Post-Grand Reunion Message from Bro Columba

Here's an email from Ta Ker, sent via Georgie boy  ...


From: columba gleeson
To: George Lo
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 12:46 AM
Subject: Re: st joe '76


Dear George and fellow '76-ers,

Between Christmas festivities, visits to family etc I didn't get round to reviewing your blog of the events of 23/12 until New Year's Night, and what a feast of viewing and reading was in store for me! So much so that I eventually got to bed only at 3.00 am! I was delighted to see what a wonderfully successful and happy gathering you all had and felt part of the scene for a few hours.

The whole event seems to have been a masterpiece of planning, preparation, co-ordination and execution, as well as follow-up afterwards. It obviously made huge demands on time, effort and no doubt patience on the part of the core group of organisers, but I'm sure it was all worth while in the end. I spent hours trying to recognise all the faces, working out names (from initials, nicknames etc.), reading between the lines and deciphering hidden meanings etc. It was great to see Fr. Nick and also some fellow 'staffroom veterans' there, all still looking hale and hearty! In this respect I would like to pay a special tribute to your 'Website Jaga' for the fantastic job he has done in the months leading up to the event, in covering the big 'bash' itself, as well as the follow-up, including the visits to significant landmarks and post-event comments, tributes etc. It must have been a very time-consuming labour of love and is deeply appreciated, especially by distant 'exiles' like myself who could not be with you. Thank you most sincerely James!

It is particularly gratifying for me to read of so many from one particular year group, from various ethnic, religious and social backgrounds, coming together from far and wide 33 years down the road to refresh memories and celebrate what they share in common. Long may it remain so!

I take this opportunity, through the kind medium of your blog, to wish all of you and your families good health, happiness and success in 2010 and down the road beyond. May you continue to foster and to celebrate the memories and spirit you share, wherever you may be, and may this world of ours be a better place for our having been through it. For now best wishes and God bless all.

With fond memories,

Bro. Columba.

 
Glad you enjoyed the site, Bro Columba.
 
A very happy 2010 and sincere thanks to you, Bro Adrian, Bro Mark, Bro Hyacinth and all the others who have provided generations of Josephians a solid foundation for life.

Basketball Memories

Only yesterday Kevin reminisced on a very effective St Joe basketball team from 1975.

I then asked if anyone had any photos of our basketball games or teams, and as though by magic this came through a few minutes ago ... thanks to our buddy Fook !

Enjoy, all you sports fans ...

And do tell us what you remember of those glorious days.

First Anniversary of Blog

Exactly one year ago, on 3rd January 2009, I created this "St Joe Form 5 (1976)" blog. It was based on the wild idea that after 33 years, all the boys of Form 5 (1976) could still be located. I hesitantly put in the first posting titled "Purpose of this Website", not sure if anyone would find it. It drew just four comments.

Gradually the visits increased and through word-of-mouth, more and more old Josephians from the Class of 76 and others came in. Now 250 postings and more than a thousand comments later, we have more than 150 unique visitors accessing on a normal day. And as you all know we had the "Mother of All Reunions" on 23 Dec and also broke the 100,000 visit mark on the blog before the end of 2009. All of you have been most sporting and came in with lots of comments, perspectives and memories ... it has been a wonderful journey.

So today, in humble gratitude and still slight amazement, I celebrate the blog's FIRST ANNIVERSARY and invite all of you to sample a piece of the virtual birthday cake.

Long live St Joe and its students, teachers and alumni.

Ora Et Labora ... let's work hard eating the cake and pray we will not have indigestion afterwards ... LOL

Names on Boards in the School Hall

During our St Joe visit, we had a chance to enter the school hall (William Tan Auditorium) where we saw all the wooden plaques on the walls, which recognised individuals who had held various positions for the school - whether it be in school management or in achieving leadership roles in various extra-curricular activities.

Here are some close-ups of the individual boards ...

The Principals

The Board of Directors

Hey, my old man's name is up there too!

(albeit with a typo ...Should be Kwee instead of Swee)

Head Prefect

Victor Ludorum (Sportsman of the Year)

Red Crescent - Head Section Leader

Scouting Awards

I think I captured all the boards. Please let me know if I missed any.

Congratulations to those whose names appeared on them. Or whose children's names appeared on them.

We're proud of all of you.