Memories of Malaya - 5. Pasar Road English School
My father has been inspired again to share another story from his childhood as part of his guestblogging series, Memories of Malaya. Being my father, there is the invariable section on food. So there are no suprises there - however, I am surprised to learn that he was taught gardening at school - hmm, he’s kept that a secret all these years: the next time he comes over to the UK to visit me, I shall have to set him digging and weeding in my garden….
He has just turned 70 this year so the time that he is writing about in this post would be around 1947:
English speaking
At the age of 8 or 9 years old I was sent to an English language school which is a school where the teaching was in the English language and the use of the expression “English school” in this note will refer to this category of schools unless otherwise specified. I do not know the discussions that might have taken place by my parents as to what type of school their child and later on children would be sent. I suspect that there was little or no discussion and it was a matter of course that I would go to an English school. Both my parents and paternal grandfather were educated solely in English. There were many families where the fathers were educated in English and their mother tongues though usually at an elementary level for both languages. Many Chinese were very passionate about the Chinese language. They consider it as a mark of patriotism to China and culture both of which they felt would be lost if the Chinese language was not taught to their children. Despite glaring evidence in every day life that those who were educated solely in the Chinese language enjoyed a lower standard living, many families still insisted on sending their children to these schools.
So much to learn
Anyway there I was in the Pasar Road English School sitting at a bench desk and on a bench sharing it with 2 other boys. There were 40 boys in a class. One of the earliest lessons, I remember, was the teacher teaching us by asking us to repeat the five vowels.
In one of the sessions I remember wondering to myself as to how long it would take me to be educated to university level to study medicine and how this could be accomplished when there was so much to learn. My Father was a medical doctor so that was naturally my reference point. The school day started at 7.45 in the morning and ended at 12.30 in the afternoon. The school day was divided into periods of 40 minutes each with a half hour break or interval as it was called. Sessions consisted of reading aloud from simple English text books and doing arithmetic, drawing, singing, gardening and P.E. Not all subjects were covered everyday. The subjects were distributed throughout different days of the week.
The “reading aloud” part of the lesson consisted of the teacher calling out a boy who would read a few sentence or a paragraph and then another boy and so on to read the prescribed section of the book. This is good training as the boy would learn to stand-up and speak out. After each boy had finished the teacher would give an explanation of the part that had been read out. For arithmetic we used books which had the problems set out and we copied them into exercise books and added our answers to the problems. If there was anything meant for the whole class it was written on the blackboard using a white chalk.
The classrooms were airy and the teachers were competent, hardworking and did not shirk their work on the whole. If you were caught doing mischief you would be made to stand on the chair or outside the classroom and when the headmaster went on his rounds and he saw you he may on rare occasions add his own punishment which may include a stroke or two of the cane on your outstretched palm.
Gardening
An interesting feature in the curriculum was the period for gardening which was allotted two periods consecutively and once a week. During this period we would dig rows of beds and would plant sweet potatoes, beans and some other easily grown vegetables. If it did not rain for a week or so we would have to water the beds with water from the tap. The tools for the work were supplied and kept by the school and they were used by other classes as well. Peer pressure would force every boy to do some work even if it was merely weeding the beds. It is a shame that nowadays when we have all sorts of classes to prepare children, the gardening period is done away with. It would teach young children the dignity of manual labour and that dirtying ones hands is not beneath scholars. This period appeared to be a holdover from the schools during the Japanese occupation when we had such periods and we did the same thing. The reason for this I suspect is because Japan being very much dependent on its agriculture wanted its population to respect and love the land and also to plant for the war.
Food
As this was a period just after the war and many were suffering from lack of protein the school supplied free milk once a week. We would each be given a full mug of milk which we could drink it using our own mug there and then or take it home.
During the interval many of the boys would go to the tuckshop to buy their snacks which consisted of sliced fruits or fried noodles. Coming from a doctor’s family I was not allowed to eat tuckshop food for hygiene reasons. I would have sandwiches spread with butter and sprinkled with sugar brought from home. Because of the heat of the day the butter would have soaked into the bread and it was quite delicious but still I would pass by the tuckshop and longed to join in the crush to get some snacks. I think young boys do not like to feel left out of things. Most of the time I just strolled around the school. Some boys would put up a net and play a few games of badminton or kick a football in the field. But I did not and do not like sports and also did not like going back to class feeling hot and sweaty.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A request for help: I don’t have any photos from that period either of a school or school boys. Can anyone help and donate a copyright-free photo for me to illustrate this post?
Photo: of a school in modern Malaysia thanks to gxianfu from flickr.com (CCL)
memmlya
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Wed, November 14th, 2007 - Author
Yang-May Ooi - Category
- 54 responses
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April 23rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
You should post up a photo of the school itself to give it justice.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hi Andrew, if you have photos of the school that you could let me have to post up that would be great.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Your are from PRES 1 or PRES 2? I was from PRES 1 from 1979 - 1984. I got few photos but the quality is not goot (from hp)
June 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Hi Shahrul, my Dad’s reply to your comment: “I was in the Pasar Road English School (i.e. what PRES, I presume means) from 1946 to 1950. I do not have any photos of the school of that period. The one in the article is quite a recent one; in our time it was a single storey building. There was only PRES during my time.”
