THE room is filled with laughter and non-stop chatter as former classmates reminisce about the good old days of studying together at Tunku Kurshiah School (TKS) in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, some 66 years ago.
The topics revolved around preparations for the school folk dance then, cycling to school, having lunches together and, of course, their favourite teachers.
Around half of the 30 TKS WhatsApp group members attended a special lunch hosted by Datuk Tunku Zahiah Tunku Sulong, 70, at her home in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
The former Bukit Bandaraya Residents’ Association president and the youngest in the group had wanted to reunite with her schoolmates, some of whom she last saw more than 60 years ago.
She attended TKS from Standard Five to Form One. She said her fondest memories were collecting wild ferns in the forest nearby for sports day and taking part in folk dancing.
“We were quite a naughty bunch then, even brave enough to venture into the forest, which could be dangerous. The wild ferns collected were wrapped around the flag poles of our sports houses as decoration.
“Another thing I remember is practising folk dancing with my good friend, Azlena Akmar Abdullah, who is now 73,” she said, while humming a popular folk tune.
At the gathering, Rosnah A. Manaf, 74, brought an album containing old school pictures.
One of the photos showed Rosnah and her netball team members, who represented the school at the state competition in Rembau. She was the only one from the team who attended the lunch gathering.
Rosnah recalled that the girls often went out to have cendol or rojak at the pasar lambak (flea market) or eat noodles at the school tuck shop (canteen).
“Back then, our daily routine was riding bicycles together. I usually hung out with (Margaret) Mooi, Hai Song and Indon. We would meet at the district field before starting our journey.
“I also remember the annual funfair. The joget girls were fun to watch. Occasionally, we’d get a glimpse of famous personalities, like Jins Shamsudin.”
Lady Monjulee Webb chipped in, saying she could never forget the lunch sessions at her friends’ house after school.
“During those days, we were all very close and ‘colour blind’. We studied and played together, sometimes for hours at each other’s house. Our parents were understanding and made no fuss about anything.
“There was a bond between us, we were like an extended family.
“We trusted each other and treated everyone equally,” said Webb, who lives in Wales, the United Kingdom.
This was her first big TKS group meeting.
Uma Devy agreed, saying her classmates often had lunch at her house after school.
She said those days, parents did not have any issue with their children bringing their friends to the house. Her mother would cook extra fish curry and her friends would come for lunch and return to school together in the evening for extra-curricular activities.
“The food was always enough for everyone,” Uma said, saying she attended TKS until Form Three.
The group of old friends was able to reconnect through the efforts of Datuk Nazihah Tunku Mohd Rus, 73, and Zabedah Yusof, 73, who lives in London.
Both searched for their friends’ contact numbers, and the group had their first mini reunion in 2015.
Since then, they arrange to meet at least once a month over lunch or tea in the Klang Valley, besides keeping themselves updated through WhatsApp.
“Most of us have not met for 50 years due to work and family commitments. Some are living in other states and countries.
“So when there are opportunities like this, we will meet to catch up and relive our growing-up years. What I love about TKS, apart from the friends, were the teachers.
“They taught and guided us well into becoming what we are today. We are indebted to them,” said Nazihah, a former diplomat.
She added that her favourite teacher was Charlotte De Cruz, who would teach nursery rhymes and play the piano as the students sang along.
Dr Indon Lajin, 73, said it was her teachers who encouraged her to take up science.
Coming from a rubber tapper family, she rose against the odds to become a paediatrician specialising in nephrology.
“My teachers played an important role in inspiring me to aim high and do well in my studies.
“And, of course, my friends... they are priceless. Every six months, we try to hold a meeting and have a few hours to ourselves. Just recently, we had lunch in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
“Three years ago, we held a seven series celebration for those in their 70s. It is really nice to be able to have these meetings with old friends.”
Lee Ching Ling, 73, said one of her fondest memories was the picnics organised by her favourite teacher, Miss Brenda Chin, with the boys from Tengku Muhammad School.
“Miss Brenda also brought us to concerts and dance festivals,” she recalled.
Present at the gathering were former teacher Thangam Kailasam, 73, pensioner Siti Zahariah Musa, 73, Grace Chung, 73, former Malaysian Investment Development Authority director-general Datuk Zainun Aishah Ahmad, 73, former hospital matron Rajeswary Kanagasabai, 73, and beauty consultant Nor’ Aida Abd Aziz, 74.
For their next meet-up, the ladies are planning a trip to Kuala Pilah to visit their alma mater.