Brinsford Lodge - 11th Reunion

On Friday morning two busloads of grandparents, of average age 70 years, left Kuala Lumpur for Cherating on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia to celebrate the 11th reunion of Brinsfordians.

Brinsfordians are those who graduated from Brinsford Lodge, a Malayan Teachers’ Training College set up in Featherstone, a village near Wolverhampton in the UK. This institution trained 8 batches of men and women and closed its doors in 1964. All graduates began as teachers posted to rural areas on their return to Malaya
(before the formation of Malaysia) but many moved on into other professions after completing their 5 year bond. Some had also migrated to distant lands and many of them returned for this reunion which is held once every two years in different parts of Malaysia.

The journey took longer than usual because of the toilet stops ( necessary for senior citizens ) but we arrived safely at our destination, eagerly welcomed by the organizing committee and others who had flown in direct or driven there. The weekend was a hectic one with activities and lots of catching up with old friends and making new ones. The attendees were from all the eight batches and there were more than 200 present.

That night we had a barbecue and some of the ladies danced the poco-poco.

On Saturday, in four buses escorted by two out-riders and an ambulance,we made our way to Lake Chini, Malaysia’s second largest natural lake, the counterpart of Scotland’s Loch Ness. Legend has it that a monster guards a sunken city in its depths although there is no scientific evidence to prove its existence as claimed by the local indigenous folk that live on its shores, eking a living from fishing, collecting jungle herbs and rattan.

A boat ride in small boats ( 6 passengers plus the boatman) took us through the channels in the lake that had little islands of plants ( nipah??) and reeds.
One not familiar with them could easily get lost as Lake Chini comprises a series of 12 freshwater lakes.
In the months of July and August, the lake is covered with lotus flowers, we were told.

The next stop was a visit to the birthplace of our second Prime Minister, the father of our current one.Two houses stood side by side in a compound, one the house where he was born and the other which now houses a museum, where the past is captured in photographs, past currencies, etc.

That evening culminated in a grand dinnerand dance where a book about Brinsford Lodge was launched by the representative of the Pahang Menteri Besar ( Chief Minister ). We were each given a piece of batik as a souvenir from the CM. The function lasted well into the early hours of the morning, despite the tiring day of travelling.

Came Sunday, we parted ways,promising to meet again in two years' time, either at Pangkor Island or Malacca, God willing as each year sees our numbers dwindling. Many of our compatriots have moved on to the other world.