MR HAl\11D KHAN - Mr. Hamid Khan joined the staff in 1900. Noted for his stentorian voice in the class - room and the playing - field, he stient most of his years in the upper elementary classes, mostly Std. V. His hand - writing, slanting forward, was bold and clear. His method of teaching History was by Oral Composition requiring the boys to narrate as much of the chapte,r as possible on a topic which had been prescribed as home - work. Unlike his colleagues Mr. Hamid Khan carried too much gold on his white close coat. Outside the class - room his only interest was the Cadet Corps in which he was very prominent by his discipline and turn-out. When "C' (Malay) Coy., P.V. (later P. & P.W.V.C.) was formed in 1912, Mr. Hamid Khan enlisted in that Force, and was the first non - European to be commissioned in 1915. Later he was appointed Head Master, Government English School, Perak Road,ยท where he remained until 1933 when he retired two years before attaining age limit. Mr. Hamid Khan was later appointed Justice of the Peace, and was a leading light in the Malay Community for many years. MR. UNG OH POH - Mr. Ung Oh Poh was a teacher of the nineteenth ce tury in his method of teaching and his dress - those were the days of "c - a - t = cat = kuching" before the introduction of the direct method. He was very fatherly to the little infants of the Primary Classes in the annex building to the south of the playing - field. He must be about the same seniority in service, and probably in age too, as Mr. Koay Thean Chin. MR. KOAY KYE TEONG - Mr. Koay Kye Teong, a nephew of Mr. Koay Thean Chin, joined the school staff probably in 1910. Although he was much too simple in his ways of life and unassuming in mannet's, his performance of duties was of a high order. He was not a sportsman, but as a House Master, he was very keen and enthusiastic to see the boys of his House achieve something in the field. When the school was re-opened in October, 1945, after the ravages of \.Var, Mr. Kye Teong, then the most senior member of the staff, acted as Head Master until the arrival of Mr. N. R. Miller. He retired from the service on reaching the age limit. lUR. NG CHEONG WENG - Mr. Ng Cheong Weng joined the school staff in 1912. Like Mr. Kye Teong, after some years in the lower elementary classes, he was posted to teach lower secondary and later Cambridge Classes. In the upper forms his subject was English, and was painstaking and enthusiastic in his lessons. He was meticulous in the correction of essays. His physique was not equal to the hard knocks on the field, but for some years he was quite successful as Hon. Games Secretary after the school had transferred its abode to Green Lane. However, he had the strength to handle a rifle in the Cadet Corps as a Junior N.C.O. for a year or two when the authorities thought it unwise for a teacher in the Rani,s to be pushed about by a boy with a higher rank. He left the school to be Head Mastel' of Francis Light School. MR. LEE KHENG SENG - Mr. Lee Kheng Seng was a contemporary of Mr. Hamid Khan, having joined the service at the dawn of the century. In their young days these two enthusiasts were friendly rivals in their attempt to produce proficient Std. IV boys. If Mr. Hamid Khan did not spare his charges,
32 A very interested and dedicated trade unionist, Mr. Chong Bee had been President of the Penang Teachers' Union, the National Union of Teachers and the Malayan Trade Union Council during his teaching career. In 1954-55 he was a member of Federal Legislative Council. In order to pursue his interest in politics, he retired from teaching in 1959, before reaching the retirement age. He contested the elections as a Labour candidate and was returned to the State Legislative Assembly for a 5-year term. In 1961 he was elected to the City Council, Penang for a 2 - year period. He later resigned from the Labour Party and when the Penang branch of the Democratic Action Party was formed, Mr. Chong Bee was elected its first Chairman. Besides his involvement in politics, he was also Vice-President of the Old Frees Association and a member of the Board of Governors of both the Penang Free School and the Westlands Secondary School. MR. BASHA MERICAN Mr. Basha Merican was educated at the Free School, and was once the School Captain and Editor of the School Magazine at the same time. He was also the Captain of the School Hockey Team and Chairman of the Debating Society. He was normal trained and joined the school in 1910. Mr. Basha Merican taught English mainly to Forms 3, 4 and 5. A very keen scout in his schooldays, he went on to become State Scout Commissioner in 1948. He also was very much involved with the publication of the School magazine, of which he was an Adviser for a long time. He was transferred to the Education Office in 1952 to become Inspector of Schools, P.W. From 1963 to 1965 he was the Ag. Principal of the Dewan Latehan, the R.I.D.A. College of Business Studies after which he retired. MR. HOOi YIP HOONG Born in 1905, Mr. Yip Hoang was educated at the Free School and while still very young he passed his Senior Cambridge and the London Matariculation. He was normal trained, and was posted to the Raffles Institution, Singapore. He was then transferred to St. George's Girls' School after which he returned to the Free School as a Teacher. He taught Mathematics and Latin, mainly to Forms 4 and 5. During his schooldays Mr. Yip Hoang was a prefect and a Scout. He was a Scoutmaster, and besides being Hockey and Soccer Coach, he was the Games Club Chairman.