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March 2011

Words Fail Me.

By |2011-03-31T09:28:26+08:00March 31st, 2011|Categories: About Us, Memories, Restoration, What is it?|Tags: , , , |

We received the following email and pictures this morning and thought that we should share it with all you heritage supporters out there. No doubt you will be as lost for words as I am – or will you?

HI all! This is one of my favourite kampung houses just outside of Terong, Perak, on the way to Lumut. It is right on the road side & I have taken pics of it over the years and was totally shattered to find it has been turned into a swiftlet house with speakers blasting like crazy. The swiftlet house pics were taken on Friday. Perak is being over run by swiftlet farms. Pantai Remis Sungei Kerang, all a mess! This particular change looks like a joke right? Total disrespect of such a beautiful example of Malay heritage!

 

Care to share your thoughts with our correspondent?

Badminton Hero from Ipoh

By |2012-06-03T12:43:11+08:00March 23rd, 2011|Categories: Identify Photographs, Memories, People|Tags: , , |

This is a picture of Chan Wan Seong, a former student of Anderson School, Ipoh. This former Perak Junior Champion (badminton) was featured alongside the Veteren Men’s Doubles Pair of Ong Sin Oong & Woon Tong Yeong – in the Metro Sports section of the Star newspaper (dated 14 August 2010).

We thank S K Ong who highlighted this to us via email. According to S K, Chan has achieved World No.3 status in the Men’s Senior Category. He has also trained with another badminton legend – Datuk Tan Yee Khan. We were also told that Chan will be taking part in a number of upcoming events, such as: the All England Men’s Senior in Milton, Keynes, London (April 2011); the BWF Men’s Senoir in Richmond, near Vancouver, Canada (August 2011); and the World Chinese Badminton Championship, Shunde near Guangzhou, China (November 2011).

These two extra pitctures courtesy of SK.

J A S Jennings’ Gravestone

By |2011-03-22T11:35:31+08:00March 22nd, 2011|Categories: Identify Photographs, Memories, People|Tags: , |

There’s been requests of pictures of J A S Jennings’ gravestone. Thanks to Nicholas Jennings, here are an old and new picture of the grave. Hope this helps in terms of trying to find the grave. If anyone can provide us with more details, please do! All we know is that these pictures were taken at the Connolly Road Cemetery.

Horror of Horrors!

By |2011-03-21T20:40:46+08:00March 21st, 2011|Categories: Natural Heritage, nature|Tags: , , , |

We’ve come to know of an incident involving soldiers and poaching (from Perak News).

The news thus far claims that there’s been “…a photo posted on the Facebook profile of a Malaysian soldier who proudly (shamelessly) poses with his fellow soldier friends, with a Rhinoceros Hornbill which looks like it has just been slaughtered.”   It is said that an anonymous source stumbled onto this Facebook Profile and alerted Perak News (the Source was said to be someone who was involved in “various conservation activities” in the country. More can be read at the Perak News website from which this photo was taken.

According to the website, the photo was allegedly taken in Belum Forest. Regardless of WHERE it was taken, the very thought of hunting a protected species is appalling!

Has anyone out there heard MORE about this shocking news? Has any action been taken with regards to this incident? We await for your feedback and updates! (It also wouldn’t hurt to spread the news too!)

Episode 5 – Schooling in Ipoh

By |2011-03-18T12:45:00+08:00March 18th, 2011|Categories: childhood, ipoh, Memories|Tags: , , |

Here’s part 5, from UV.

 

Episode 5 – Schooling in Ipoh

After two years with the brightest of ACS for this batch of students which included Yee Woon Chee, Nga Tung See and others who constantly hogged the first and second place in the form, my various extra-curricular activities took its toll on me.  In the crucial Lower Certificate Examination (Form 3) year I went to the ‘B’ class again.

