by Terry Foenander.

Then and Now:
(Some reminiscences of Eric Lim)

"The school had a sea front in the sixties"

"I remember it was an all boys school then and the boys used to pop over to the Katong Convent to get dates with those "naughty" girls" (I'm not sure they're co-ed now - Eric)

"There used to be a pre-war septic tank there [actually there were 3 of these tanks] and beneath it was a sandy patch where you could find sand ant-eater - a strange insect that lived in the sand. If any ants fell into these mini sand pits they were eaten by these little sand ant-eater insect"

"I heard there was ghosts roaming the school grounds. Some of us who used to go to the school at nights to study also helped perpetuate the ghost stories. You see - the school's top floor used to have swing doors that separated class rooms. The kids used to run from one end of the building to the other end pushing the swing doors as they ran thro the dark corridors. We put on white sheets to look like ghosts to scare the B Jeezus off them. It was good fun but not great for our grades!"

"Discipline was very strict then. Many a kid who was caught talking while on assembly were personally given two wacks of the cane by the principle - then Bro Patrick. The caning left marks on their bums for years. I guess that's why the boys were so well behaved then. But pity the poor boy who was punished because he happened to say a few words at assembly".

"I remember one a teacher told those kids who did not bring their textbooks to leave the classroom. He then turned to write something on the blackboard. When he turned around to face the class, more than half of the class had disappeared!"

"We had a long hall where all the school's functions were held. It looked like an aeroplane hanger. We really enjoyed the weekly movie shows there. That was before the television era".

"At that time, it was a primary and secondary school, now it is merely a secondary school".

"I once overheard a group of boys discussing politics. He said that the communists would take over the world. I said "Good Lord, the communists are taking over a Christian school!'. They stared at me and gave me dirty looks. I wonder if they are still communists. Perhaps not!

"More than half of the class were Eurasians in the Sixties as Katong was the bedrock of these "gragos". Now many of them are residing overseas like Terry."

"Long hair was not allowed in school then - though more stricter then than it is now. Some of us managed to get round this by having borderline hair cuts with the Beatle front fringe combed up when in school. To maintain my borderline haircut, I learned to cut my own hair - which I still do to this day. I haven't gone to the barber since the late Sixties as they don't know how to cut my hair properly!"

"Though St Pat's was not one of the best schools in Singapore then, I think we had a well-rounded education that help us weather the poor job prospects in the late Sixties. I'm lucky to be a self employed above average earner inspite of not being able to go to the University. I know many of my friends immigrated, and I think that the school enabled us to be more adaptable and independent"

"Recess time was the time to socialise, the Commies huddle near the disused Sewerage tanks, the brainees near the Library etc. As for us, we gathered at the parallel bar pit - doing push-ups and stunts. Most of the times, my lunch comprise of a large prawn cracker smeared with chilli sauce to save eating time. I saved the rest of the lunch money for comics, movies or vinyl records. We discussed everything under the sun except politics and lessons" - Eric '65

"Some of us head to the Jackie Bowl next door or the local watering holes near Tay Buan Guan. I was usually found in the comics or music stores in Katong or playing football in any available patch of grass or go swiming in Marine Parade (before it was reclaimed). When the sun set, there were lots of house parties to go to (most of us lived in "landed" houses them - even though most were rented or in kampongs. There was no tutition or extra classes. Life was so simple then". - Eric '65

"I thought our Art Classes was very good. There used to be Brother from Japan who taught us - I can't recall his name. I remember he being very strong and good in judo. He used to pick me up like a kid though I was 13 years old at that time. People thought that it was crazy to take Art as a subject then as it had no value academically. I was glad I took it as it gave me an "A". Art together with English Literature proved to be the 2 most important subjects that helped me in my working career. They certainly helped me in my advertising campaigns for my businesses. In fact, my first job offer was from an advertising agency"

"When Majullah Singapura was composed in 1957, all school children were taught to sing it. Our class was selected to teach the whole school how to sing the anthem. It went on for more than two days - late into the night. For a kid of 9, I found this particularly gruelling."

WHAT I LEARNT FROM SCHOOL Keep faith in your dreams. Without it you are no better than machines. Believe in a better tomorrow. Make your dreams come true - no matter how impossible the dream may seem. Never listen to people who say it can't be done. These are stuff rock and roll dreams are made of.

Then and Now:
(The Author's Own Reminiscences)

* Before being taught mathematics by Brother Justinian, I was absolutely terrible in that particular subject. The good Brother had a way of instructing, which seemed to make the subject come alive (to me anyway), and I will always appreciate his humble manner and patience in teaching us the fundamentals of maths.

* I remember sitting for a major examination in the old school hall (now demolished), and having completed one of the papers, but just remaining seated at my desk, doodling away on a spare sheet of paper. I was actually writing down the words to one of those songs from the sixties, and I remember the song as being one titled "I Love You" by a group called People. Edmund Rodrigues was one of the teachers who had to keep an eye out and while walking by, spotted me doodling, and stopped; then picked up the piece of paper, and, softly enough for me to hear him, but not for everyone else around, he quietly whispered the words I had written down, in a wry manner, then placed the sheet back down, and without any further words, quietly strode off. Boy, did I feel two inches tall!!

* The back part of the school, behind the shooting gallery, and on the other side of the fence, used to front the sea (before it was reclaimed sometime in the early 1970's), and the monsoon drain running alongside the school boundary led out to the sea through long, covered, concrete piping, which formed a sort of boardwalk, on which we used to go fishing after the morning school session was over. We often caught catfish and I recall on one occasion, having placed one of these fish down, I knelt down to re-supply my fish hook with bait, but accidentally knelt down on one of the catfish I had caught, and got a sharp edged fin stuck in one of my knees. My companions, who were fishing beside me gave me all sorts of suggestions to prevent my being 'poisoned' (how was I to know at that age that a catfish sting only caused pain, but no serious after effects?) and one of those suggestions, which I took seriously was to rub the sting with urine, so I quickly took off to the school toilets, and did just that!

* While attending St. Patrick's School at that period (1964-1968), my family resided at Pearl's Hill Terrace, near the General Hospital, and I had to take about two or three separate bus services to get to school and back home again, after school. Because we did not need much for an allowance in those days (I think the fare was about 10 cents or so, and a bowl of noodles from the tuckshop was about 20 cents or thereabouts), I would often try to save on the bus fare by walking part of the way home, so that instead of catching a bus from the school front to Geylang, and then catching another bus from there for home, I would often walk from the school to Geylang. Close to Geylang there was a Chinese temple, outside of which the good monks often left a large pot of tea, and cups, for the weary traveller. I, of course, considered myself as being one of these weary travellers, and would help myself to this most welcome thirst quencher!!

Important Notice to all 'old boys' of St. Patrick's School!

A Request for Contributions to the School Archives:

The school is now forming an archives of historical material and memorabilia, and would like to request contributions from all former students, please. Instead of consigning your old report cards, photographs, badges, and other similar material to the rubbish bin, please consider sending such items to the school for storage, for the benefit of researchers and other students.
Please contact Mr. Raj Gill, Head of the Department of Humanities, if you have anything of interest to contribute to the archives.

Any assistance is very much appreciated.