together, reconnect Old Frees with their old school and, perhaps most importantly, look towards the future.

The programme begins on Thursday, 01 October 2026, with the Penang Free School 210th Speech Day which will recognise students who have excelled in academics, leadership, sports and service. There will also be a thanksgiving and prayer gathering on the second day, but the real action for Old Frees comes the following morning.

Free School Reunites on Saturday, 03 October 2026 will feature sports and other activities, together with a Free School Guide Walkabout. It will give Old Frees from different generations a chance to return to their alma mater, meet old friends and perhaps rediscover some familiar corners of the school. In other words, it is the Homecoming, so Old Frees should mark the date.

That evening, the Penang Free School 210th Anniversary Dinner will bring together alumni, students, teachers, distinguished guests and friends of the school to celebrate 210 years of history and achievement.

There will also be a visit and service at the Founder’s Tomb on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 to pay tribute to Robert Sparke Hutchings whose vision led to the establishment of Penang Free School in 1816.

For 210 years, Penang Free School has produced generations of scholars, sportsmen and gentlemen who have gone on to make their mark in society and the nation. This anniversary is therefore not merely about looking back at what has been achieved. It is an opportunity for the wider Free School family to come together, celebrate what binds us and look towards what lies ahead.