In Form 1 and 2 I had Mr. Rasathurai  for Mathematics.  Incidentally, he was the son of the Head Master of the TR ACS Branch school.  Later I understand, Mr. Rasathurai’s daughter became a teacher too and I think I met her once in Taiping when I was giving a talk to one of the schools there.  Mr. Rasathurai was a fantastic Mathematics teacher but his jokes were even more fantastic.  He would not fail to crack a joke every time he is in class and until today we can always recall some of them and oft-time we would use it whenever we are called upon to do some Master of Ceremony work. 

In Form 3B in 1960 I was taught Mathematics by Mr. Balagopal.  He is most noted for his bicycle and simple rattan woven bag.  This greying, almost bald Indian gentleman would come into the class in a no-nonsense manner and would solve Mathematics problems rapidly on the blackboard for us to jot down, those who couldn’t solve them the previous day.  Then he would stop half-way and asked some of us to complete the solution.  Most of us couldn’t or would try and make some awful mistakes and he would be at at back, rubbing it with his open palm a few times before raising it to slam it hard down on our back!  It would usually be accompanied with the words, “Idiot, it is?”  Then we know for sure it isn’t the right solution!  However, one would never forget how to solve a problem let it be Arithmetic, Algebra or Geometry after that whacking!

Mr. Balagopal gave me a strong foundation both in Mathematics and Mathematics 2 and it helped me qualify the next year for Four Science A.  I have him to thank for this but I never pursued a career later in life that would require my using my Mathematical skills.

In Form 3B too we were blessed with Mr. Oh Boon Lian, our Geography teacher.  No one would dare play the fool in his class.  He wasn’t Mr. Quah Guan Teik who would cry when boys do not pay attention to his lessons.  You pay attention to every word that comes out of Mr. Oh’s mouth when he is in class, so I missed nothing during his lessons.  That was the start of my interest in Geography.  In those days we had to learn all the Southern Continents and the whole of South East Asia for the LCE Geography syllabus.  That is why today; those from that era could tell you the capitals of practically every country in South America, Africa and States in the Continent of Australia and New Zealand.

The Lower Certificate of Education Examination was a major hurdle to cross.  It would decide whether you continue in Form Four in the Science or Arts stream.  Most of us would sit for seven subjects.  Others may also offer languages like Chinese, Tamil and Punjabi.  O yes, I took up Latin in Form 1 and 2 but learned more to take punches for not being able to conjugate Latin verbs from our teacher who taught us during Saturday mornings for free!  Some of you might recall him.  He was the one instrumental for the start of Berita ACS! (No, not Mr. Jamit Singh)

When I visited Venice, Florence and Rome after I retired, I recalled some of the words I learned in Latin class but it did not help me at all when I was lost in Rome and luckily English was such a universal language, I was able to find my way back to my residence using it.

Science always intrigues me since Form 1 when Mr. Low Kum Wai started teaching us.  He would make science come to life with all his stories of how to apply Science to our daily lives.  I can never forget his lesson on friction when he described how  he nailed nails into the sole of his clog and when cycling fast at nigh down the road he would let it glide over the surface of the road and would leave a trial of sparks to attract the attention of young girls!  That’s Mr. Low Kum Wai and his Science lessons.  How can one ever forget the facts with such a tale to fascinate you?

History was boring as usual.  With the ‘What is Bronze’ teacher (see Episode 2) spending the whole year asking us to define bronze as the main part of our History lesson in Standard Four, I never took a liking to History in school.  All we need do then was to buy a revision guide book written by a particular Indian gentleman (not a teacher in ACS) and memorize it and we are sure to pass!  I did that for Form 5 too and even scored an A!

However, History was still the British version unlike what we have today.  We learned Colonial History and History of the British Empire.  We learned about Ancient Civilizations.  We learned very little of Malaysian/Malayan History as there was so little of it except from book written by Englishmen!  Parameswaran was a Hindu Prince then and Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat were heroes!  I have often been involved in arguments with younger people over this!  They do not learn what I learned in the past about these same characters!

