On 12 February 2007, nearly 60 members of our
Class 1957 from Singapore and far-flung corners of the earth converged at
the The Temasek Club, Portsdown Road, for our 50th Anniversary Reunion
Dinner. It was a fitting, pulsating climax after a year of intensive
preparations that involved the painstaking task of tracking down long lost
classmates through the Internet, e-mails, snail-mails and telephone calls.
Glad to say, the laborious efforts paid off and resulted in a happy and
memorable evening of hearty laughter, jokes, and karaoke sessions. Glasses
clinked and chopsticks clicked. Along with five former teachers, we feasted
in true Chinese New Year dining tradition on Yusheng dishes and other
delicacies.
The 1957 cohort has become part of a global village as classmates from North
America, Australia , Britain, Hongkong and Sabah jet-hopped to Singapore to
touch base with their local counterparts and relive the enjoyable
experiences they shared during their childhood and teenage years.
Many have not met for four or five decades. Yet, they chatted and bantered
with such ease and familiarity, as if they were separated by a mere few
months. Indeed, distance and time have not kept them apart. For they are
bonded together by the ACS spirit, where their "hearts, hopes and aims are
one" - as the school anthem puts it.
The presence of so many of the cohort from overseas here in Singapore at the
same time presented opportunities for a number of smaller gatherings; this
included one hosted by Bill Tan at Rasa Sentosa and lunch hosted by Wee Houe
at his home. And Norman Wee very generously opened his home and hosted
dinner on 14 February. As it was Valentine's Day, wives were also invited to
finally meet the 'boys'. The evening was another opportunity for more
cajoling, renewing of ties and friendships.
The reunion and the related events will indeed remain etched in the minds of
many, whose parting words are "When is the next reunion?"
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