Online Reunion with a Former Teacher of Lok Yuk School, KK

My former Math teacher, Edward Greenawald in South Carolina, USA finally has his PC installed with a camera. We were able to chat live online on 24 February 2021 together with two other former classmates who are residing in Vancouver, Canada. 

After leaving Sabah for USA in 1967, this is the first time we see each other live (Read here). Ed, now at age 79 is still chatty and sharp. Age doesn't seem to have a major impact on him!

1964 aged 22 Vs 2021

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As always, a chat with old friends invariably led to a recollection of those long gone eras. Since the 1960's, Kota Kinabalu has developed to become a vibrant city. Many of the old buildings have been demolished to make way for new and more sophisticated shophouses, commercial buildings, hotels and shopping complexes. The notable old buildings at the city centre and its vicinity which are still in service are few. They are the old post office (This building has since been renovated to become the office of the Sabah Tourism Board), two rows of double storey shophouses at the Australian Place, KK Community Centre, Clock Tower and the the old wooden buildings at the old school premise of Lok Yuk School KK at Signal Hill. 

The only remaining three old buildings at the old school premise which are still in use today - The Old Chapel and the two old school blocks which have been converted to become the Married Students Quarters for Sabah Theological Seminary (STS).

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In the old school premise during the 1960's, the open space in between the two surviving old school buildings was a vibrant place where school assemblies and open air performances were held. 

1965

Make shift elevated platform set up for open air performance.

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Other than the open air school assembly, combined school assemblies were also held together with the the students and teaching staff of the Chinese Primary School and the English Primary School. The assembly was instead held at the Old Chapel (Read here).

In view of the limited space of the old school premise at Signal Hill, a new piece of land of size 12.2 acres was granted by the Sabah State Government in 1964 in Likas along Jalan Teluk Likas.  The first block of the new school buildings was completed in 1966. In August 1966, the school moved from the old school premise to the new school at Likas.

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I know of former students who occasionally dropped by the old school premise to walk along the long flight of stair to recollect and relive those long gone eras. After all, this is one place that has shaped part of their lives and characters. 

In the midst of silence especially during the holiday break of STS, one could almost "hear" a mixture of sound and voices - roar of laughter, giggling, hesitation, disappointment but also words of assurances........

1964

The wooden block once used for Bridge Class and the library in the 1960's had long ago been demolished after its deterioration to a stage which was beyond repair.

Current.