In this episode I tried to give you an idea of what being in lower secondary was like.  It was not so much the subject matter but who your teacher was that made you remember enough facts to pass your crucial examination!  The teaching methods (Pedagogy) may be unique but it was effective, at least, for me.  Learning was fun despite the threat of a major examination.  Why so?  It was so because our teachers made it fun!  Even the whacking on the back with reprimands of “Idiots” and “stupid rascal” never deterred us from wanting to study and perform well.

What has changed today?  Should a teacher lay a finger on a pupil the press will make a big issue out of it, police reports would be made and politicians will cry blue murder.  I too have cried for the ‘blood’ of some teachers who went beyond the point of decency in handling students (especially girl students).  Times have changed and teachers no longer can do what their own teachers did.  I would accept a lot of things teachers did to my son but I don’t think he would accept the same being done to his children.

Do we call those days when I was in Lower Secondary school the ‘good old days’ or the ‘bad old days’?  It depends on who is reading this.  You share your comments on this, please.

More from St. Andrews….

By |2011-03-16T12:10:29+08:00March 16th, 2011|Categories: About Us, Identify Photographs, ipoh, Memories, Natural Heritage|Tags: , , |

We received this from Diana McGavin. This picture was taken at her christening, in December 1947, at St Andrew’s Church. In the background is the manse (featured in a previous blog), where Diana and her friends attended Sunday School (around 1955). Like some of our readers, she too hopes that this building will be saved!

“…and the Oscar goes to…”

By |2011-03-09T12:25:10+08:00March 9th, 2011|Categories: ipoh, Perak Society of Performing Arts|Tags: , , |

Perak Society for Performing Arts (PSPA) together with Soroptimist International presents “Ipoh Oscar Night”. This charity dinner (accompanied by Broadway Entertainment) is funded by two charities – The New Horizaon Society & Pertubuhan Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Setia.

Want to get a feel of what an Oscar-night is all about? Join the party at the Crystal Ballroom, Impiana Hotel; on Saturday 19th March 2011 at 7.15pm.

For more information, do call PSPA at: 05-5487814 / or Witzi at 012-5088818

What a Beauty!

By |2011-03-07T11:22:50+08:00March 7th, 2011|Categories: Identify Photographs, nature|Tags: , , , |

This scenic haven can be found just outside Ipoh – on the Simpang Pulai/Cameron Highlands road. This dam is rather unique, because it has a hot spring at the picnic area (further downstream).

We thank Coleman Chin for the picture and the short description. Have anyone of you been to this place? We’d like to know more – especially since such places are fast disappearing!

‘Reaching out Through Art’

By |2011-03-04T11:00:12+08:00March 4th, 2011|Categories: ipoh, People, Perak Society of Performing Arts|Tags: , , |

The Perak Society for Performing Arts would like to highlight a unique fund raiser – with the help of Ipoh Architect and Author Theresa Lim. Theresa always had a keen interest in art and eventually went on to become Perak’s first woman architect. Together with the Perak Autistic Society, she will be sharing her paintings and writings as part of a fund raising project.

This fund raiser encompasses:
an Art Exhibition (and Dinner) at Citrus Restaurant, on Friday 11 March at 7.30 pm.
and, a Storytelling & Painting demo by Theresa Lim, on Saturday 12 March at the YMCA. This demo starts at 3 pm.

Those interested can forward your enquiries to: PSPA (05-5487814) / pspa2011fest@gmail.com

News Flash – St Andrew’s Church Vicarage

By |2011-03-03T09:29:46+08:00March 3rd, 2011|Categories: Identify Photographs, ipoh, Natural Heritage|Tags: , , |

We have recently learnt that: the vicarage adjacent to St Andrew’s Church will be demolished by the Parish. The church is located at Golf Club Road, Ipoh. The building is said to be ‘too old’ and will be replaced with a more modern structure.
This building once housed Tenby School; which was set up in 1960 and started out as a kindergarten for expatriates.
We were also told that since there is NO protection for this building, MBI will approve any demolition application.
We thank Mark Lay (Director of Kinta Heritage Group) for this news and the pictures.

