Methodist Boys School (3 September 2008)


Methodist Boys School (GPS: 5.4108, 100.30622), or nowadays called SMK (L) Methodist, is a secondary school in George Town, Penang. It was founded by Methodist missionary Reverend B.H. Balderstone who came to Penang from Prince Edward Island in Canada.

The History of Methodist Boys School

The history of Methodist Boys School goes back to 1885, when Methodist missionary William Oldham arrived in Singapore on 7th February of that year. A little over a year later he began the first Methodist school for boys, on 1 March, 1996.

Methodist Boys School was initially called the Anglo-Chinese School, Penang or ACSP. The school was started on 28 May, 1891, with classes held at a rented house at Carnarvon Street. (As such, the school celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2011.) In the very beginning, the Anglo-Chinese School had only one student. Nevertheless, Rev. Balderstone persevered. A few months later, he was joined by Rev. D.D. Moore, also from Canada. Reverend Moore later went on to found the Methodist Girls' School.

Failing eyesight forced Rev. Balderstone to quit in 1892, and his place was taken over by Rev. G.F. Pykett, who was to play a monumental role in the growth of the school for the subsequent forty years. From a small school with an enrolment of just 173 students at Carnarvon Street, the enrolment increased year by year.

In 1895, a site along Maxwell Road was purchased (with donation coming from local tycoons such as Foo Choo Choon), and in 1897, the Anglo-Chinese School moved there. Through the efforts of Rev. Pykett, the school earned the esteem of the Chinese community, which gave it their full support, enabling further expansion.


Methodist Boys School (3 September 2008)


The first Scout Troop in Penang was established by Rev. Pykett. The first meeting has held at the YMCA Penang in 1910, but it was only registered in 1916. Still, it was the oldest scout troop on the island.

The growth in enrolment necessitated the purchase of ten shophouses along Penang Road. When this too was full, a building at 422 Chulia Street was rented.

Rev. Pykett finally retired in 1932 due to failing health. He left for England but passed away the same year. Rev. Peach took over the reins as headmaster of the Anglo-Chinese School Penang. At that time, the school had to be conducted at three different venues: primary school at Chulia Street, middle school at 193 Hutton Lane, and high school at Maxwell Road.

Suffolk HouseSuffolk House was once used as premises for Anglo-Chinese School Penang (30 June 2006)


In 1929, Rev. Peach purchased the grounds of Suffolk House for $20,000. Mr Lim Cheng Teik donated funds for the purchase of the land for the school field in memory of his wife, and hence the playground was named Khoo Guat Lee Playground. The site was still without a school building, and $140,000 was needed to build it. The government was only willing to fund half the amount. The on set of the Great Depression put the building project on hold. A sum of $6000 raised by the school committee was used to renovate Suffolk House.

The present school building, at 250 Jalan Air Itam, was only completed in 1955, propelled by a grant of $50,000 from the Department of Education. The first block, with 12 classrooms, was declared open by Malcolm MacDonald, Commissioner General of Southeast Asia, in June 1955. It was then that the Anglo-Chinese School Penang became known as Methodist Boys School.

For a long time, Suffolk House functioned as part of the school. It was used as the school canteen until 1975, when it was declared unsafe and vacated. From then on, Suffolk House remained in a state of neglect until in was restored in 2006.

Headmasters of Methodist Boys School

Mr Gan Hua Beng, the headmaster of Methodist Boys SchoolMr Gan Hua Beng, the headmaster of Methodist Boys School (10 January 2014)


At time of writing (January 2014), the headmaster of Methodist Boys School is Mr Gan Hua Beng, who has been serving in this position since 2011. All the headmasters of the school and their years of service is shown below:

