FLOWERS were laid at the tomb of Penang Free School founder Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings as the school marked its 210th anniversary.
About 40 students and alumni, as well as teachers and members of the Anglican community, gathered at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery for the annual thanksgiving memorial service.
The ceremony, held at 7am, brought together representatives of Penang Free School, Kolej Tingkatan Enam Hutchings and the Pro-Cathedral of St George the Martyr.
The service was conducted by Rev Gerrad Emmanuel, assisted by Rev Ho Kong Eng.
The annual gathering commemorates the founding of Penang Free School on Oct 21, 1816.
Hutchings, an Anglican chaplain in the British colony then known as Prince of Wales Island, founded the school on the principle that education should be available to children regardless of race.
The institution became the first English-medium school in South-East Asia.
Hutchings was instrumental in the establishment of St George’s Church, which is recognised as the oldest Anglican church in South-East Asia.
Hutchings died of malaria in 1827, aged 45, and was buried at the Northam Road Protestant Cemetery.
The school began in rented premises in Love Lane before moving to Farquhar Street.
It relocated to its present premises in Jalan Masjid Negeri in 1928.
Over the past two centuries, Penang Free School has produced generations of prominent Malaysians, including the country’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, former Penang chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu and entertainer Tan Sri P. Ramlee.
Its former students are affectionately known as Old Frees.