June 15th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hi, anyone from Pasar Road English School 1 who studied between the years 69 and 74? That means you’d be about 45 now, my age. Need to get in touch with former teachers if only to thank them for all their help and kindness. You tend to reminisce the past a lot at this age you know, and suddenly, you realise how some teachers really made a mark in your life, moulding you, encouraging you to do your best… I remember a couple of teachers in particular, Cikgu Russiah or was it Rassiah… she was dimunitive in size, but you know, kids being kids, they (not me) used to call her the 3-inch-nail.
Then there was Mrs Chong and Mrs Skelchy… gosh that was so long ago. Anyway, feel free to get in touch with me at hishamharum@yahoo.com Cheers! And thanks to the author and her dad. : )
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 am
I left PRES 2 in 1969 to head for the VI, as per the writer albeit more than a decade after him. I was probably one of the last batches before the administration made significant changes to the entry of PRES and BRS students into the VI.
I remember Mrs Chong and I think also Mrs John. Have to see if I still have pics of the school back then. I understand much has changed since.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 am
Hi Dennis, just so happened I thought of the school today. I was there (PRES2)from 1962-67. The wooden block was i spent my 1st year there. My class teacher was Miss Devi. Mrs John if I’m not mistaken was my std 5 teacher.
Still remember the days when we have to sweep the classroom off sand and dust before having to sit on the floor. The school sports was a great event each year.The rest I’ll let you all ex-PRES 1 or 2 to ponder.
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Hisham, Dennis, Omrin - it’s great that after all these years you still remember your teachers. Also, it’s interesting how school culture has changed - it seems strange to me that students were required to clean the classrooms in those days. Thanks for sharing your memories.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hi Yang-May,Hisham,Dennis and Omrin - I too was just thinking of my good early school years. I was in PRES(2) from 1961-1966. I had many good memories like assembly days singing the school song, the annual sports day and the sporting awards we achieved in the Inter-School Soccer U-11 and U-13 competitions and Inter-School Athletic Meets. I was a member of the school relay-team and soccer team. My sport house colour was Blue House. I will never forget our disciplinary master i.e. Mr Kattar Singh. He was very firm and strict but good for us all in the over all discipline of the school. It was a very good and well sought after school with very bright students moving on to good institutions of higher learning like Victoria Institution, St.John’s Institution and Methodist Boys’ School. Nice to be able to communicate with some of the old boys. Cheers!
November 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Hi there
I was in PRES 1 from 1957 till 1962.I was Prefect in 1962.I recall my teachers from Std.1 till Std.6
Std 1 -Mrs.Kandiah; Miss.Gomez
Std.2 -Miss Mano and Miss Chandra; Miss Poh Yang Lim
std.3 -Miss.Kandiah
Std.4- Mrs.Kulasingam;Mr.Paul Lee; Mrs.Chong
Std.5-Mrs.Chan
Std.6-Mr.Goh Say Eng;Mr.Ng Sik Pooi;Mr.A.Vaithilingam;Mr.Ng Seng Kiat; Mr.S.Ratnasingam;Mrs.Samy; Encik Othman
I still recall the HM Mr.Choo Ah Kong.i met Mr.Ng Sik Pooi last month-still jovial as in the 60’s.From him I knew some had deceased whilst some like Goh Say Eng have migrated to Australia.Those were the days you could get a glass of syrup for 5 cents, a kuih for 10 cents and a bowl of curry mee for 15 cents.If any of you were in PRES in the same period please contact me at mohangopaliyer@hotmail.com
By the way who can forget the fierce Mrs.Abraham and the Mr.albakri who used to conduct the school song.Sadly I heard from a current teacher in that school that the school embelem of OWL was changed last year.Sadly no Old Boys protested?
January 11th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Hi folks,
I wonder if there is anyone who was in my class or year who shares mutual recollections - I was in PRES (1) from Std 4 to Std 6 (1963) when Chew Ah Kong was Headmaster. The names Goh Say Eng, Vithalingam, Ratnasingam and Ng Sik Pooi ring a bell with me! I was in the band too – initially played the recorder then the drum; we were a good marching band with prizes to boast!!
At interval time, I remember going out of the back gate for iced pineapple drink and sometimes bought foreign postage stamps for collection! The hawkers did good business with PRES pupils as well as those from the adjacent Chinese school.
I then went on to the VI and I am now in the UK working as a GP.
And whosoever changed the owl emblem has absolutely no sense of history - pathetic! Is there an Old Boys Association?
I would love to hear from anyone - tkkhong@googlemail.com
Best wishes,
Teck Keong (aka Teck Khong for short now in the UK and in Google!)
January 11th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Thanks Teck Keong for adding your memories of Pasar Road School. Hopefully, other old boys will get in touch with you - or add their comments to this post.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:27 am
Yang-May,
Being new to your blog site, I am unsure which primary and secondary schools you attended.
