|     Lyna Mohamad     |

ST ANDREW’S School (SAS) alumni from as far as London, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Singapore, flew into the country to attend the school’s Diamond Jubilee Alumni Gala Dinner yesterday night at the Plenary Hall of International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman, who were also former students of the school, graced the dinner.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted upon arrival by Chairman of St Andrew’s School Board of Governors, Stephen Ong and Principal Jane Keasberry.

The colourful evening started with the welcoming address by the principal followed with another speech by Ong after which Their Royal Highnesses were ushered to the cake cutting ceremony to mark the event.

Keasberry in her welcoming address among others noted that the gala dinner is a platform for meeting up and reconnecting with former classmates, teachers and staff of the school.

She pointed out that with the formal schooling (foundational-secondary years) provided at SAS, each one of the students can testify to the strong foundation received from their alma mater.

“Education at SAS has made us what we are now with many of us serving and holding key positions in the community and contributing strongly to the development of Brunei Darussalam.”

SAS began with 70 boys and girls 60 years ago in January 1957 and it was founded by the late Reverend Canon Paul Chong En Siong who together with his daughters Margaret, Kathleen and Grace, were the first teachers in the makeshift “school”, at the back of the St Andrew’s church vicarage.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman during the cake-cutting ceremony at St Andrew’s School Diamond Jubilee Alumni Gala Dinner

Over time, the first chairman of the Board of Governors, Dato Ong Kim Kee generously donated a piece of land and the first set of classrooms with wooden floors and walls were built on this site and later with generous funding from parents and other kind individuals, more classrooms were added.

St Andrew’s School, with the hard work of the former and current Board of Governors, principals and senior management team, has grown to 1,710 students in strength with 106 teachers and staff, Keasberry said adding that it will continue to grow from strength to strength with continued support from the community.

Last night’s dinner also saw a slide show presentation as well as several stage performances including a tribute by the alumnus.

Their royal highness also consented to a group photo session with the Board of Governors and School Management team as well as a tour of the exhibition booths displayed at the hallway.

St Andrew’s School, with the hard work of the former and current Board of Governors, principals and senior management team, has grown to 1,710 students in strength with 106 teachers and staff, Keasberry said adding that it will continue to grow from strength to strength with continued support from the community.

Last night’s dinner also saw a slide show presentation as well as several stage performances including a tribute by the alumni.

Their Royal Highnesses also had a group photo taken with the Board of Governors and School Management team and toured the exhibition booths at the hallway.

