Some friendships begin in childhood and last a lifetime.
This is especially true for several seniors where bonds formed with their Standard One classmates have endured for decades, and grow stronger with age.
Now in their golden years, these ties are more meaningful than ever as they help one another recall stories and memories of their school days.
Friendship is the glue that continues to reunite them year after year.
StarMetro spoke to two groups comprising 75-year-olds from Pudu English Secondary School (PESS) which is now known as SMK (P) Pudu, and La Salle Klang (SMK La Salle) from the Class of 1968.
Close-knit ties
The grandmothers still enjoy reminiscing about their schooling days at gatherings with former classmates.
Their most recent get-together was for high-tea in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Loo said the fact that her mother could not speak English and was only conversant in Chinese influenced the choice of enrolling at PESS.
“My mother believed that without English, people were often at a disadvantage in official matters.
“We lived in Kampung Satu, Sungai Besi Road, and mother identified PESS as the one for me as it was closest to our home.
“She was keen for me to enrol there, study in English and speak well,” said the grandmother-of-four.
Loo loved going to school because of the friendships formed.
“After celebrations such as Chinese New Year, we would bring homemade biscuits for sharing.
“We also organised visits to each other’s homes, even as young children,” added Loo, a retired teacher.
As for Loi, her father being an immigrant from China was determined that his children learned English.
He ran a bakery inside an army camp frequented by British officers, she said, recalling commuting on crowded public buses to school.
“My classmates and I connected without expectations, hence I looked forward to our gatherings,” said Loi, also a former schoolteacher and grandmother-of-four.
“We have aged together and are there for one another through hard and good times.
“The key is never to have high expectations of others.
“Everything we do and share is done wholeheartedly.
“Our childhood friends remind us of our roots,” added Loi.
Rema Devi Pillai said PESS was the closest school to her family home in Jalan Chan Sow Lin.
The school had only two classes in 1968, with 36 students each.
Most of Rema’s classmates were from Cheras, Pudu and Serdang New Village.
Since very few parents owned cars, she said the students either walked or took the bus to school.
Many of them were from poor families, and only about 10 out of 70 students went on to Form Six and later to university.
Some would become teachers or lecturers. One became a doctor.
Rema, a retired lecturer, said many had gone their separate ways until they turned 50.
“About 27 of us showed up. Since then, we have made it a point to meet yearly or as often as we can,” she said, adding that they had larger gatherings when they turned 55, 60 and 65.
“When we turned 70, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic period, so we didn’t meet.
“This year, we held a high-tea as it is our 75th year,” said Rema.
Despite challenges such as illnesses and the passing of friends, the women make it a point to attend the gatherings and keep in touch.
Lim, who spearheaded the annual reunions, said the handwritten contact numbers she had kept all those years came in handy when it was time to track down her former classmates.
She cherished her all-girls school experience as it fostered closeness.
“Some of us had 13 siblings, and at school we had friends to share our problems with.
“We were proud of our purple school uniform.
The women fondly recall their childhood days of eating ice balls with their bare hands, after school, and tying frangipani flowers together to kick around.
“Sports Day stretched over two days, and we raised funds for the school.
“Today, we talk about these memories whenever we meet,” Lim said.
Now with empty nests, they find greater joy in confiding in one another.
Boys stay united
Boys of La Salle Klang’s Class of 1968 began meeting annually when they turned 45, with the advent of improved electronic devices and social media.
They gather on the second Saturday of January every year, either at a former classmate’s home or at a restaurant.
Over the years, many have returned to Klang, enabling them to stay in closer contact.
Lawrence Nathan said the school had only one Science and one Arts stream class during their upper secondary years.
Although 45% of his classmates had passed on, the others still kept in touch, he said, adding that whenever they met, they all relived memories of school days.
“We studied in a missionary school where the Christian brothers, who were our teachers and principal, instilled strong fellowship among us,” said Lawrence.
“School was the centre of our lives. The brothers would gladly open the library whenever we wanted to use it.”
He said classmates stayed in close contact for over 60 years because of the bond they built in their younger days.
“We all turned out well. So far none of us became criminals,” he joked.
Though many came from modest backgrounds, they went on to build successful careers.
Some ventured into business while others became professionals, including surgeons.
“I have classmates now living in many countries, which makes travelling fun and easy.
“We even go on road trips.
“We trust each other regardless of ethnicity, because of our strong ties since childhood.
“We also talk about politics and our families.
“Growing up in an all-boys school was fun,” said Lawrence, a businessman.
Dr Dominic Lopez, a general surgeon, said the key to lasting friendships was overlooking small differences.
“Friendship is especially important as we grow older.
“Don’t make the mistake of holding a grudge – it will divide you,” he said.
“Staying friends for many years takes effort. Not everyone shares the same political or religious views.
“Some may even leave WhatsApp groups when unhappy, but someone will always reach out to bring them back.
“We know friendship is precious,” he added.
Dr Lopez recalled that their late classmate Zainal John Carrie first reunited the ex-La Salle boys about 30 years ago.
“Zainal was a fun-loving person who brought us together.
“He passed away 10 years ago, but we continue the tradition of meeting once a year,” he said.
Terence Simon said he bonded closely with Lawrence as both of them had lost a parent during their school days.
“Lawrence lost his father, and I, my mother.
“We bonded during recess because we shared that loss,” said Terence.
“The brothers rewarded us with cheese when we behaved well and disciplined us with the cane when we were naughty. Discipline was ingrained in us.”
Terence encourages his former schoolmates to set aside differences and stay united.
“We are too old for drama. We choose neutral ground and continue our friendship.
“Since many of us are in Klang now, we try to catch up as often as we can, even if it is just a few of us,” he said.