When I was in Kuala Lumpur last year, I stood outside a prime shopping mall and looked across the road to where I was at kindergarten - the BBGS - a well-respected feeder school too for the Victoria Institution. It has sadly been replaced by another edifice of capitalism.
I often reminisce at the decline of the golden era of education in Malaysia and the brain drain, and ask myself the various imponderable ‘what if’ questions.
Time unfortunately moves on, so we must hope, pray and work for the best.
On a different note, may I congratulate you on your excellent blog site!
Teck Keong
January 12th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Hi Teck Keong - I was at BBGS 2. Yes, very sad that the school has now been replaced on site by a block of flats. And thanks, I’m glad you like my blog!
January 25th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I am slightly sad that yet another milestone - another new year - is soon to be celebrated as I write this; memories become that little bit more distant while friends and friendship get just a tad more sparse as time marches on our lives.
But for those of us with memories of the yesteryears - fond and maybe at the time not so pleasant - we have a blessed reason to celebrate. We are alive and we can all pass on the gifts of knowledge and experience.
So, let us all enjoy a very happy, healthy and, dare I say, prosperous (Chinese) New Year of the Ox! Best wishes to all!
January 26th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Happy Chinese New Year to you, too, Teck Keong.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Those PRES boys who have gone on to the VI might like to know that a big reunion of all VI ex-students in the UK is being planned for 2011/2012.
I believe that there has always been a strong contingent from PRES(1) and(2) to the VI. Now, that a chance for a double reminiscence, or two-lane nostalgia!
Love to hear from VIOBs (and Gs!) PRES or otherwise!
Teck (tkkhong@googlemail.com)
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Hi my name is Dawn , I was born in Malaya..Then known as Malaysia,In 1962, My brother was born in Singapore in 1961 we then moved to Aden,does any-one have any idea where i may of been born as ive never seen my original birth certificate and my parents split up when i was young,and we went to childrens homes, all i know is it was malaya and march 62 please can someone give me any ideas ty Ps there was a freedom fighters war on at the time i have been told…im unsure of details
June 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Dawn, if you know which town, then check with the local registry office (although their archiving in those days was pathetic) or if you were born to a military family check their registers (or enquire the RAMC)
June 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Three burning questions for anyone out there in cyberspace with the answers to these 3 questions?
Does anyone have the lyrics and tune of the school song?
Did PRES1 and PRES 2 share the same school song?
Does PRES still exist today?
Many thanks!
May 2nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
i was a pres2 student from 1965 to 1970. my teachers were as follows :-
STD 1D : MRS CHANDRAN
STD 2A : MRS MOK WAI CHIN
STD 3A : MRS FOO
STD 4A : MISS LEONG KIM LIAN
STD 5A : MRS ANGELINE CHUAN
STD 6A : MR CHOONG CHENG SWEE
as for the lyrics of the school song, pls correct me where i’m wrong -it’s been 40 yrs since i last sang it…
o fount
of learning bright and clear
bright and clear
thou art our alma mater dear
mater dear from thee through knowledge
wisdom flows
in steady streams no years can slow
to thee
we come our fill to drink
fill to drink
daily to learn to plan and think
plan and think
P.R.E.S
P.R.E.S
pasar road english school yes yes
i cannot answer whether pres 1 & 2 share the same school song. ex pres 1 students pls tell me whether the lyrics of your school song is the same as above.
technically speaking pres does not exist anymore because it was an english school, what we have now is the national type school where the medium of in struction is in bm.
May 13th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Azizi thanks for the lyrics. I heard it was written by one Mr.AlbakriI remember seeing him at the school assemblies in Std.1 in 1957.
Tek Khong and others:
nice to know you all.Mrs.Chong, Mrs.Chan and Mr.Ratnasingam have deceased according to Mr.Ng Sik Pooi who comes 80 on 31st May this ear.Mrs.Skelchy is still around.Mr.Vaithilingam (Datuk) was president of the Malaysian Hindu Sangam till he was ousted this year.Miss.Kandiah is still Miss and lives in Jalan Thamby Abdullah in KL.Mrs.samy passed away in the 90’s.Mr.Chw Ah Kong passed away in the 80’s.
Mr.Sik Pooi was in PRES till 1964. Till my year 1962, VI took the top 10 cream.I was 2nd and Liew Fah Kong (Surgeon in Assunta) was first.I belong Tek Kong to the PRES (1)-VI group
and if you are having a reunion in UK do let me know.I did my Ph.D.in Leicester and I will be in UK in summer next year.My nephew is graduating from London Imperial.
One of the most memorable times in PRES was the dental missy Mrs.Esperkamen.The moment she comes to check the teeth and fix us to see her, many of us used to cry including myself in Std.4.The hawkers outside the school did a roaring bussiness.Used to buy Appam balik, tikam spin for ice cream, buying stamps etc.There used to be a Sikh watchman.His house was next to the badminton court.Part-time he used to sell clothes.There was also several large aquariums near the jaga’s house where a variety of fishes could be seen.
