Our History

School Crest

Our History

The Old Frees’ Association (OFA) is one of Malaysia’s oldest and most active alumni bodies, formed to unite former students of Penang Free School and support their alma mater. Its beginnings can be traced to the School’s Centenary in 1916. Amidst the backdrop of World War I, enthusiasm to mark the milestone was high. The School Captain, Ng Cheong Yew, championed the cause in the School Magazine, urging a grand celebration with Old Frees’ involvement. Although headmaster Ralph Pinhorn opposed festivities during wartime, the call from influential Old Frees like Quah Beng Kee eventually swayed opinion. A centenary committee was formed, and during its meetings, Koh Leok Hup proposed forming an Old Boys’ Union. While this idea was well received, it didn’t immediately take off.

A renewed push came in 1922 from Harold Cheeseman, a respected senior master at the School. Writing in the School Magazine, he called for the creation of an association to foster alumni bonds and support the School. His appeal prompted Yeoh Guan Seok, a prominent lawyer, to convene a meeting in February 1923. With more than a hundred attendees, the Old Frees’ Association was formally established. By April, a committee was in place, with Yeoh as President, Khoo Sian Ewe and M.H.M. Noordin as Vice-Presidents, and Cheeseman in the committee.

A bungalow at 10 Leith Street was secured as the Association’s first clubhouse and officially opened on 21st October 1923. It quickly became a hub for social events and sporting matches with the School. In 1924, due to declining health, Yeoh stepped down and was succeeded by Khoo Sian Ewe, who led the OFA for the next 14 years. Under his stewardship, the Association expanded its activities and played foundational roles in organisations such as the Penang Badminton Association and the Penang Chinese Swimming Club.

In 1932, the OFA moved to a larger premises at 156 Hutton Lane, though it never quite captured the spirit of Leith Street. By 1939, when the building was sold, the Association relocated to 2 Mandalay Road—a more modest bungalow but equipped with improved facilities. That same year, war broke out in Europe. The Japanese Occupation of Penang, 1941 to 1945, halted OFA activities. The clubhouse stood abandoned, guarded only by a caretaker and a few brave members who protected its records and burned sensitive materials for safety.

After the war, the Association regrouped. In 1946, Dr Ong Chong Keng took over as President and led the rebuilding efforts. A respected public figure, his killing by Communist insurgents in 1948 shocked the nation. Despite the tragedy, the OFA regained momentum under new presidents like Cheah Inn Kheam, Dr Ooi Kee Wan and Saw Choo Theng. During this period, structural concerns over the ageing Mandalay Road clubhouse led to discussions on finding a new home.

By the early 1960s, a decision was made. In 1964, the Association relocated to a new site at the corner of Northam Road and Arratoon Road, through a property exchange with a housing developer. A fundraising campaign was launched, and while many contributed generously, the project faced a financial shortfall. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, the then Prime Minister and a staunch Old Free, stepped in to help raise the remaining funds. With his support and the community’s effort, a modern clubhouse was completed and became the OFA’s home for decades to come.

In 2012, the Association expanded once more by opening an Annexe at Bay Avenue in Bayan Baru, aimed at engaging younger members and those working in Penang’s southern corridor.

Throughout the decades, the OFA has stood as a bastion of tradition, camaraderie and loyalty to Penang Free School. Key events such as the School’s sesqui-centenary in 1966 and bicentenary in 2016 were celebrated with pride and scale, with the Association playing integral roles in organising reunions, exhibitions and commemorative events. The Association’s own centenary in 2023 was a remarkable occasion, marking 100 years of service and connection between Old Frees across generations.

Figures such as Quah Beng Kee, Yeoh Guan Seok, Khoo Sian Ewe, Ong Chong Keng, Harold Cheeseman and Ng Cheong Yew are remembered not only for their leadership but also for embodying the School spirit of service and fellowship that has sustained the OFA over the years. Today, with a growing focus on mentorship and youth engagement, the OFA continues to honour its past while looking steadfastly toward the future.

Its journey from Leith Street to Hutton Lane, from Mandalay Road to Northam Road—now known as Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah—is more than just a tale of changing addresses. It is a narrative of adaptation, resilience and a community’s unwavering bond with a school that has shaped generations. The Old Frees’ Association remains, as it was intended, a proud torchbearer of Penang Free School’s legacy.

OFA Management Committee 2024/2025

Seated (Left to Right)

Mr Enrique Tan Kim Hock (Vice President), Mr Henry Ooi Wah Teng (Honorary Secretary), Mr Alex Tan Hee Aik (President), Mr James Liaw Keng Siong (Vice President), Mr Darvind a/l Kalimuthu (Honorary Treasurer)

Standing (Left to Right)

Mr Raman a/l R.M. Athappan (Communications Chairman), Mr Shannon Ong Seng Hwa (Indoor Games Chairman), Mr Ezuan bin Ghazali (Library, Archives & OFA Sesquicentenary Education Fund Chairman), Dr Cheng Soon Keong (Membership, Human Resources Development, Safety & Security Chairman), Miss Yuen Tim Mi (Honorary Internal Auditor), Mr Daniel Ho Fung Heng (Social Activities Chairman), Mr Barath Kumar a/l Ashok Kumar (Sports Chairman)