Let’s March!
(This was sent to us by IpohBornKid)
This picture was taken way back in 1961. That’s about the only thing we’re sure of. Maybe someone out there could help us with the following questions:
Was this taken at the Ipoh Padang?
Who are these pretty girls?
What was the occasion for the costumes?
Come on! I’m sure someone out there remembers this (probably somewhere in the picture too?) 
As I originate from Scotland I cannot resist telling you that these girls are very traditionally dressed for Scottish Country Dancing. They are wearing dancing pumps on their feet, tartan kilt skirts and some have black velvet waistcoats such as you would see in a Highland Games Meeting.
So which school or group regularly taught Scottish Country Dancing in 1961? The attire is just too expensive for a one-off performance.
Hi ika,
This photograph is a half century old and all the participants are now well into their mid to late ’60s.
Folk and country dancing was never taught in those days in co-educational schools or in co-educational Sixth Form classes in the “Big 3″ schools in Ipoh. So we are only left to deduce that the girl dancers were from the 2 leading girls schools in Ipoh, either MGS or the Main Convent.
In the background the audience sat on typical benches which commonly lined the perimeters of school fields in the ’60s. The venue was not the Ipoh Town Padang. So was it the MGS field or the Convent School field?
LMS136. Thanks for the thoughts and pointing out the seating. I didn’t realise what it was at first sight.
In his email to us ipohborn kid said “My guesses about this picture are:
1. The girls could be from Raja Perempuan Ipoh.
2. Every year, I have forgotten what event, was some sort of “military tattoo” where all schools participated.
So let us hope that the Raja Perempuan, MGS or Convent girls can help us. The building in the background could be a good clue.
Dear ika, do you know that the ACS Ipoh also have some bagpipers?
LMS136. Do you know that folk dancing was forbidden in the ACS Ipoh? Not only that they were not taught.
Hi ika and AP,
A combined Ipoh schools tattoo is a very interesting and entertaining event. I wonder why they
discontinued that as i was unaware of such event being held in the mid ’60s.
Military tattoos are usually staged in the evenings so I am more inclined to think that this Scottish folk dance event was staged as a part of that school’s sports day or for a special event in school.
Where are the guy dancers and the claymores?
AP, it is most impressive that you had access to the RPS photo and are still keeping it.
Hi SY Lee,
Why was folk dancing forbidden in ACS Ipoh? I thought the Methodists were far more
liberal than the Anglicans and certainly more so than the Roman Catholics.
Unfortunately, I was recently informed that the bagpipes of ACS Ipoh had suffered from far too much rigorous blowing and compression and are now sorely in need of restoration, even replacement.
Hi SY – you may recognise the person in the photograph, third from right or the second “male” dancer. They are all girls and the racial composition of the photo is a good clue of what school they belogn to. ON the back of the photo, there is a note that reads:
Gosh! We will dance well.
1961 , when our whole class trot out to dance the “New Castle”.
I am the “man” and Ai Lay is my lady.
We were so proud of our Scottish costumes.
LMS136. I remember that it was during Mr. Kesselring’s time as the Principal. We were told that folk dancing was not allowed when the school tried having that. The bagpipers were blowing during the recent prize giving so there was no problem wwith the bagpipes. Perhaps they can get IKA to give some lessons, though the bagpipers were quite good.
AP@IpohBornKid. Can you tell me who is the “male” dancer?
Hi SY Lee,
I know that I can count on you as the fount of knowledge within ACS Ipoh.
Mr Kesselring was before my time in ACS Ipoh. Still baffles me as to why
during his time folk dancing was not allowed. There could have been some
wholesome joint venture with our sister school had subsequent principals
like Mr Teerath Ram, etc reversed this ruling.
What a relief that the bagpipers of ACS Ipoh are in action recently! Sorry, my
informer had not been too accurate about the condition of that wind instrument.
I normally come across the expression, “playing the bagpipes” but can’t recall
anyone talking about “blowing the bagpipes”. Perhaps this is because the skills
required extend beyond mere blowing. ika, can you please help us out?
Raja Perempuan School Ipoh – No. 71, Jalan Chung Thye Phin, Ipoh
Hi Kamy Suria, welcome to ipohworld. You are obviously very sure that this is RPS, what else can you tell us about the occasion please?
I do not think Rev. Kesselring banned folk dancing in ACS as it was allowed in the Methodist Youth Fellowship during his time as well as after that!
The late Mr. Daniel Chan (AP informed me he just passed away) introduced the bagpipes to the ACS Band. After his departure, Mr. Thomas Kok continued the use of Bagpipes but the cost to maintain them was too high. When I headed the school, I tried to get the spare parts and managed to keep a few ‘alive’ and working. I am not sure what the other heads after me did, but if they are still being played, they must have kept the bagpipes going! Bravo to them.
“ACS Makes the Difference” even though our band is not the best in Ipoh we have something unique – the bagpipes!
It is hard to believe that RPS have Scottish dancers! Can’t imagine Mrs. Nadarajah (Principal there then), the Iron Lady of RPS allowing it! LOL.
Hi UV,
Is it correct to say that The Methodist Youth Fellowship does not come under the umbrella of ACS Ipoh? Rather it is a Wesley Church organization and draws its membership from youths, largely from ACS Ipoh and MGS Ipoh students though students of other schools with an affinity for the Methodist faith can also join.
Who taught folk dancing as a part of the MYF activities? Such classes were non-existent by the mid ’60s.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AAPD/290796524296394
Would just like to inform that the pretty girls are participating in a dance competition (folk dancing) held during Merdeka Aniversary Celebration as my school CHIJ Ipoh aso has a similar photo with the same background. Ours was in the school magazine year 1967. Folk dancing in our school was then part of our Physical Education lessons. We still have the folk dancing lessons till the 1970′s.
Gambar ini diambil pada Hari Sukan Sekolah Menengah Raja Perempuan Ipoh (RPS)diadakan,semasa itu sekolah tersebut adalah di No. 71, Jalan Chung Thye Phin, Ipoh.
Persembahan dibuat semasa semasa waktu rihat sukan berkenaan oleh pelajar RPS sendiri.
Khemah seperti yang terdapat didalam gambar disediakan untuk kegunaan pelajar. Dimana pelajar duduk atau berdiri diatas padang sahaja. Hanya guru sahaja yang disediakan kerusi.
Dibelakang rumah yang terdapat didalam gambar ini ialah MGS.
Antara peserta sukan tersebut ialah M.Rajamani yang kemudianya menjadi peserta sukan negara.
Saya berada dibelakang jurukamera yang mengambil gambar tersebut, dibawah khemah yang disediakan untuk tetamu atau keluarga yang hadir. Tahun tidak ingat.
Hi Kamy Suria, it is amazing that you were behind the very cameraman who took this picture! Your mention of M.Rajamani is indeed the clue as to when this was taken. Apparently she finished her secondary education in 1964. So there you go, it was taken that very year or maybe the year before that. Dato M. Rajamani was Malaysia’s greatest athlete ever. In 1966 with none of the current perks and previleges accorded to athletes, she beat the best in Asia breaking the record in the 400m. If not for that cruel twist of fate, she would have brought home Malaysia’s first Olympic medal!