Leaving a legacy
Macken did St Paul’s Institution proud with his immense contributions
THE Old Paulian Association (OPA) will produce a coffee table book on Reverend Brother Director James Macken — the longest serving and, undoubtedly, most famous headmaster in the proud 113-year history of St Paul’s Institution (SPI) in Seremban.
The book, which will be a pictorial on the life and times of the Irishman at his beloved SPI in Seremban, would be launched during the old boys’ annual reunion dinner in September.
OPA secretary Lee Kok Keong said the association was in the midst of gathering pictures of the Rev Bro Director during his four-decade stay in the country and the association would welcome rare photographs from former students and teachers for the project.
“We want the future generation of Paulians to know who Brother James Macken was and his immense contributions to SPI. We want his spirit of excellence in academic and sport to live on,” he said.
Macken, who served at SPI from Jan 1970 to 1975 as sub-director and a Brother director from Feb 1975 to 1991, passed away in Downpatrick, Ireland at the age of 83 on Jan 26, 2012.
The bespectacled Macken, often clad in a flowing white robe and a Fedora hat, may have been a stickler for discipline but was one who never hesitated to let his hair down whenever SPI excelled both academically or in sports.
Unlike in other schools, Macken, being a headmaster, led the singing of Negaraku, the state anthem as well as the school rally during morning assemblies ever since he was posted to SPI.
Born in 1929, Macken arrived in Malaya in 1949 after completing his teaching certificate at St Mary University College, Strawberry Hill in London. His first posting was at the St George’s Insititution in Taiping where he remained until 1965.
He returned to Dublin for three years to complete his university degree and returned in 1968 to serve at St Xavier’s Institution in Penang for a year.
During his time at SPI, the school achieved many firsts which included winning the National Science Quiz in 1983 and emerging as the country’s top school for Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) in 1986 with Ong Yoke Eng being the top student.
He was also instrumental in the construction of the new SPI primary school in Taman Bukit Labu in 1980 as well as a new block with three science labs, 12 classrooms and a canteen at the secondary school three years earlier.
Macken, who in an interview had considered himself fortunate to have had a set of dedicated teachers, never missed events in which the school took part in which included scouts jamborees, passing out of cadets and activities by the St John’s, Junior Jaycees and the OPA.
It was during his time that SPI became a hockey powerhouse with players such as Brian Sta Maria, Derek Fidelis, Paul and Stehen Van Huizen who went on to play for the national team.
Lee, who studied at SPI from 1949 to 1959 and taught there from 19611996 said Macken always had good words for his teachers.
“Although he was a strict man, he was well loved by all. He always gave words of encouragement to teachers who went beyond their call of duty,” he said
He added that the last time Macken returned to Malaysia was in 1999 for the school’s centenary celebration.
Another former teacher Datuk Loh Kim Heong, who served at SPI from 1968 till 1987 remembers Macken as an individual who could inspire others to be the best.
“He turned boys into men the old fashioned way – through hard work, diligence and dogged determination,” he said.
He turned boys into men the old fashioned way — through hard work, diligence and dogged determination. —LOH KIM HEONG
Former SPI lab technician Harminder Singh who served the school for 28 years said Macken was an inquisitive man.
“We were surprised to see a white man in the gurdwara compound one Sunday morning in the late 1960s and only after asking him how we could be of help did we know who he was,” he said adding that Macken wanted to know more about Sikhs and their history and traditions.
A former student Chooi Yew Tzen described Macken as a bastion of might and inspiration, one who motivated young boys and shaping themt into leaders to serve as nation builders. b
“To many, he was simply the lion amonga lions,” he said.
Macken’s respect and admiration forf his teachers and love for SPI was summeds up in a rare interview whenw he said: “It’s great to belong to a great school but it is mighty to have been a headmaster of a great school. Longlive the spirit of St. Paul’s.”
Lee said Macken’s memorial mass would be held on Feb 25 at the Church of Visitation in Seremban. A fellowship will be held after the sunset mass for former and present teachers and students.