Hi Kirkbyites,

All too soon 2^nd June gathering has come and gone!  81 Kirkbyites (including some spouses) from 3 batches (58-59, 59-60, 60-61) met for a time of reminiscing and merry-making with our 4 honoured guests, Mimi and Jim Lee, Cikgu and Mrs Baharuddin.

Mimi, looking radiant and youthful and all smiles, and Jim assessorised with 2 cameras, photo albums and CDs of yesteryears in Kirkby and recent K-gatherings (which he compiled, sold and raised a sum of RM350 that very night for our Ipoh Reunion Contingency Fund) made the nite a really Kirkby affair to remember.  They even brought along a very enlraged version of the long College Group photo (with name tags as well) and fixed it dexterously on to the wall of Café Utara.  Just imagine their effort and the familiar nostalgic feeling aroused in the hearts of all who saw themselves in the photos.  And of course, we had the much awaited company of our dear dapper Cikgu Baharuddin (still shooting a hole-in-one at the golf course) and our endearing Mrs Baharuddin to add to the Kirkby atmosphere.  This is the 1^st time this dear couple has attended a Kirkby gathering with so many attendees and so they were just as excited as all of us.

Our Block Sevener, Datin Esah (60-61 Batch) who resides in Melaka made her debut after 44 years of ‘hibernating’ (a familiar word used by ‘most honourable senior sirs’ to ‘freshie hobos’).  She had to travel all the way from Kuantan that day with her husband Datuk Zainal Abidin, a Brinsfordian.  Quite an effort for Esah who’s recovering from a stroke!  BUT that’s the Kirkby spirit!  Thumbs up for Maggie Yeoh who came in lone splendour from Singapore!  Syabas to our efficient Su Jee Hor from Sitiawan who was already handing out copies of a very well-planned itenerary for 2006 Ipoh Reunion to all those present.  With his built-in mike, he managed to present a sneak preview of 2006 Ipoh Reunion powerfully and enthusiastically to one and all.  It was touching and heart-warming to note that the Kirkby spirit is so alive and burning.

We were all busy catching up on the latest K-news, enjoying durian roti canai etc and also trying our best to put a name to a face and laughing like Candid Camera stars when we succeeded in guessing the names correctly.  We were truly thrown back to K-days of yore as we made a merry din and laughed with gay abandon.

Both Vimala and Yoke Kim were busy in the Treasury Dept that nite and Kam Moon chipped in to help too.  Vim has done such a good job of contacting Kirkbyites from her batch even from 58-59 batch that she will now be called upon to repeat performance in future gatherings involving her batch.  Vim, OK ah?  Y Kim as usual trooped in merrily with his ever faithful group from Seremban ie. Kam Moon, Arumalar, Anna Thamboo, Peter Lee etc.

FYI.  Yoke Kim has scaled Mount Kinabalu last year and will do so again this year.  For a pix of YK on top of Mt Kinabalu, log on to www.kirkbyites.net, a website started by Lau Sau San’s very knowledgeable husband Prof Lee Sing.  Oh yes, these dear friends will be here to have lunch / hi-tea (12pm – 4pm) with us on 24^th July, Sunday at Citi Café, Cititel, Mid Valley.  They are incidentally staying at Cititel itself.

Here’s looking forward to yet another K-gathering!

Warmest regards,

Tess Voon (Teresa Chong)