In the 50’s there was Muthu Taxi service near the school.We used to go for Cheap Matinee shows on Saturdays in the Star Theatre.It was 40 cents only.We used to play police and thief during recess.Whenever (rarely) I had some pocket money, I used to eat kuih and drink syurup in the tuckshop.
Since the conversion to Malay medium, PRES I think has changed its song.Worst from 2005, the historical embelem of ‘owl’ was taken away.Sad no protests from Old boys.
Those who have ideas and thoughts to share can contact me at mohaniyer50@gmail.com
May 13th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Dawn
If you know the year you were born (even better toewn you were born) just go to the Petaling Jaya Registrar of Births and deaths in Jalan Barat.Pay RM 10 search fee and you can get a birth certificate copy easily.Records of 60’s no problem at all.Mine was 50’s also no problem.
G,Mohan (mohaniyer50@gmail.com)
June 4th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Hi Yang Mai and the ex PRESs
such wonderful memories. I was in PRES (1) from 1970 to 75 before meandering of to VI. Joined the band (anyone remember Mr Ng Seng Kiat?).I lived virtually a stone’s throw away from the school. Currently based in the middle east. My surname may remind you of one of the teachers, especially those lads that had the opportunity to do the express class.
Warmest wishes and the most fondest of memories.
Ravi Rasalingam
June 8th, 2010 at 12:49 am
How very sad it is to hear of Mrs Chong’s demise. May she rest in peace. I remember Mrs Chong as being one of my first teachers when I was in standard 2. She didn’t really teach us, but a few students and I were chosen to take part in a play the school put up. I was dressed as a native of The Netherlands. Until today I remember the song:
“In Holland startenhurs,
In Holland startenhurs,
In Holland startenhurs ya, ya,
Von simla, simla hop sa, sa,
In Holland startenhurs
In Holland startenhurs….
Such fond memories.
Thank you for the information Dr Mohan. Take care - Hisham Harun, PRES 1 (69-74), Cochrane Road School (75-79)
June 11th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Hello Ravi Rasalingam and All the Other Old Boys, what a pleasant surprise. Mrs. Rasalingam was my teacher in 1968 and Ravi, I use to know you too. You were the guy with the short and curly hair then. I was in the school band as well, was a big lad and a prefect who played the base drum. Well, left school in 72.
I am sorry to hear about Mrs. Chong, she was my music teacher in 67 & 68.
I’ve settled down in Sydney now.
Cheers my friends and pleasant memories.
Ravi Panandam (rpananda@hotmail.com)
PRES 1 (67-72)
CRS (73-77)
July 6th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Wow!
I had not been to this website for months and returning to it today, I find it has become alive again! Hisham, Ravi, Dr G Mohan, azizi and any others - a big warm hello!
Great to hear from all PRES-OBs, and even greater pleasure to know that so many went on to the VI!!
Guys, visit http://viosworldwide.wordpress.com/….AND STAY IN TOUCH!
(By the way, I am in KL 10/7/10 to 16/7/10 with my BlackBerry switched on…sad kid, you might say, but give me a shout if you’re about!)
July 6th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
….don’t know why the link joined up. Here’s the URL again - http://viosworldwide.wordpress.com/
August 9th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Hi everyone!
I was browsing some RL Stevenson’s poems and all of a sudden one stood out. It was “Sing me a song of a lad that is gone”…it reminded me of my youth at the PRES. Out of nothing more than sheer curiosity, I texted “o fount of learning bright and clear, bright and clear…” just to see if that school anthem was borrowed from some ancient english poem or something…and lo and behold! before I knew it, I was led to this blog. What a pleasant discovery! AND nostalgic, if I may add.
I was from Year 1961 to 1966. Honestly, there’s very little that I could recall…just a few memories remained..Mrs. Chan who taught me in Std 4. Man…she’s one fierce lady..and there’s Mrs Elizabeth John who taught me in Std 6…a very seemingly hoity toity woman, but with a golden heart. The HM then was, correct me if I’m wrong, a gentleman by the name of Yap Kim Fook, or something like that..don’t kill me if I’m wrong.
How the years have flown by…*sigh* We’ve all grown older, (and much wiser perhaps). As I reminisce on my alma mater…I feel blessed that I what I am today is a product of the nurturing and guidance from a company of self-less and dedicated teachers whose only aim was to mould us into educated and responsible men.
To all my PRES teachers…thank you.
And to all you guys out there, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that so many of us still remembered our alma mater. And to Fusion View…great job!!
Warmest regards
BTW, I think azizi, you’ve got it right…except maybe the lyrics…”to thee we come our fill to drink..” it could be “to thee we come TO fill to drink”…I don’t know…gramatically “to fill to drink” seemed better..but that’s not really important…
September 7th, 2010 at 3:52 am
Hi all my fellow PRES students, I was there from 1958-1963 PRES2. My teachers frm std 1-6…..Miss Ponniah,Mr Augustin,Miss Gan(who became Mrs Chong),Miss Leong,Mrs John,Mr Joginder Singh.I was then to Cochrane Road School 1964-1969.Iam now living in Australia.ANY of my old classmates out there?Hope many of us still there,as we are now 59years old now.
