Mary Hughes talks on her father Mike Hughes's Book during her recent Penang visit

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Mary Hughes on J.M.B Hughes and “The White Crocodile’s Tale”

Caption: Mary Hughes talks about her father. Video taken in Areca Books. If the volume is too soft, turn on the subtitles.

Mary Hughes talks about her father JMB Hughes and his memoirs “The White Crocodiles’ Tale”

My Father, John Michael Broome (Mike) Hughes wrote his memoirs for life-long Malaysian friends and his family.  He would not have written anything if he had not been pushed, so thank you to those who pushed hardest (you know who you are and several can hear me now!)

His children are proud to tell you we joined the plot, bought him a computer and taught him to use it!

but for whom he wrote matters.

First, because the memoirs are written with the playfulness of stories told after dinner to those held in closest affection and trust.  Friendship was one of his core values because when he felt safe in friends, he could achieve so much more than he ever thought he could.  I believe writing his memoirs made him realise this.

Second, in his eighties when he started writing, Mike was looking back over the best part of a century of relentlessly emerging change, invention, pain and marvels. One of the challenges for any story teller is to connect the past to the future – whilst living in the present.

And the 20th century is a challenge much written of.  Dad’s stream of words swell a river of much wider interest than the audience he wrote for. I hope they will be valued in this way as much as for the memories they evoke. Many voices helping to make sense of the complexity of history.

“So, What is The White Crocodile’s Tale all about?”

(It is good NOT to have to explain what the crocodile thing is all about! British audiences don’t get that.)

It is the life of a middle-class British school teacher, committed to the code of good behaviour of his time, devoted to his wife, his family and community, that’s what.

 “Another sentimental read about past times from a relatively privileged European cultural perspective?”

Well, if you wish, yes it is, but this one writer was delighted to be the last of the British (I was old enough to eves drop!) and thrilled to see the door of Merdeka flung open in peace (I too stood there out in the sun watching one flag go down and another go up watching the smiles on my Parents’ faces)

 “So back to Friendship with its siblings, loyalty, trust and love.”

 My Father was as hungry for affection and approval as we all are.  He knew that of life’s drivers for change, many are painful, but none are so transformational and freeing as love.

 “Well isn’t this exactly what our Sacred or philosophical texts tell us?”

 Love for a person (my Parents had a very happy marriage) but also for Place with all its richness of scenery, peoples and cultures.

It was Place that began this love story…..

Supremely, Malaysia and the island of Penang.

What that taught, is that personal transformation may be less about a conscious decision to change and more about being relaxed, open and receptive, ready to be surprised by what really is good, trust it then working to sustain it – even over vast distances.

 “The Hughes family are an odd bunch.  I hope we are good entertainment to read about. But it is the Malaysians who stay with you once you put the book down.”
-Mary Hughes

The cast of high-achieving, funny, bright, mischievous, talented and wholly honorable young people who enter the book in Chapter 5 with their schools, The Penang Free School, The Malay College and Sultan Ismail College, soon take it over and are there right to the end – as old men and women themselves.

Their delight in learning and their respect for knowledge, apparently so refreshing after their more war-jaded, pessimistic British contemporaries, prompts reflections on the importance of where and when you originate for potential to be set free and to flourish.

But potential has to be noticed first.  I think my Father knew great potential when he met it realised that it fed on learning, which in turn fed on experience (Lankawi trips not endless theory!) and being allowed to get things wrong in safety so you can get them right when it matters.

And safety takes friends.

“well, in some respects he might have been a pioneer.  A zillion modern business writers are growing rich on this stuff today!”

 We travelled widely after our Malaysian days but no time else was ever quite like them. Nor the extraordinary, brilliant people we met there, and whose friendship was so generously offered to my Father and Mother and which became their happiest, most treasured gift in life, alongside family.

JMB Hughes, educator and star pupil

I suppose, the real question about education, leadership and realised potential raised in the Malaysian chapters of the White Crocodile’s Tale and referred to throughout the rest of Dad’s thinking is about exactly who it is doing most of the learning, when and why.

I often think the star pupil here was one JMB Hughes and he had many, many teachers. Learning is a two-way thing and to stop learning is to die.

The pain of life, war, hardship, we read, makes you doubt old traditions and slaps you wide awake to possibilities. But avoiding lazy, unhelpful choices means staying awake to constant learning and supporting the learning of others.  This takes love.

Malaysia kept Dad awake for the rest of his life, sustained by friends, contacts and mutually helpful exchanges that never ceased.   I believe he lived as long as he did, with steadfast spirit, intact mind and strong body because of it, and so my family have so much to be grateful to Penang and Malaysia for.   Thank you so much.

Terima kasih banyak-banyak.

“The White Crocodile’s Tale” by J.M.B Hughes is now available at our bookshop at 15 Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (Pitt Street) and through our online bookshop!

http://arecabooks.com/product/white-crocodiles-tale-memoirs/

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Brought to you by Areca Books

Article in Star newspaper today on Mary Hughes's, daughter of Mike and Jean,  visit to Penang and Salma Khoo, daughter of Khoo Tiang Lim, Biology and Zoology teacher during Mike's tenure at PFS.

