Restoration

Sat 22 Nov 2007 - The building in the photo on the left is Bickley Hall. It was built in 1933 and was named after the Rev. Bickley who was the Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaya at that time. The Hall stands on the grounds of Methodist Girls' Primary School 1, Jalan Tengkera, Melaka. This photo of the Hall was taken on Sat 10 Nov 2007 and you can see that despite the age of the building (74 years), it looks as good as new. Just a few months ago, it was a different story altogether - the Hall was a sight for sore eyes and was unsafe for use. Today, Bickley Hall has been restored at a cost of RM172,000. The money was raised by the old girls and boys of the Methodist schools in Melaka (Methodist Girls' Primary Schools, Methodist Girls' Secondary School as well as the Anglo-Chinese School).

My late mother studied in the Malacca (now Melaka) Methodist Girls' School during the pre-2nd World War days and she would have used Bickley Hall when she was a primary school pupil then. Thus, it was an honour for me to be involved in the restoration efforts of the Bickley Hall which culminated in a Dedication Service on Sat 10 Nov in the Hall itself at 4.00 p.m. The Restoration Committee was expecting a crowd of 50 people at the most for not many people are interested in old buildings. However, the crowd that turned up for the Dedication was overwhelming (at least 100 people) and we were much encouraged to see the old girls and boys of the Methodist schools coming back from far and near (e.g. Singapore, UK), the local Wesley Methodist Church members and my line dancing friends, turning up for the occasion. To each and everyone of you who came, many thanks for your support.

The Restoration of Bickley Hall drives home the point that "old is gold" and that our rich and diverse heritage should be preserved for posterity. It also reminds me that we can restore old buildings as long as we have the means to do so but in life, there are some things that can never be restored, one of which is youth. I know that I am growing old when I see my children growing up before my very eyes, and when I have this strong desire to re-connect with my friends many of whom I have not seen or heard from for some 30-odd years. That is why I am looking forward to my first-ever class reunion of the Convent Muar Form 5 1976/High School Muar Form 6 1978 alumni which will be held on Sat 8 Dec at the Muar Traders Hotel at 7.00 p.m. To all the Muar76/78 group members, I hope to see you there and may the many years during which we lost touch with each other be restored to us.

P.S. The photo on the left is that of the Bickley Hall Restoration Committee. I am the sweet but not- so-young thing on the extreme right. The lady next to me is Nga Johnson (Muar High School Form 6 1972). Ng Bee Ling is 4th from the left - she is from Muar but studied in MGS Melaka. Muar is famous for her food (especially along Jalan Haji Abu, the glutton street) and of course, the charming people......