September 7th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Hello Mr. Chan,
We don’t know each other, as you are my senior. Our common denominator is Mrs Elizabeth John who was my class mistress when I was in Std 6. It is almost like a miracle, that we are, in an unexplained but heartwarming way, somehow led by an unseen force, one by one, to this wonderful site if only to relive our younger days.
Warmest regards
September 16th, 2010 at 3:59 am
To Ravendran Rasalingam,
Hi! Your mum was my Std 2 class teacher in 1968 and I have nothing but fond memories of her. She is the classical “good and dedicated teacher that is difficult to find these days” that everyone talks about! In fact, I would use her (among others) as an example whenever I talk about this.
I was aware that she lived just across the road from the school; facing the fields and playground swings. She always looked fresh and sprightly and smelled nicely of talcum powder. She was easily one of my favourite teachers and will remain in my memories forever.
I am sad to hear of Mrs Chong’s passing. She was my music teacher too.
Anyone has any news of teachers like En. Mohd Sidin, Mr Paul Lee, Mrs Woo (history).
By a huge coincidence, I met Mr Yap Poh Ho (Maths) in Taman Midah. He resides there now with his wife.
Cheers!
September 21st, 2010 at 8:41 am
Dear Mah
Thank you very much for your very kind words on my mum. She, unfortunately, passed away 5 1/2 years ago after a long illness. I am however very very sure that she would have been most appreciative and pleased about the very kind words and fond memories from an ex student.
Warmest regards
Ravi
November 5th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I was a pupil of SMC (Special Malay Class)1n 1957, Standard 4-6 at PRES 1 from I957- 1960. My class teacher during my first year was Mrs Botayju (forget the real spelling), a British. At that time the school was one of the best in KL. It has a dental clinic, cinema room, laud speakers in all classroom connected to the headmaster. The school had three wooden blocks and has a big bell situated above standard 4 class. At that time our school rtegularly became champion in Trafic Competition and football.
November 12th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
This is a comment from my father, B.L Ooi, who is the author of the original post about his days at Pasar Road School:
My daughter kindly showed me comments made by old boys of Pasar Road English School on my school life articles. I thank them all for their interest. I attended this English school from about 1947 to 1951. It was then a single storey wooden building with pillars of bricks and cement. It was configured in a capital E shape with the classroom in the vertical arm and the upper and lower horizontal arms of the letter. The centre horizontal arm had the lavatories. The Headmaster’s office was at the corner of the vertical arm and one of the horizontal arms. During my time I had two headmasters – both Ceylonese (now Sri Lankans). I am surprised to read that my daughter thought that sweeping the classroom floor was odd. We had to sweep the floor and polished the brass hinges and door knobs with brasso throughout the time I was in the V.I. and every week a class was adjudged to be the cleanest and was presented with a framed page of the school crest. This chore was useful in another way: to show who were the shirkers who would avoid doing any of his share of the work but this chore was not set up for that purpose. There were five rows of about 7 boys per row and each day one row would do the work. In a recent visit back to the school (the V.I.) I was told that the boys do not do this anymore as it is beneath them. Here they are trying to instill responsibility for the environment and this is a small thing towards that and they would discontinue it.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:28 am
I was in PRES(2) from 1954 till 1960. If I am not wrong, the Headmaster then was Mr. Lee Kong Fook. Azizi’s lyrics of the school song brings back the memories I left behind. Later, in 1961, I moved on to Form 1 in Cochrane Road School. I sat for GCE & MCE in 1965. I wonder if anyone who was my class-mate or school-mate, in PRES(2)from 1954 to 1960, or Cochrane Road School from 1961 to 1965. I will be very happy to reestablish contact with them.
December 13th, 2010 at 3:57 am
Hi.Iwas ex PRES 1 from 1965 till 1969 & following teachers who taught me in the following classes,
1965 Std 1 D Mrs Somas
1966 Std 2 A Mrs T.Rasalingam
1967 Std 3 A Mr.M Krsihnan
1968 Std 4 A Mr Chong
1969 Std 5 B Mrs Woo
The H.M then was Mr Chew Ah Kong & I was in the school band with Mr Ng as the band teacher ,played recorder than to Melodica feel very proud them with full attire school band uniform…I was quite suprise to hear our emblem The OWL was ablolish..any old boys association form ..like to join..To any of my friends from year 1965 till 1969 do contact me at 019 3355000 cause almost more than 40 yrs out of touch .. miss u all .Azman.Mokhtar
February 8th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Hi..all fellow PRES I was in PRESS 1 from 1961 - 1966. Haha..I still remember when I played drum for the school band. Wonder where all my friends now.Dennis/ Bala/ Mahendran. The band teacher was Mr Ng Seng Kiat (if not mistaken Kirby trained). Also Mr ‘Benhur’the teacher with the Lambretta.
February 8th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
I have just been home and visited the school.
