Lok Yuk School KK Class 67/69 Reunion

With Covid-19 now regarded as endemic in most countries, international travel has largely returned to normal. My former Lok Yuk Secondary School classmate, Robert Lee, was among those taking the opportunity to travel again - returning to Kota Kinabalu for a holiday. Years ago, he moved to Brisbane after his children made Australia their permanent home.

We last had a class reunion in February 2020, just before the pandemic brought the world to a standstill (Read here). So, when we heard Robert was back, we seized the chance to organise a reunion brunch at the Hyatt Hotel on 6 October 2022. Nine of us made it that day. Sadly, three others who had planned to join had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness - a reminder that, at our age, such things are no longer rare.

We have shared over fifty-seven years of friendship since our Form 1 days in 1965 - some bonds going back even further. It was no surprise, then, that everyone who came felt deeply grateful for the good health that allowed us to gather once more, sharing laughter, stories, and the quiet joy of simply being together.

Front row from left: Me, Johnny Loo, Robert Lee, Peter Tan and Eddie Chow.

Back row from left: Lee Nyuk Jin, Jeannie Teo, Ho Nyuk En and Grace Chin.

On 8 October 2022, Robert Lee on his own initiative visited one of our former classmates, Richard Chua who has been immobilized after he suffered a stroke many years ago. I together with some former classmates last visited him in February 2019 when another classmate, Miao Ling came back from Hong Kong for holidays (Read here). 

Sadly, more than three and a half years have passed since then, and it was clear that Richard’s condition had further deteriorated.

8 Oct 2022 vs 26 Feb 2019

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Earlier on on 26 September 2022, I received news from another high school classmate, Teresa who has migrated to Canada that her husband Frankie has finally undergone a kidney transplant on 18 September 2022. Frankie who is also a former classmate is recovering well after the operation. Frankie, a diabetic had to undergo dialysis thrice weekly before the operation. I and my wife last met this couple in Vancouver in August 2017 when we toured Canada (Read here). 

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Going through some of the old photos of the good old days in the high school reminds us of the saying "時光不留人, 歲月催人老!", i.e. "Time waits for no man and age is catching up fast!". Quite a numbers of the classmates had already left us for good for the eternal home!

Colorized photo.

Old photo of Form 2 class in session in year 1966. Grace is in forefront. Eddie is behind Grace. Peter is in the same row at the very back. Robert is in front of Peter. Frankie is at the right of Eddie and Johnny is at the back of Frankie. Robert Chin who is seated behind Johnny passed away many years ago.

Colorized photo.

Photo taken at the same time at another angle. Nyuk Jin is at the forefront in the photo.

Colorized photo.

Form 3 classmates in year 1967. Photo taken at the school compound.

Standing from left: Me, David Liew, Fung Shui Kiong (now living in Taiwan), Richard Chua, Eddie Chow, Peter Tan, Kong Yee Vun, Robert Lee (the tallest in class) and Chin Cheong Pin (now in USA). Squatting from left: Yap Kim Tong, Johnny Loo and the late Yong Chen Chong.

Colorized photo.

Form 3 classmates in Year 1967: From left: Richard Chua, Ho Fui Chong, Peter Tan, Grace Chin, Chin Cheong Pin, Robert Lee and David Liew.