  1. Rev. B.H. Balderstone, B.A. (1891-1893)
  2. Rev. G.F. Pykett (1893-1895)
  3. Rev. A.J. Amery (1896-1898)
  4. Rev. G.F. Pykett (1898-1908)
  5. Dr. H.L.E. Luering, Ph.D (1908)
  6. Rev. G.F. Pykett (1908-1914)
  7. Dr. J.R. Denyes, D.D. (1914-1916)
  8. Rev. B.J. Baughmann, M.A. (1917-1919)
  9. Rev. G.F. Pykett (1919-1920)
  10. Rev. P.L. Peach, M.M.E, M.A. (1921-1922)
  11. Rev. G.F. Pykett (1922-1927)
  12. Rev. P.L. Peach, M.M.E, M.A. (1927-1930)
  13. Rev. W.A, Schurr, M.A, (1931-1933)
  14. Miss E.S. Cass (1933)
  15. Rev. T.W. Bowmar (1933-1934)
  16. Dr. L. Proebstel, B.A., L.L.D (1934-1935)
  17. Rev. A. Eklund, B.A., B.D. (1935)
  18. Dr. L. Proebstel, B.A., L.L.D (1936-1938)
  19. Dr. H.H. Peterson, B.A., Ed.D (1938)
  20. Dr. D.D. Chelliah (High School) (1937-1940)
  21. Mr. L.B. Jenkins, M.A, (1939-1940)
  22. Rev. C.D. Patterson, M.Sc (1941)
  23. Rev. Fred David (1945)
  24. Miss E. Youngdahl, M.A. (1946)
  25. Rev. T. Runyan, M.A., B.D. (1947)
  26. Rev. P.H. Schumucker, B.A., B.D. (1948-1949)
  27. Rev. P.L. Peach, M.M.E, M.A. (1949)
  28. Dr. Ho Seng Ong, M.A. Ed.D (1949-1952)
  29. Mr. Goh Kim Leong (1952-1953)
  30. Dr. H.H. Peterson, B.A., Ed.D. (1953-1956)
  31. Mr. Loo Choo Kheam, B.A. (Hons), A.I.E.D. (1956-1957)
  32. Dr. Cheah Bian Kung, M.Sc., Ph.D (1957-1958)
  33. Mr. Loo Choo Kheam, B.A. (Hons), A.I.E.D. (1958-1970)
  34. Mr. Tio Seng Hee, B.Sc., Sc.Dip. (1970-1971)
  35. Dr. Cheah Bian Kung, M.Sc., Ph.D (1971-1975)
  36. Mr. Arthur Khoo Hock Cheng, B.A. (Hons), Dip. Ed. ()1976-1977)
  37. Mr. Yeong Siew Mun, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Ed. (1977-1986)
  38. Mr. Lim Fong Juan, B.A. (Hons), Dip.Ed. (Dec 1986)
  39. Mr. Saw Yew Seen, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Ed. (1987-1989)
  40. Mr. Lim Yeang Phai, P.J.K., B.A. (Hons), M.A. Dip.Ed. (1994-1998)
  41. Mr. Chin Wee Wah, B.A. (Hons), Dip.Ed. (1999)
  42. Mr. Choong Thean Chuan, B.A. (Hons), Dip.Ed. (1999-2001)
  43. Mr. Khor Hong Yin, P.J.K., B.Sc (Hons), Dip.Ed. (2003-2010)
  44. Mr. Gan Hua Beng, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip.Ed. (2011-)

Methodist Boys School crest

The crest of Methodist Boys School was designed by its most famous art teacher, Abdullah Ariff. It was used from 1930 to 1971, originally with the acronym ACSP (Anglo-Chinese School Penang) and from 1957 with the acronym MBSP (Methodist Boys School Penang). From 1972 to 1983, the school adopted a design created by members of the school Art Club, but reverted to the original crest designed by Abdullah Ariff in 1983.

Methodist Boys School song

The anthem of Methodist Boys School Penang was written in 1951. It was composed by teachers Mr E.Y Beltran who wrote the music and Mr Khoo Kay Hock who wrote the lyrics.

Methodist Boys School bell towerMethodist Boys School bell tower (10 January 2014)

Methodist Boys School bell

The Methodist Boys School bell is now close to a hundred years old. It was first installed at the Anglo-Chinese School Penang, at its premises at Maxwell Road, when the headmaster was Mr Baughman (1917-1919). In its long life, it has gone places, having been relocated to Suffolk House in 1937, and later on to the school at Pykett Avenue, before finally being installed at Methodist Boys School. There had been attempts to steal it, and it indeed disappeared once, in 1952, but was re-discovered at a garbage dump on Sek Chuan Lane.

The steel bell tower was erected in 1991, to celebrate the centenary of the school. It was funded by former student, local philanthropist Datuk Khaw Bian Cheng, a descendant of the famous Khaw family that once owned the land on which Pykett Methodist School sits. It was designed by Mr Oh How Tat and unveiled by then chief minister of Penang, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

MBS Heritage Centre

The MBS Heritage Centre was established in 2011 to immortalize the school's history. It includes a Hall of Fame celebrating of the former students of the school who have carved a name for themselves in various fields.

Contact

Methodist Boys School
250 Jalan Air Itam
10460 George Town, Penang

Getting there

Rapid Penang Bus 102, 201, 202, 203, 204 and 502 pass along Jalan Air Itam in front of it.

Updates

15 March, 2014: The old boys of Anglo-Chinese School Class Form 5A of 1954 held a 60th Anniversary Reunion at the Methodist Boys School on 15 March, 2014. This Diamond Jubilee celebration is believed to be the first ever in the whole country that the old students of a school could have a reunion at the school sixty years after they graduated. Many of them have done well in life, and have over the years contributed to their old school, including donating for the construction of new buildings for the school.