Well, it’s now the SCHOOLS (plural) and surprise, surprise, PRES (2) is actually the newer and larger school! Even Chin Woo School looks nicer…
Unfortunately, I can’t paste the photos here!
March 5th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
hi guys i”m happy to know u all do tell u all i been lost all my good school mate in pasar roed englisd school and i was left in 1976 to cochrane high school and i finish my high school then i left in 1981 i was going to european in U.K as meschester univesity.. MBA becheloh till now i was in belgium as my resident european P.R as citizen of netherlands, start at, std 1A.std 2b. std 3C std 4D std 5E and std 6E thats was very bad that time. anyway how i can finish my study at univesity in U.k” this is my history that i have
August 9th, 2011 at 8:20 am
To all out there, thank you for sharing your fond memories of our beloved school and the environment back then. My stay in PRES 1 was 1958 - 1963 moving on to CRS till 1968. I still have a class photo of Std 6 taken on the football field with the school building in the backdrop. I remember the ever smiling chubby (dark) Ahmad who sells chendol in ice-bola or in bowl form just outside the school gate. There was also the mamak rojak. Back then we were creative in our games: chopping ball (some variations were adapted), photo cards (some variations too), horse-fighting, and “herd” footballing before school starts and intervals. Two person featured prominently during playtime - Long Hee and Ganesan, both were my partner “horse” as I was very little but active. Long Hee and I are now reunited but no idea where to look for Ganesan (hope he is well and kicking).
A few years back I embarked on an ambitious mission to trace my classmates from PRES and CRS via internet. Since then we had three main re-unions. Leslie Armstrong (sports master at PRES and CRS) was with us last year and he planted the seed (in my mind) to create a blog site for keeping-in- touch. Upon returning to Sydney I did exactly that. Here is the website - see if you can recognize anyone:
http://crs68classmates.blogspot.com/
My email is hewd2003@yahoo.com just in case you would like to contact.
Take good care of your health.
Cheers!
August 9th, 2011 at 8:27 am
Thanks for your comment, Pow Khiong. I should just clarify that this blog is not dedicated to your school - this is my personal blog and the blog post you are commenting on is written by my Dad about his memories of his childhood days. All comments from any person is welcome provided they are respectful of others and have a spirit of celebration. It is great that so many of you Pasar Road students have enjoyed reading his memories and sharing your own among each other and also for others to read. It is also great that others who may not be Pasar Road students can enjoy and share this space as well.
August 9th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Hi to all
Mr.Chan, since I was in PRES from 1957-1962 I must have known you as I was Prefect.The great footballer Zakaria Shariff was my classmate.Mr.Sik Pooi is regularly in contact with me and I rekon Mr.Chan you must know him.
Regarding Mr.Ng Seng Kiat, the bandmaster, he is very sick according to Mr.Ng Sik Pooi and those of you who are interested to meet him can contact me.
I have a couple of photos during PRES times.Though i still have all the VI School magazines, I lost the PRES ‘Owl’.In the event anyone has a copy during the period I was there please contact me.
When I was in PRES I befriended friends of all races.One of my closest friends was Mohd.Sidek bin Sulong who later worked in Bernama.Another was Khairuddin Md.Tahir who joined the MCKK and no contact after that.I dont need to mention the Chinese,Indian and Eurasian friends of mine.In the 80’s till now in the teaching and now lecturing profession sadly each clings to the race of the same feather at school and in University.i had a classmate Philip Dong.he was the son of a then South Vietnamese embassy staff.i could write a book on my days in PRES, its surroundings etc which I still vividly remember.Today PRES is an island surrounded by highways.The Govt Quarters where I lived have long gone.So were the Chinese villages behind the Majestic Theatre.My friends and I used to go to Metropole Theatre opposite the Pudu market to watch Tarzan movies for Cheap Matinee.Similarly the Star theatre.Sadly these landmarks have long gone.
Those of you who studied in Cochrane-the school is being shifted further down and all the govt Quarters have been demolished, some even as I speak are being torn down.
August 15th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Dr Mohan,
You must have been in the year above me at school (1) as my last year was 1963.
I used to live at 131 Cochrane Road and it was still standing, very much alive with 3 cars in the driveway when I did a nostalgic trip there while visiting my elderly parents in February this year.
The magic of life in KL seems to be rapidly receding in the name of modernisation, but the biggest threat to social harmony remains the nasty politics. If only all the races realise this and start living together as they used to….And stop unsustainable immigration.
Sigh.
I wonder if anyone, Pow Khiong included, has tried setting up a PRES website like I have done for the VI?
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:38 am
Thanks to you Yang Mai and your dad for this blog.
Hi to all,
Those were the days… thank you all for bringing back great memories of yesteryears.I was there from 1955 to 1960.
In 1955, there were 9 std.1 classes, me in Std.1i( Mrs. Kandiah),and I think in 1957 the school split into school one and two,
with half the classes split into morning and afternoon sessions.Merdeka year my friends.Encik Albakri was my class teacher,3A.
