Fide et labore. This Latin phrase, which translates as “faith and labour”, is one that is etched in the minds of those who had their secondary-school education at Kuala Lumpur’s St John’s Institution.
Some of the school’s old boys and girls say it has guided them through life and they credit it for the successes they have achieved.
One of the oldest secondary schools in the capital, St John’s was established in 1904 by the La Sallian Brothers and was named after the congregation’s founder, Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle.
It is regarded as a prestigious place of learning and its students have excelled in both academic learning and sports. Out of its classrooms, many a great Malaysian has emerged. Among their numbers are members of royalty, political leaders, tycoons and athletes.
But no matter how great the heights Johannians scale in their lives, they never fail to remember the school where their story began and where great friendships were sealed.
This Sept 6, some of those great friends, specifically members of the Class of 1969, will get together again at the Maharaj Restaurant in Petaling Jaya.
Considering that some have taken up residence abroad and are pushing 70, they are aware that this may be the last time that every surviving member will be at such a reunion, and they are determined to have a good time talking and laughing about old times.
FMT spoke to a few of them.
Gopala Krishnan, the organising committee chairman, said he was happy that at least 52 had agreed to attend, two more than the targeted number.
He decided to organise the reunion after a chance meeting with some friends made him realise that it had been a while since the scattered Johannians last got together.
“We also wanted to honour those who have left us,” he said.
M Munusamy, a former school captain, is looking forward to the occasion with plenty of excitement. “It’s a personal journey,” he said. “I want to see all the friends whom I once schooled with.”
He stills finds it hard to believe that a boy from Sentul like him could become the school captain of such a premier institution.
A name that sports enthusiasts may recognise, Anna Kronenberg, was the first ladies Squash National Champion in 1974, 1976, 1979 and 1980.
She said she was looking forward to meeting her school friends, especially those who were bridesmaids at her wedding.
Law Kia Sang and Yew Kam Keong, shared similar sentiments. They said they longed to see old friends they had not met for quite a spell.
“This reunion is most meaningful as I will be meeting people that I have not met for 50 years, reconnecting, catching up and renewing friendships,” said Law, who lives and works in the United Kingdom.
Yew said he just couldn’t wait to “see my old classmates, especially those I haven’t met for so long”.
Although he’ll be absent at the reunion because of a work commitment, Kannan Menon says he retains fond memories of the school and keeps in touch with his classmates to this day.
Based in the United States, he said he and fellow alumni had grown much in character since their school days, something he attributed to “the glory of St John’s”.
Going by what these alumni are saying, this reunion will certainly be a day for the old boys and girls of St John’s to remember for years to come.