Students pay homage to Penang Free School founder

In memory: PFS Senior Assistant of Administration Ho Nean Chan (third from left) and school prefects at the thanksgiving memorial service for Hutchings at the Protestant cemetery in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah. PIC by GEORGE CHEAH / The Star 21 10 2018

GEORGE TOWN: When past and present students of a 202-year-old school get together to honour the founder of their venerable institution, you can bet there will be much nostalgia.

“This is a special occasion to remember a great man,” said Rev Anthony Jude, referring to Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings (1782-1827) who founded Penang Free School (PFS).

Yesterday morning, Rev Anthony and Rev Ho Kong Eng led the annual thanksgiving memorial service.

Both men are from St George’s Church that was started by Rev Hutchings.

The service was held at the Protestant cemetery in Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.

According to Rev Anthony, he said the hard work of Rev Hutchings had indeed bore fruits.

“What my father says about PFS is true. These two years here are the best schooling years of my life,” said school prefect Sukerit Kaur.

She said it was a “dream come true” for her to study at PFS, adding that her father had been talking about the school since she was young.

PFS school captain (head prefect) R. Krishnan, 17, said he was proud to be studying in the oldest school in Malaysia and to take part in the annual tradition.

“It is good to be steadfast in our tradition,” he said.

Students from SMK Hutchings took part in the service yesterday as well. (The present SMK Hutchings building was where PFS had originally begun.)

SMK Hutchings head prefect Peter James Albert, 17, said:

“I’m proud to be here (at the service) and also to be studying at SMK Hutchings which was started by the late Rev Hutchings.”

Hilary Manecksha from Devon, England, who has lived in Malaysia for more than 40 years, was also present.

“I’m happy that the tradition still continues. It is very meaningful and wonderful,” she said.

Also present were lawyer Sukhindarpal Singh, 63, who is an “Old Frees” and his 19-year-old daughter Sukerit Kaur who is doing her Upper Six in PFS.

“I’ve been attending the service for the past four to five years,” he proudly said.

By 7am yesterday, about 50 people gathered at the tomb of Hutchings to commemorate his life and service to the school.

He was also the founder of St George’s Church Penang and Raffles Institute in Singapore. SMK Hutchings in Farquhar Street was named after him in the 1920s.