I used to take the ToongFong Bus,3 cents from Foch Ave.(ChinaTown)to Pudu Road, walked thru’ the villages/squatters to school,
short cuts.5 cents on GTC Bus would take you right to school front gate from Central Market. However my buddy(still in contact) and I would,lots of time walked the
railway line from Pudu to Sultan Street Station when we spent our last cents on icebola and chendol. They were irresistible.
Chendol,gula malaka,coconut milk,ice what an incredible mix!
Talking about Zakaria Shariff, his brother Mahmud was our school football team Captain.He was a great player.That year 1960
we did’nt win anything,but manage to play in Merdeka Stadium.TO us little kids, it was an honour.
However in Atletics,PRES one ,the 1960 sch. relay team did well to win almost all inter school relay meets,including the Selangor Schools Sports Meet.Thanks to great coaching/teaching from then Mr. Vaithilingam,and Mr. Goh Say Eng who used to take us
in his sporty car to other schools.What a team, I lost contact with them….Hope they are all healthy and doing well.( Chok Yin,Gopinath,Kok Heng) . Remember Istiak Mubarak…wonderboy hurdler our time…the rest is history.
Mr. Vaithilingam was my class teacher 4a in 1958.Here I have to Thank him and the lanky school clerk who took me to one Brickfields office and got non paying school fees place till I finished my fifth form in VI. If I’m correct primary sch. fees was $ 2.50 and secondary sch.fees was $5.
Take care all of you.
August 24th, 2011 at 5:08 am
Dr. G. Mohan I remember you well..so is Sidek, Dr. Liew Fah Kong (used to play with him draughts n Chinese checkers) whose house was behind Joy Nursery(?) near the MissionarySchool(lupa?) at Jalan Peel(?). Where is Leslie Appaduray?
I walked every day frm Jalan Laxamana govt quarters to school, sometimes stopping at a Chinese sundry shop along the way to play tikam tikam(you draw to get prizes more often than not you didn’t get any, the shopkeeper would give u some sweets). On arrival for aft school u’ll have cendol or ice kacang or half ice ball wth gula merah to quench your thirst. If it was ice cream where you could dial from the self made wooden disc with numbers, spring pointer n nails(once got 8 didn’t know how to hold the 8 ice cream cones) There were fantastic hawkers selling food n other wares around the school.
Before class the routine was to play marbles(of course your trousers’ pockets became soiled to the dismay of mum, kotak(cigarette packets with all sorts of brand) or konda kondi or that fotos of Lone Ranger n other movie icons of the day where u guessed the no. of heads) Football was the favourite of all n remembered representing PRES 1 under 15 team playing with Batu Rd, Brickfields schools.etc in the Selangor interschool competition. PRES1 was good in sports those days. Remember Istiaq Mubarak the national hurdler and Zakaria Shariff later played for Selangor Burnley Cup. I used to meet Zakaria when VI played MCKK at K Kangsar. I had a short stint at VI (Yap Kuan Seng hse n u had to brasso the door nobs weekly) b4 moving to MCKK. Well now I have retired from govt service and staying at Jalan Gasing near the Raju restaurant/La Salle PJ.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Khairuddin,
Great to hear your recollections - the names Istiaq Mubarak and Zakaria Shariff were indeed iconic for us. I think Istiaq went on to the VI, is that correct?
I am not sure if you lived on Cochrane Road, but I was very friendly with a Malay boy (whose name I’ve forgotten as we lost touch after Std 6) who also liked cars and his father was very loyal to the Peugeot brand, having owned two successive Peugeot 403!
September 4th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
To All Pasar Road School Mates,
My last year with Pasar Road School in 1977. It left behind all the sad and fun memories. The teacher’s been with us during those years indeed have left us with good and valuable advice. I’m sorry to hear that most of our beloved teacher have passed away and we going to miss them so much. Today 4.9.2011 I meet other a teacher of us, Cikgu Abu Samah. Does any of you all remember him? Somehow or rather for many years after my schooling years ends Cikgu Abu Samah is related to my family. Cikgu Abu Samah is still in the best of health stays in Bangi Selangor. And furthermore his sons are my best friend Rashidi Abu Samah. There are few of my friends from PRES pass away Musa Hitam - nick name, Chong Soong Kee.
Stay health cause money can’t buy our health.
Nazrin
November 1st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Well to all.Mr.Goh Say Eng lives in Melbourne with his son.Mr.Vaithilingam lives in Jalan Tandang in PJ.Mr.Ng Sik Pooi is as jovial and naughty in his 80’s stays opposite the Buddhist temple in PJ near Khairuddin’s house.Mr.Ng Seng Kiat, the band master lives in Taman Cuepacs, Miss.Kandiah still Miss.lives in Jalan Thamby Abdullah.Among the deceased are Mrs.Chong,Mr.Ratnasingam,Mrs.Samy,Mrs.Chan (lady with sexy slit cheong sam),Cikgu Othman then a flamboyant handsome guy,Mr.Chiew Ah Kong (HM)
Those were the days playing tikam to get stamps,playing photo card games, spider fight, kerengga antfights, appam balik from the fat Chinese man(recently I met his son),ice ball etc.A syrup at the canteen cost 5 cents.Every week we watched documentaries by the Malayan Film Unit etc.I wish our batch could organise a dinner for fellowship and to meet those living teachers..Sad the Owl embelem was taken out in 2006.
