KUALA LUMPUR: St John's Institution celebrated its 120th Anniversary with a Royal Gala Dinner, attended by Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who is an esteemed alumnus of the school.
His arrival at the gala, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec), was accompanied by the St John's Alumni Pipe Band.
Also present at the event were Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan and Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, both also alumni of the all-boys secondary school.
The gathering brought together hundreds of past and present students and teachers, celebrating the rich achievements of the historic Kuala Lumpur institution.
A highlight of the evening was heartfelt speeches from various alumni, such as an alumni who was part of the school's first class for the visually impaired.
An "in memoriam" segment honoured alumni who had recently passed away, including the notable educator Denis Doss, a contributor to the school's notable musical tradition.
Denis Malcolm Doss, an educator who appeared on television in the late 1970s and early '80s as half of the clown duo 'Bing and Bong' on TV Pendidikan, died on July 9, 2024 at 82-years-old.
Finally, a special video presentation showcased St John's history in photographs, accompanied by reflections from Master David Fernandez, who has been a student and teacher at the school for more than fourty years.
Fernandez, along with his late brother Vincent, has made significant contributions to the institution, even having taught Sultan Nazrin during his time at St John's.