RI old boys catch up after 50 years

FOR some, it was the first time they had seen their former schoolmates in five decades. For others, it was an evening spent with faces that have grown familiar over the years.

Almost 80 old boys from Raffles Institution (RI) got together last night for a reunion dinner at Swissotel The Stamford, 50 years after they sat for their O-levels.

Among those from the class of 1958 were Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, 67, and former ministers of state Othman Haron Eusofe, 68, and Wan Soon Bee, 69.

ComfortDelGro chairman Lim Jit Poh, 69, also from the same cohort, organised the reunion after SM Goh suggested it. In the past 20 years, the class had managed to meet only a handful of times.

The former schoolmates shared their fondest memories of their days at RI, which used to be where the Swissotel currently stands.

In his keynote speech, SM Goh reminisced about the good times he and his classmates shared: playing football, flying kites, and even sharing food.

'Sometimes, we even sucked from the same ice ball. It was unhygienic, but we survived,' he said, to laughter from his former schoolmates.

He and his fellow RI boys also lived through some of Singapore's more challenging periods, like the Bukit Ho Swee fire in 1961 and the race riots of 1964.

'Our class of '58 has experienced the vicissitudes of life and thrived,' he said.

Mr Goh devoted a large chunk of his speech to the differences between his childhood and that experienced by today's children.

When he and his friends were young, they were independent, more rough and tumble, and made do with simple games, unlike children who now have maids, are pampered and play computer games.

But, he said, the pastimes which children these days enjoy come with the territory of Singapore's growth into a First World country.

He added that children these days also have a host of opportunities brought about by Singapore's success.

Other speakers included the organiser Mr Lim, who spoke about SM Goh's sentimental walk around the old school, saying goodbye to his favourite spots.

Among those at the dinner was Mr Eng Meng Yang, 70, who had not seen most of his former schoolmates since graduating. The environmental specialist flew in from Oklahoma in the United States, where he has lived for 27 years, to attend the gathering.

'I remember all these friends even though it's been so long. I will never forget the times when we went swimming and played basketball,' said Mr Eng.