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:19 pm
The Owl emblem remained on the school wall by the (now) main gate as I was there in January. Of course, it isn’t called Pasar Road English School (1) anymore…
November 7th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
To anyone who reads this.let me share my fond memories of schooling in Pasar Rd. English School (1).I was in Std.1 in 1967.Being a bright pupil I was in Std.1X,which was the express class.The following year,I was in Std.2X and then to 3X,until the class was scrapped off.Then to Std.4A,5A and lastly was in Std.6A in 1972.Those days,chosen to be schooled in VI was the dream of all of us;me and my classmates viz.Abd.Razak Rashid,Chin Wai Ying,Chong Kok Weng,Lim Thim Chye,Mok Yuen Lok,Fadhil,Abd.Razak Hussein,Azizan Sidin(son of Cikgu Sidin),Sze See Yu,S.Thanigaseelan,Harsundarjeet Singh,Jayabalan,Sri Ram,Fong Meng Kai.Lokman Mansor,Yap thim Choy,Zainal Ali,Adnan Hamdan.Low Yong Weng,just to name a few,vied among us for the 15 no.seats for our upcoming 1st.Form.But being a brilliant pupil,early Std.6,I was offered a place to continue schooling at the prestigious MCKK,the only malay pupil chosen,thanks to the following teachers,Mrs.Mary Theresa Skelchy,Mrs.P.Padmanathan,Mr.Yap Poh Ho,the late Cikgu Hj.Sidin,Mr.Ng Seng Kiat and not forgetting the HM at that time Mr.E.F.Alagaratnam(who took over the late Mr.Chew Ah Kong( a very true and dedicated HM
who during recess time,often wandered at the schoolfield,keeping an eye on pupils and disciplining them if necessary).End of my Std.6,I still got the offer from VI but of course I rejected with due respect.Being brilliant again,after completing my MCE,I got 2 offers to continue studying in UK and the rest is history.
My apologies if anyone is offended but what I wrote here is not to brag but to let every reader know that PRES(1) helped what I am today,not rich but well educated and versed in the English language.The schooling atmosphere was different then.There was no racial barrier.Among us.Malays,Chinese,Indians,Sikhs;we mingled together.We played together and had hell of a fun.I was in the Red House.Being short-sighted and wearing glasses since Std.3,I was not much an athlete but I could still recall the fun and joy of the Sports Day where I helped to serve drinks to the
spectators,being a member the Scouts Club.I still remember the rush at the tuck shop which had a big ‘Flame of the Forest’ tree.(Mrs.Skelchy taught me that).I stll vividly remember the weekly assembly where we,the Prefects,stand proudly in front of the assemble,singing the National Anthem while Christopher(one of our fellow Prefects) raised
the National flag.Fond and sweet memories.To all my teachers,I wish I could meet you especially Mrs.Mary Theresa Skelchy,Mrs.Lee Peck Ming and Mr.Yap Poh Ho,the badminton teacher,but alas I have the faintest idea of their well being and where about,lest somebody who reads this may help or give a clue.
Last but not least,like those past students of PRES(1)all I’ve to say is that those years were the golden years of my life and the fond memories of those yesteryears shall remain and shine forever liken to the children’s songs that were taught by my teacher at that time,Mrs.Lee Peck Ming.Thanks and God Bless.
November 9th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Dear Johari,
Like you, I too am very proud of PRES (1) which, together with my time at the VI, is responsible for the successful person that I am today. But apart from reminiscing contentedly, I also feel a desire – probably a mid-life phenomenon – to show ‘gratitude’ and what better way is there than to re-introduce to young Malaysians that incomparable and rounded education we were privileged to enjoy?
I am sure there are people like us, and I am also confident many share my ambition to help with giving youngsters that fantastic experience we have had, albeit in the present day context.
I am hoping to do this through a friendship club, the Conservative Friends of Malaysia. Would you and anyone else like to join me?
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:34 am
I was reading Dr.G.Mohan story. Which he refer most of the teacher during Pasar Road School. I feel happy that most of our beloved teacher still in the best of health. But for our teacher no more hope the rest in peace.
Main tikam, playing photos, spiders, guli and best part of it. As I remember the last year in standard 6, few of us were gambling behind the school hall. Sometimes during fasting month I and late school mate Musa (Musa Hitam) goes to the canteen buy mee curry. Gila punya kerja. So any of my friends out there during standard 6C 1977 if you are reading this do give me a call 0193270467 or drop an email just to say ‘hello”.
For 2011 other month to go. To all Pasar Road Mates stay healthy and be happy. And to all the teacher of Pasar Road School thank you for everything.
January 23rd, 2012 at 9:43 am
Kung Hae Faat Choy everyone!