Episode 4 – Schooling in Ipoh

By |2011-03-04T10:44:46+08:00March 2nd, 2011|Categories: childhood, ipoh, Memories, People|Tags: , , , |

Here’s part 4 of our series, written by UV.

A photo of the Author, in a Boys’ Brigade uniform during a Methodist Intermediate Fellowship programme.  The American boy in the picture is the son of Bishop Lundey (Lundey was the pastor of Ipoh Wesley Church then). 

Episode 4 – Schooling in Ipoh

I crossed over into secondary school education at the same time Malaya achieved independence.  In January 1958 I entered Form 1.  I was among the elite of ACS Form 1 students, many of whom today are famous professionals or business captains.  Having taken things easy for the last few years in the 2nd class each year, to catch up and change my style of studying was rather difficult. 

In the secondary school I became interested in singing as the teacher in-charge was a charming lady, Ms Wong Suet Lan who was also my Form Teacher.  I joined her junior choir that would sing for some church services.  It was this year too that I took part in a Christmas play and played the role of Joseph.  Of course there would be a Mary and of course my friends would link us together for years to come, but we never became more than just choir mates. 

In the primary school days, my parents would send me to Sunday School conducted by Wesley Methodist Church Ipoh.  Here I obtained my religious education in Christianity.   I was also involved in the Methodist Intermediate Fellowship and the Boys’ Brigade (2nd Ipoh Wesley Company).  I have already selected my path I wanted to follow from those early years.  The Church would become a very integrated part of my youth. 

I took my studies as something that was essential but I would not devote all my time to it.  I decided that my extra-mural activities must also play a very important role in my life.  My parents, thanks to them, left me alone and never pressured me like some modern parents do to their children to just study and do nothing else.  In this way I had a very full and rich life in my lower secondary school days.  It was because of this that I never imposed on my own children the need to just concentrate on studying. 

I never attended a single day of tuition throughout my school life.  My tutors were my fellow classmates who were better in certain subjects than I was and I too became their tutors in subjects I   was better in than they.  You would be surprised that the telephone was a great way to communicate with your classmates to ask for help in doing homework in the late 50s and early 60s. 

Yes, singing was fun.  Parading under the hot sun every Saturday Afternoon when it was not raining with the Boys’ Brigade was great training for discipline.  I had to spend the whole morning on Saturdays to polish my shoe until I could see my face on its surface, polish the metal buckle of my belt, all the metal badges and make sure my shirt and pants were starched stiff and ironed smooth.  After Boys’ Brigade meetings, the whole group of us would then adjourn to the Kidd Road bus station for a cool drink or the famed ABC (Ais Batu Campur or then known as Ice-kacang).  Our mode of transport was our bicycles.  [Some of my BB friends have already contacted me through this website.] 

During the holidays we would go hiking or camping.  The Kinta River was the favourite spot for hiking or camping.  We also attended an all-Malaya gathering of Boys’ Brigade Companies know as the National Boys’ Brigade Parade (same as Jamboree for Scouts).  It would take place in various towns in Malaya.  I attended those held in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and the local one in Ipoh. 

Methodist Intermediate Fellowship was a church organization for youths below 16 years old.  Here we were involved in social activities centred on Christianity.  We had an elected organizing committee like any society with counsellors giving guidance.  Here too we had the opportunity to socialize with girls.  Something other boys my age never had, except for those girls in their neighbourhood.  Many of these girls were from Methodist Girls’ School, Ipoh but there were others from other girls schools too.  Here too developed some puppy love among the boys and girls.

Life was rather interesting in those early days in lower secondary.  I would continue with more interesting  in-depth stories in the coming episodes.

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