LIVERPOOL: On Aug 31 1957, Md Nor Hamid was in New Zealand in between sailing on the high seas on a British Merchant Navy ship when he heard news about the country's independence.
The young sailor from Tanjung Kling in Melaka, who was 24 then, promptly applied for leave from his captain, went out shopping and cooked up a storm by way of celebrating the newly born nation.
Ever since arriving here on the Cingalese Prince in 1952, Md Nor had made the city of Liverpool his home.
Together with other sailors from the shores of Malaya and Singapore, they acquired the present three-storey building at No. 7 Jermyn Street in 1962, which then housed the Malaysian-Singapore Association.
After the low-key celebration of the nation's independence in New Zealand, Md Nor and other committee members held celebrations to mark Hari Raya and Merdeka at their new clubhouse.
Now at 89, the old sailor still smartens himself up and prepares food for street parties that bring the Malaysian community in Liverpool together.
The building is currently in a state of disrepair and is no longer suitable for celebrations indoors.
On the street are small children running around and waving miniature versions of the national flag, while older ones sit on the pavement playing congkak and colouring the Jalur Gemilang on pieces of papers.
Jantan Lisot, the present director of the community house who had been instrumental in repairing the derelict house, said he was happy with the turnout of visitors and members of the community, considering many had gone home for holidays or were away for the long weekend.
Many Malaysian visitors who were on holiday or visiting their children here had turned up early to help with the preparations, setting up tents and putting up flags to brighten up the place and enliven the festive mood.
The spirit of camaraderie was in the air, heightened by the celebratory mood.
A highlight of this year's celebration was the presence of the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom Datuk Zakri Jaafar and his wife Datin Nor Aini Abd Rahman, who drove all the way from London to join in the festivities.
Zakri was happy to note the tightly-knit diaspora living and promoting the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, away from home.
The Merdeka gatherings in front of No 7. Jermyn Street almost always become a trip down memory lane for the remaining former sailors, as they told their stories of adventures at sea to the visitors and students who attended the three-hour event.
Md Nor was particularly happy that some of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were at the event as they mingled with members of the community and relived their days visiting the old clubhouse.
His daughter, Aminah, 57, remembers visiting the clubhouse as a child, where stories of the sailing adventures were told and retold.
"They were amazing stories," said Aminah.
Her cousin Suhana added: "We used to miss our father a lot when he was at sea."
Their mothers were sisters who were married to Md Nor and Taib respectively.
"Md Nor and I were out walking one night when I met my late wife, Mary or Mariam. Later, she introduced her sister who took the name Zubaidah, to Md Nor and they got married," said Taib who hails from Sekam, Melaka.
Many young and able-bodied Malay youths came from Sekam back then and travelled to Singapore to sign up as sailors for ships docking there.
Mariam passed away recently, days after her sister Zubaidah breathed her last.
Farida Chapman, 64, who is the daughter of old Malay sailor Mohd Fadhil, said she remembers the lovely food that came with the celebrations at the old clubhouse.
In 2018, a movie inspired by the clubhouse and the Malay community there was released. It tells of a son's search for his sailor father which took him to Liverpool.
As the last visitor left the derelict building, the fate of the building that had witnessed so much history and played a huge role for the Malay diaspora here for many decades remains in question. The presence of the high commissioner brought some hope of seeing the building returning to its former glory.
The Merdeka celebration this time was certainly one with a difference.
For Mohamed Nor and Jantan, it is their hope that future celebrations can be held inside the building again, as well as the surrounding areas outside the clubhouse, so more people could enjoy the fun. They hope to see the clubhouse return to how it was, one more time.