CLUB 12/68 ANNUAL REUNION IN BANGKOK 23 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

DAY 6 – 28th September 2017

A Summary.

Yes. We are home now. Most are in Klang Valley but there are those in Hong Kong,
 
Singapore,

the states of Malacca, Kedah and Negri Sembilan and Sarawak.

. We met for 5 days. Had a ‘hectic’ itinerary and felt happy and contented to have met brothers and their families over that period.
It was a year of planning – since the last RU in Makasar. It was when the President on the night of the Grand Dinner, announced the chairman of the Organising Committee.

That set the motion to organise the next Reunion. The Chairman chose his committee and has been providing the momentum to organise the next one just as successfully as the last one.
 
After much haggling with members and their spouses, Bangkok was chosen. We stuck with our Tour Organiser, HighPoint with Hans Nudin as the key person involved. The Committee was always mindful of organising an RU that would be interesting, intimate, affordable and fraternising.
The President was always available to give an ‘outsiders’ view to the goings on based on his keeping his ears close to the ground. While letting the committee decide, he did once in a while came in to offer advise and suggestions. Always aware of the spouses side of opinion.
The committee worked hard. The Chairman was Hashim Yahaya, the Treasurer cum coordinator was Marzuki Andong affectionately referred to as ‘Apai’., the Golf Convenor John Ramli Harun, Haji Hamdan Mohd Salleh as the Religious Adviser  and Hans of Highpoint. Other members such as Burn, Hadi and Isa do come in off and on. To partake the tasks at hand.
We met new friends such as Datu Mohammed Sepuan Anu and Khairudin Ibrahim and their wives – the Dayangs of Sarawak. We meet again Azman Aziz and Rosly Ismail and the youngish Fareed Fardauz Khan and his ever smiling wife Sharifah Murshidah and ABK’s Maizatul Jasmeen. Rod brought along Noor Aimee Farhana. We all became Famili.
We left on 23 Sep and came back on 27 Sep 2017.
A 5 day gathering of a mixed bag of individuals who decided to join the Armed Forces in 1968. Some joined earlier and some later. The base was the Royal Military College Sungai Besi. We were of the Regular Intake 12. Some have left earlier for their training, Even as we underwent training there were those who were chosen to continue overseas like to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhursr, the Naval College of Dartmouth or even to the RAF Training Centre in Cornwal. For purposes of earmarking our existence, the dates of 8 May 1968 was our formation and 12 April 1970 as our commissioning date. Those who were within those dates  of joining or commission are members of Club 12/68. This year was our 49th anniversary and 2018 will be our 50th anniversary. Our Golden Anniversary. There were already murmurs of a big celebrations for that year. The President has decreed that Hashim Yahaya undertake the responsibility again. He would have his committee of Apai, Burn, John RH and Hj Hamdan Mohd Salleh. More will be coopted. Wishing him and his committee the very best.
A last word from the President:

‘a. Thank you to the Org Chairman HY and his team, especially Marzuki Andung aka Apai  for the splendid orgn.
b. I physically noticed that this time around the spirit is high... laughter, jokes, fun, and never a dull moment. Everyone seemed to be so engrossed with the events.
The time was well occupied with events, visits, socials, entertainments, makan makan
I  noticed a few skipped out at night from the hotel to explore the night beauty of BKK
c. The food and entertainment were remarkable this time.
d. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I received whatsapps thanking me for inviting them. They want to continue to join us in future events
e. Year 2018 is our 50th Anniversary. To be friends, very  close friends, with such a union of voice, spirits and togetherness, is something we should all cherished. Not only us but our wives union as well. We should plan events to spread over the year period with a grand event to mark the close of the Jubilee. I shall leave it to HY to plan and discuss with the rest.
f. We are all equal inter se. There are no ranks, no honours, no whatever to separate us. We shall continue with that breadth of life. We do our best endeavour to help others in time of needs.
g. I wish all the very best, blessed with good health and fortune of sorts.
In the same breadth of what MacAurther said , at the beach of Manila, before his departure, I SHALL RETURN. Now I say WE SHALL MEET, DELIGHT AND REVEL IN THE JOY OF OUR REUNION 2018...INSYAALLAH
An Addendum
"I wish for R18 , our 50th Anniversary our other squad brothers are able to find time to join in all or most of our activities. That I refer to to squads as FZ, Don Too, Tommy Pereira, Tairobi, Abu Kassim, Bakar Suman, Kamaldin, Baharin and the full list. This is a good time to bring them back with us. I call on our squads to actively make contacts with them. Its not all of us but there are there amongst us who have a personal one-to-one relationships with them. Thanks." 
 ’It is hoped that we continue as the ‘Band of Brothers’ and giving time for each other as ‘Friends’.
With the Warmest of Regards.
JohnH

ps- Especially for Mike heres
'We Don't Talk Anymore"

For Pete:
'You are Always on My Mind.'

For Yusof:
Endless Love

From Me.
You've Got a Friend

CLUB 12/68 ANNUAL REUNION IN BANGKOK 23 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

 DAY 5 – 27th September 2017.
GOLFThis was to be our second golf game in Bangkok. Its at Riverdale Golf Club. As described in the brochure: A premium course with excellent greens and hole routing. Designed by Jonathan Morrow and Al Tikkanen. Riverdale Golf Club is destined to become one of the most celebrated Bangkok golf courses.

The landscape includes several large lakes which were dredged to create the hills that surround the golf course and frame most of the holes. Beyond the perimeter though there's not much to look as it is predominantly comprised of factories and small villages. But once you've fired your opening tee-shot at the gently sloping downhill opener, the challenges and considerable charm of these immaculately groomed links will quickly assert themselves.
Aside from its excellent conditioning and undoubted challenges, the real joy of Riverdale Golf Club lies in its wonderful interplay of gently rolling fairways, many small reed-lined lakes, raised greens, excellent bunkering, and large hills that break-up some of the layout's innate openness.
After negotiating many immaculate, subtly breaking greens and hopefully coming through the 18 holes with scorecard relatively intact, enjoy cool refreshments at the contemporary styled club house which overlooks the 1st and 18th holes. Elegant locker rooms provide for nice changing facilities characteristic of a 5-star private members golf club.
We got there after a 40 minute ride. Change and proceeded to the buggies, caddies and the 1st tee-box. A group photograph prevailed.

 
We were in our grey golf shirts.

 R17 BANGKOK on the left sleeve, our names on the right sleeve, The Riverdale Golf Club logo on the right chest and our Club logo on the left chest and the Sponsor’s logo TM, on the right – emblazoned with pride. We top it with the designers’ caps on our heads. Impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

It was an interesting stroll through the course. As it gets midday the heat was getting to us. More so buggies were confined to the tracks only. Chances were that we tend to place our shots away from the buggy tracks. And it’ll be another 30 metres walk to it. Phew.

We got back in one piece and after cleaning up proceeded for lunch. Linking up with the rest of the club members.
It was here that the prizes were distributed. The prizes were all in KL. We just drew lots on the prenumbered prizes to be claimed once home. By order of performance we drew. What was interesting was that the front runners may not necessarily win the better prize. It was the Luck of the Draw.

 

 

 

The standings of the 15 golfers are shown below;

 And their winnings were:

We then proceeded to the airport for home. It’s  been 5 days of fun, frolic, food and fraternising. A bit of bearable glitch, then we were airborne reaching KLIA at about 12.00 midnight.
Good Show Fellas. Hope we’ll be able to link up again one of these days.
Warmest Regards