60th Anniversary Reunion of former students of Anglo-Chinese School Class Form 5A of 1954 at Methodist Boys School60th Anniversary Reunion of former students of Anglo-Chinese School Class Form 5A of 1954 at Methodist Boys School (15 March 2014)

Nearby Sights

Methodist Boys School is on the Map of Jalan Air Itam

List of Schools in Penang and Schools in Malaysia

 Buy, rent or sell properties in Penang

Do you have a property for sale or to rent out? Are you looking to buy or rent a property? Get in touch with me. WhatsApp me (Timothy Tye) at 012 429 9844, and I will assign one of my property agents to serve you. I will choose the agent for you, according to your property needs. So when you message me, provide me some details of what you need, whether to sell, to buy, to rent or to rent out, and what type of property, is it condo, apartment, house, shop, office or land.

Adakah anda mempunyai hartanah untuk dijual atau disewakan? Adakah anda ingin membeli atau menyewa hartanah? Hubungi saya. WhatsApp saya (Timothy Tye) di 012 429 9844, dan saya akan menugaskan salah seorang ejen hartanah saya untuk berkhidmat kepada anda. Saya akan pilih ejen untuk anda, mengikut keperluan hartanah anda. Oleh itu, apabila anda menghantar mesej kepada saya, berikan saya beberapa butiran tentang apa yang anda perlukan, sama ada untuk menjual, untuk membeli, untuk disewakan atau untuk disewakan, dan jenis hartanah apakah itu kondo, pangsapuri, rumah, kedai, pejabat atau tanah.

您有待出售或出租的房产吗? 您想购买或租赁房产吗? 与我联系。 WhatsApp 我 (Timothy Tye) 012 429 9844,我将指派一名房地产经纪人为您服务。 我会根据您的房产需求,为您选择代理。 因此,当您给我发消息时,请向我提供一些您需要的详细信息,无论是出售、购买、出租还是出租,以及房产类型,是公寓、公寓、房屋、商店、办公室还是土地。

 New Properties in Penang

Looking to buy property in Penang? Get the e-brochures right here without having to visit or contact individual developers.

  1. Anggun Residences E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  2. Aston Acacia E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  3. Beacon Executive Suites E-Brochure, George Town
  4. Beverly Heights @ Bukit Gambir E-Brochure, Gelugor
  5. BM Highland E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  6. Cypress Villa E-Brochure, Sungai Ara
  7. D'Zone Condominium E-Brochure, Teluk Kumbar
  8. Elements Garden E-Brochure, Butterworth
  9. Ferringhi Residence 2 E-Brochure, Batu Ferringhi
  10. GEM Residences E-Brochure, Prai
  11. Golden Triangle 2 E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  12. Grace Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  13. Granito @ Permai E-Brochure, Tanjong Bungah
  14. Green City Residence E-Brochure, Jelutong
  15. Havana Beach Residences E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  16. Imperial Residences E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  17. Imperial Grande E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  18. Lucerne Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  19. Mezzo @ The Light City E-Brochure, Gelugor
  20. Middleton E-Brochure, Gelugor
  21. Orchard Villa 3 E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  22. Primero Heights E-Brochure, Permatang Pauh
  23. Queens Waterfront Q2 E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  24. Royale Heights @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  25. Royale Infinity @ Tambun Royale City E-Brochure, Simpang Ampat
  26. Rubica @ Harbour Place E-Brochure, Butterworth
  27. Sensasi Commercial Suites E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  28. Setia Sky Ville E-Brochure, Jelutong
  29. Setia Sky Vista E-Brochure, Sungai Ara/Relau
  30. Setia V Residence E-Brochure, Gurney Drive
  31. Sinaran Residence E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  32. Sky @ TriPark E-Brochure, Bukit Mertajam
  33. Skyridge Garden E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  34. Starhill Luxury Residences E-Brochure, Gelugor
  35. Straits Residences E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  36. Taman Nuri Emas E-Brochure, Nibong Tebal
  37. The Light Collection IV E-Brochure, Gelugor
  38. The Loft @ Southbay E-Brochure, Batu Maung
  39. The Terraces Condominium E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  40. Trehaus Condo Villas E-Brochure, Bukit Jambul
  41. Triuni Residences E-Brochure, Batu Uban
  42. Urban Suites E-Brochure, Tanjong Tokong
  43. Valencia Residence E-Brochure, Bayan Lepas
  44. Vertu Resort E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  45. Vivo Executive Apartment E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  46. Viluxe E-Brochure, Batu Kawan
  47. Waterside Residence E-Brochure, Gelugor

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel

 Discover with Timothy Food Channel

 Learn Penang Hokkien YouTube Channel

SojiMart Videos

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Copyright © 2003-2024 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.