Shed a Tear

Here's one of my old favorites that never ceases to make me think back in time and recall wonderful moments and people ...


... Memorable occasions with our many past highly respected and dedicated competent Christian principals(Some of them were Reverend Father Brian Taylor of Oxford, London whom my immediate family members would never forget for many reasons, Mr. Nigel Heyward of Tasmania, Australia whom many Columbans loved and Miss Leonie Kathreen Armour of Melbourne, Australia who was my principal for six years and was much loved as well). Our assemblies in our Mission school, Saint Columba's School --one of the top schools in academic (Senior Cambridge School Exams) and extra-curricular activities!) always began with the respectful rendition of the national anthem, 'Negara Ku", followed by the lusty singing of our school song-Between the hillside and the sea/We work and play here in harmony/May steadfast service and loyalty/Bring wider vision of unity ...

Throughout the years in our assemblies, we had announcements and Christian sermons, ending with the unforgettable "Lord Dismiss Us". The first two stanzas were sung when school reopened and the last two stanzas were solemnly sung by us before we went back to our classrooms. Here is the song. Yes, I can shed a tear listening to the meaningful hymn ... and remembering many old Columban classmates and buddies I have lost along the way ...

Jamail Ali, Musa Talip, Lai Hii Man, Lai Teck Soon, Liew Joon Chiang, Austin Lim, Anne Yapp, Nancy Yapp, Jackson Brooke, Pui Chin Chiat, Jamilah Piee, Zaiton Davidson, Stanley Liew, Charles Fam, Alan Ku, Albert Yapp, Chong Yuk Min and others including a warm Malay girl whose name I can't recall right now-will add in later ... (Update: Hasnah Hisham) ... I know all of you are up there smiling down on us ...

A Beloved Witness for Christ to the End

I was researching in my archives when I came across this carbon copy of a letter written by the late Garnet Dearnley, from New Zealand. In it, he aptly described his experience in Miri here in those days. In delving deeper, I learnt more about him and actually came to the realisation that this European truly loved my old school, Saint Columba's School and its founding mission, the Anglican Church.

Sadly, the late Dearnley, a jolly lecturer at Tanjong Lobang College died at quite an early age in a fatal motor-cycle accident near where he is presently buried, in the oldest Christian graveyard in northern Borneo, between St. Columba's School and St. Columba's Kindergarten. His grave is closest to Abang Indeh Road with abundant yellow daffodils growing beside it and has the friendly handsome gent's pic, placed there by his son whom I met over a year ago.
Every day, as I bring my wife who works as the headmistress of St. Columba's kindergarten there, his face would be seen with a friendly grin.