Class of '66 Grand Reunion
"Is it not a pleasure to learn, and to repeat the learning periodically? Is it not a delight to have a friend visit from faraway?" ( Lunyu [The Analects], Book 1, section 1.)
The SPC Class of '66 ("Old Boys" who graduated in Form 5 in 1966) is glad to report its 2nd (annual) reunion gathering this year which was celebrated with a dinner at the facilities of Hong Kong Medical Association (2 nd Floor, Chinese Club Building, 21-22 Connaught Road Central) on November 2, 2007. Prior to this year's reunion, there had been a tremendous flurry of electronic mail activity as well as physical and actual meetings among members of the Class of '66 scattered all over the world, resulting in the rejuvenation of many connections and friendships and heightened interest in the reunion activities. Thirty-two members of the Class managed to attend the November 2 gathering, along with seven former members of the faculty of SPC who had been our teachers and mentors.
Many fond – albeit perhaps a bit hoary – memories were shared by the members of the Class and by our former teachers, as well as news of many classmates who are now living in places faraway and were thus unable to partake of the joy of the reunion with us in person. Time may have passed and memories may have become less reliable than they once were, even with the aid of the many old and sometimes faded photographs that were passed around at the dinner, and yet the happiness that we saw on one another's faces as (literally) old friends met again who had not seen each other for decades is a priceless gift that we shall forever hold dear.
We were particularly blessed that Dr. John Kennard, currently Principal of our alma mater was able to find time to attend this gathering and to address the "old boys". Dr. Kennard informed us regarding current developments at St. Paul's, such as the status of the School's DSS funding and plans to preserve and renovate our beloved Wong Ming Him Hall and to convert it into an archival space for alumni. He gave us an update on the circulation of From Diversity to Plurality, a five-decades (1951-2001) history of St. Paul's College published at the time of its sesquicentennial in 2001. Principal Kennard furthermore informed us of plans, on the part of SPC, to publish another history of the School in 2011 on its 160 th anniversary. He told us that oral history activities, such as his own interviews with individuals intimately connected with the School's past, such as Mrs. Speak, are already underway in preparation of this valuable historical project. Dr. Kennard also extended a gracious invitation to the Class of '66 to visit SPC whenever we have the opportunity, and urged us to hold future reunion activities at Wong Ming Him Hall.
"Glorious Apollo, from on high beheld us, wandering to find a temple for his praise." The joy of the evening was crown with music that the SPC choir performed in the Hong Kong Interscholastic Music Festival during the years we were attending SPC, evoking memories of the camaraderie among members of the Class who were in the choir as well as of our music teachers who trained our voices and conducted our choir. We were delighted to be informed by Dr. Kennard that in the most recent annual interscholastic choir competition, our "successors" – the SPC choir of today – repeated the triumph of the 1965 choir in winning the Lam Chi Fung Trophy, awarded to the "champion of champions" in the competition. On that victorious note, assured that Justice, Honour, Truth and Virtue, the deepest and most precious core values of SPC tradition, are safe in good hands and in the hearts and minds of all generations of SPC alumni, we took leave of a wonderful evening, pledging to "Once again we here foregather" in November 2008, and to keep our friendships and our connection to alma mater fresh and flourishing through many years to come.
Part 2: Grand Reunion Photo
Left to Right
Front Row:
Wu Lang Meng, Antony / Ip Ka Lam / Shum Kun Lam, Henry / Lo Ni Boon, Peter / Ng Yue Yung / Yim Chi Ming / Chan Yuk Choi / Wong Kai Fan/ Law Chi Lim, Robert
Middle Row (Seated):
Kan Shiu Cheong, Frederick / Chow Yiu Wah, Philip / Cheung Kok Kei, Philip / Teacher, Mr Yuen Chik Kam / Teacher, Mr Peter Kwok / Principal, Dr John Kennard / Teacher, Mr Lee Chee Wah, Wilfred / Teacher, Mr Geoffrey C. Emerson / Teacher, Mr Yu Pak Chuen, Henry / Teacher, Mr Ng Chi Him, Kenneth / Teacher, Mr Mak Iu Kwan, Kevin (not in photo) / Sin Wing Sang, Edward / Tong Tak Cheung, Ronald
Back Row:
Ip Chung Sang, Joseph / Tam Man Wai, Mark / Choi Lap Chung, Nico / Tang Kwok Wing, George / Ho Che Shun, Jackson / Lee Dad Yan / Fung Chi Yeung / Lam Chuen Fong / Leung Siu Kwong, Jacob / Fu Hoo Kin, Frank / Tse Sik Yan / Mah Cheuk On, Bernard / Lai Cheuk Fan, Raymond / Tsui Kam Cheung, Kenneth / Lun Hung Kit, Thomas / Ng Chi Keung / Yau Tai Nin, Sonny / Lo Chun Kay
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