Francis
Lee Wan Tsi and Nick Tsui participated in the sharing session
focused on "Drama in the 60s" during which Francis read out email messages sent in by our classmates as Nick showed
pictures on the projection screen
. Also on stage
were Fr. Deignan, Mr. Chau Siu Hey, Cheung Sir, Peter
Tam ('64) and Michael Au ('69). Peter Lau Chiu Yin and Ronald Law Wing Keung were kind enough to come to
show their support.
Due to limited time, we could only read excepts of a few of your many email messages.
(The full version of all your precious messages will be compiled into one file and sent to you by email in due course.)
Photographed in left picture above are Michael Au, Peter Tam, Simon Cheng, Nick Tsui and Francis Lee. Photo on the right shows the sharing sesssion in progress.
We began the sharing session by showing a picture of Wah Yan when it was first built in 1955 (the unobstructed harbour view was noted)..... that was followed by a spread-page from the Star showing the opening ceremony officiated by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham, and well attended by guests including Bishop Bianchi, Fr. Harris (Superior of the Itish Jesuits in Hong Kong), Professor Gordon Brown (the architect from HKU), Mr. Paul Y Tso and Mr. Yeung Nai Yiu (PSA President) among others.
In 1960, the drama by F4A "The Fortieth Man" was directed by Fr. Frank Doyle as recorded in the Stars....
and the reunion of the Class of '61 in 2009 with their beloved Fr. Doyle.
Michael Szeto's message: I do remember the numerous annual drama competitions. Our class did really well throughout the years. I was always cast in the role of a female player, starting as a young princess in Primary 6, to an old grandmother in Form 3, as my voice changed. In the year that I played the princess, some people in the audience were so convinced that I was a girl that they insisted on meeting me in person after the show, to see that I was actually a boy.
I have nothing but fond memories of Wah Yan. The Jesuits have taught us well. I am forever grateful to the education that I received from them. I wish I could be present at the event on April 24, but since I cannot, Nick, please convey my gratitude to all. Please also send my regards to Father Deignan.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Szeto
Eugene Chok's message: We gave a class play in P.5. During the play-week I took time out to watch 2 plays. The first one was given by the F.4D students called A Tale of Two Cities ("The Escape"). Donald Tsang (current CEO of the HKSAR) played the part of the prisoner that was saved from the guillotine.
The second one was given by the P.6 students. Wayne Wong (who has become a movie director in the US, aka Wayne Wang) had a part in it.
I am amazed at how we could learn those lines and spit them out flawlessly then.
These days I have trouble remembering my address, phone numbers and postal codes.
Ah B
Patrick Lam's message:Our F.2C class's performance of King Lear won us a trophy. I played two parts, I think they were female characters. So as you can see, the fathers had seen right from the early years of my fetishes. (Comment: Patrick is proud to be a ladies' man ).
I was also selected to be in the first HK Health Quiz against Maryknoll. The selection was not based on our academic performance, but rather…. Father Deignan came to the class and just asked for volunteers. And I raised my hand.
Unlike the Maryknollers who had tutors to prepare them,
we just studied casually, as we looked at it as just having fun. I
heard from my sisters who are Maryknollers that they were sure they would win the championship and that they had already planned their victory celebration. So it was sweet that we did them in and won.
Ballchai
Vincent Lee Wo Sang's message: The school year is 1961-62, the first year I got into Wah Yan. I am under Madam of Form 1D. That year Father Deignan wanted volunteers for some plays by Form 1 kids which he directed. It was the play "The Ugly Duckling". I volunteered and was given the part the Ugly Duckling. I guessed it is because I was small and sounded like a girl then. Well, under the good direction of Fr. Diegnan, I did well and was awarded "The Best Actor". I kept the Trophy in my cupboard for many years. I should go look for that trophy when I go to HK this year.
Jig
Peter Lam Kin Sang's message: I remember going up that stage in F.6 to perform as a member of a band in Talent Time. Other members of the band include Lau Chiu Yin (guitar), Chan Pak Ling (lead guitar) and Tam Fat (singer). I was the drummer. We did "Woman Woman" by the Union Gap. We did great, but Fr. McCarthy thought that my drum was too loud and that was the end of the road for us.
Lam Chai
Joe Shum Hin Cho's message: I remember that in those days during lunch time, the teachers were seated comfortably in two round tables in the school hall, and served like kings.
Many times when I passed by the Hall I wondered what were on their plates, and how was their food different from ours. I would sometimes peek into the hall and tried to figure that out. Of course those were fruitless efforts given that the tables were so far away from the windows.
As a matter of fact, I had also wondered what were the Fathers eating in their dormitory too!
Perhaps Fr. Deignan and Mr. Chau would like to take this once-in-half-a-century memorable occasion of our School Hall, to satisfy my teenage curiosity, by elaborating just a little bit on the food they were getting?
Joe
(Mr. Chau replied that their food was nothing special and Fr. Deignan couldn't remember what food they were served.)
At this point, a picture of the Frs. eating in the quarters to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Wah Yan. The caterer was Au Chan Kee but we couldn't figure out what the only plate on the table contained. Beer appears to be the popular choice for drinks.
School janitors - the Lee Brothers (Yin Bak and Fai Bak) are well remembered by old boys as well as teachers. They were thanked for their devoted services more than once during the afternoon.