Selected thoughts from the Organising Committee Members

Reflections on the Evening

“We could not have achieved this without the grace of God and the perseverance, commitment and dedication of the team members. The evening was filled with laughter and noisy banter, as we recounted fond memories of our youthful days. There was a sense of closeness, belonging and of great pride. Perhaps the greatest joy was in seeing an old friend who we had lost contact with after 30 years and the funniest moments would be when we see how much some had put on around the waist and lost from above the head!

Singing the school anthem and listening to Earnest Lau speak again , I couldn’t help but wonder about my son, who’s in Sec 4 this year in ACS. In 30 years time, would he also be in the same position, singing the anthem & listening to his ex-principal? Would he and his cohort have the same esprit de corps of the boys of ACS 1978?  

As we reluctantly dispersed at the end of the celebration, I hope we managed to demonstrate the indomitable ACS Spirit and that this will inspire many more to come forward so that our future gatherings will be even better.

The Best is Yet To Be!"

Regards,
Melvyn Sum

Unexpected sense of being from a reluctant student

The monthly meetings and the ups and downs of organising a reunion for a disparate group of middle aged men kept me focussed on the task at hand – to organise a get together again to be part of our celebration, a reunion of the boys within us. We planned with great enthusiasm, with all our experience to the last detail and even had a dry run to make sure the programme was tight but still allowed room for fluid control by the master of ceremony. We had considered all kinds of venues to host the reunion and it was finally decided that we would have it at the ACS Lee Kong Chian Auditorium. When it was finally agreed, we never looked back and hastened the preparations for all conceivable needs.

However, events not anticipated on the day itself turned out to cause both anxiety as well as a great sense pleasure derived from spontaneity between old friends and guests.

While we had not planned for an extravagant gathering filled with all kinds of entertainment mindful that it was a night where long lost old friends would just want to catch up and peel the years away. We did plan for short speeches, audio visual presentations and piped in music.

What took all of the committee by surprise was the total failure of the audio, visual and PA system. The system had tripped and the student crew had no way of getting the system up immediately. So for almost the whole first hour of the evening we had to contend with the reunion programme without any of the audio or visuals.

With great credit to both Lim King(Class 4B) - who had planned the original programme that allowed us some room to adjust – and to Kelven Tan(Class 4C) the MC who got everyone still busy chatting in small groups at the entrance of the hall to stand on the steps of the stage of the auditorium. The idea was that we would have group photographs with the invited guests, our principal Mr Earnest Lau, and teachers while the PA Crew tried to resolve our AV problem.

I think it dawned upon all of us that standing so close to each other, we did not really need the PA system to be heard. There we all stood shoulder to shoulder – like we used to in school when we were being spoken to by our coaches and teachers. There we stood side by side as the announcements and thanks were being made.

There we stood side by side as we invited and heard the short address by our beloved principal, Mr Earnest Lau. To listen to Mr Lau speak once again was for me, poignant and powerful experience. His oratory skills, charisma and gravitas kept the 150 men in rapt attention. There was palpable energy and respect for Mr Lau as I could feel the absolute silence but for his familiar voice in the hall as he spoke. The hall of ACS somehow made his remarks all the more piercing. He did not speak for long but his words of encouragement and of the ACS spirit that we had embraced and reflected made my heart soar. I am sure I was not alone.

His address set the mood for the reunion. It was about the spirit of friendship that brought us there that night but it’s the bond we had for each other and the school and what it stood for that we were celebrating. It is not a few students, teachers or even principal that makes the school. It is the sum of all these. For me, the common thread through all the elements of a school that makes ACS a great school is its Christian heritage and teachings. 

I am reminded that whilst ACS had all through its history enjoyed great buildings and facilities it is the bond and dedication between the teachers and students that makes the school great. I like to believe that in addition to the strong bond between old friends, it is that we return to reunite with the teachers and principals and to celebrate their dedication, their achievements, and to see their fruits of their labour.  For their labour the Class of ’78 many leaders of their chosen field but two worth mentioning who are officially connected to ACS is Richard Seow (Class 4D) who took up the mantle of Chairman of the ACS Board of Governors this year and Chandra Mohan (Class 4B) who has been the secretary of the ACS OBA for some years.

For the rest of the night it was a flurry to meet, shake hands and to exchange name cards with as many people one can manage. Even though the AV system eventually was restored, it did not matter. Even though there still all the talking and photographing and running the presentations – it did not matter if it worked or people were entertained. Evidenced by the smiles of joy and laughter caught in photographs it was clear that people were just pleased to meet up and see old friends again.

I only realised then why we were really there. We were there to celebrate and renew what we had in 1978. We were there to remind ourselves what really matters. We are all blessed to have had each other as friends, the teachers who were dedicated to our education and a principal who showed us what it took to be truly a great man.

I wish to end by thanking my teachers and principal for their sterling standards and especially for never giving up on me. I was a reluctant student never fully achieving my capabilities in school, but for your efforts I hope that you are proud that I had become an educator as well.

Harry Tan

Secondary 4H

Assoc Professor of Law