IJ Convent, Ipoh.

Main Convent Ipoh, has always had a traditional strong link with SMI. Many SMI boys in the early 20th century started school at main convent before going to SMI when it was established.

There are many main convent girls who married SMI boys and lived happily ever after. There must be something about the values instilled while being within these edifices that cement strong marriages. One important factor was that, many convent girls did their Form Six in SMI. If you are one of these couples or a product of such unions, here is your chance to put your photos here.

For starters, these photos are from 1930 up to 1940. If you recognise them, please let us know as names establish a real person.

Look at those tall coconut trees. They are no longer there. I estimate this photos are from the mid 1930's onwards, judging from the type of bicycles and the motorbike in the photos

The person 2nd from right is Elizabeth Dourado who joined HIJ convent sisters as Sister Agnes. She passed away in 1993.

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Who is she? Notice the motorbike and the building behind. It looks like Po gardens Florist.

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Any idea? The name says Wong and dated 19 Sept 1940.

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This walkway still exists in the convent. The tiles are still the original ones. At the time of construction, the tiles were imported from Marseilles, France. If you take a look on the underside of the walkway, the manufacturers name and place is still visible. The only other places that I know of with these tiles in use is the wooden building next to Sam Tet and the St. Joseph's Church in Batu Gajah. I do not know if the St. Michael's Church has changed their roof tiles. The other possible place is St Michael's Institution. They are planning to change their roof soon. These tiles have stood the test of time. Somebody must know how to waterproof and strenghten the tiles instead of the usual method of using new tiles. Once the tiles are changed, a piece of history is lost for ever. 100 years is history!

They fell but we shall remember...

In August on the 7th day, in the year 1966, two Michaelians who were police inspectors were ambushed together with their colleagues in Southern Thailand. Inspector Soloman Sammy and Inspector Robert Lee were killed in that ambush. The enemy was the Malayan Communist Party insurgents who were still waging a war against the Malaysian Government at that time.

These two Michaelians were from the parish of St Michael, Ipoh. At their funeral held at the Church, the Asst. Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Jean Ciatti shed tears for the two young men. Fr Ciatti had earlier in their teens trained them as altar servers. Michaelians past and current converged on the church to bid farewell to one of their own.

(To be continued)