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English books to inspire students

Big plus for students: (From left) Khoo Salma sharing a light moment with Abdur- Razzaq, Mohd Radzi and Mary Hughes during the books presentation ceremony at the Penang Education Department in Jalan Bukit Gambier.

ARECA Books has donated 280 copies of two English books to the Penang Education Department for the benefit of secondary school students.

The books that themed Malaysia’s post-independence would be placed at the libraries of selected secondary schools on both the island and mainland.

The two titles are ‘The White Crocodile’s Tale: My Memoirs’ by J.M.B Hughes, and ‘Giving Our Best: The Story of St George’s Girls’ School, Penang, 1885-2010’ by Khoo Salma, Alison Hayes and Sehra Yeap Zimbulis.

Mohd Radzi Idris, representing the state’s Education Department, received the books from Areca Books managing director Khoo Salma during a simple ceremony at the department’s building in Jalan Bukit Gambier recently.

He said the interesting stories shared by the authors would inspire the students and help teachers to improve the standard of education.

“These two titles carry deep symbolic meaning for those born after Merdeka.

“It is about the aspiration of early educators in Penang,” said Mohd Radzi.

He added that it was admirable for private owned business to contribute reading materials for the benefit of students.

Khoo said local students should have access to books about Penang and its educational excellence.

“Hopefully, this will inspire them so that they can continue with the state’s fine tradition of achieving academic excellence,”she said.

Also present were Areca Book founding partner Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, J.M.B Hughes’s daughter Mary and a leading alumni of Penang Free School J.C Rajarao.

Mary said she was happy that students would be able to read the novel written by her late father.

“This is because the story was inspired by his days of teaching in Penang Free School,” she said.

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

I just returned from my 3rd chemo in KL. Feeling well except for slight nausea and malaise. With medicine, able to eat a whole bowl of chicken porridge at lunch. The photo showed a clump of hair lost in one day 2 weeks after the first chemo. Since then hair continues to drop but at slower rate. At least save money from hairdressing. Next photo, wearing Sherlock Holmes cap.

Below poem composed while having the chemo treatment.

Tube Tube Tube

Tube Tube Tube

From bags like balloons in the fair

Filled with hazard liquid not air

Drip Drip Drip

With solutions clear white and red

Into my blue vein after bled

Drop Drop Drop

Like drizzle after the rain spell

With bullets to kill the rogue cells

Pill Pill Pill

White and coloured, big round and small

Sweets to relieve the bitter gall

Jab Jab Jab

With many needles sharp which prick

Through skin, muscle and fat so thick

Test Test Test

Count cells red and white in action

Know liver and kidney function

Bill Bill Bill

Medicines cost a hundred per tab

Injections in thousands per ja

With my mother, aged 92 years.

Family at home during Chinese New year 2013

Mr JMB Hughes

A Headmaster who inspired students to greater heights. And earned the highest respect and love from them. Amazing but true.
That's Mr JMB Hughes,  Extraordinaire.

Dr Chin Wah Seng

TRIBUTE TO MR. J.M.B. HUGHES by Hwang Hong Shi, DJN, PPN, PKT, PJK, PJM.

TRIBUTE  TO 

MR. J.M.B. HUGHES

    (1957–1963)

PFS’ most beloved Headmaster Mr. J.M.B. Hughes passed away on 16.3.11 in his home turf in England. Though I have been requested by the OFA Management Committee to write this tribute, I am skeptical about my literary ability do justice to such a legendary figure in the history of the school even though I had served for 15 years as a teacher in PFS, 5 years of which were under his dynamic leadership.

I had association with Mr. Michael Hughes way back in 1957 in my capacity as the Hon. Secretary of the Penang Outward Bound Association. He was one of our Advisors as well as the Acting Chief Education Officer of Penang.  He was instrumental in getting me to PFS teaching Staff because of my Scouting and Outward Bound activities.

Mr. J.M.B. Hughes, M.A.(Oxon), Dip Ed. (Lond) was born in England in 1917. He graduated in 1939.  He served in the Indian Army for the next seven years in World War 2.  As he put it, he got a taste for the East, which explained why he came here in August, 1948.  He was a big hit with the students and outshone the local staff.  While he was doing his teaching practice at a school in North London, he met some Old Frees there and that started his relationship with PFS.  He was impressed by the attitude of the students who considered learning as a privilege. 

His first task as a teacher was to know his pupils quickly and understand their needs in education.  He believed in education outside the confines of a classroom.  Getting out was his way of getting to know his pupils better and enhancing their learning experience.  As an Assistant Master in PFS, he noticed that the Staff was split into two Staff rooms – one for Europeans and the other for Malayan staff.  Eventually, only one Staff room was created in order to encourage the Staff to know one another better.  He had, over the years, promoted a close rapport with the Staff and the students.

It was in Penang where he met his wife, Jean.  She taught English Literature in PFS.  Two of their children were born in this tropical island. Thus, Penang, the Pearl of the Orient, always had a special place in his heart.

His love for the outdoors was shown in his outings to Pulau Langkawi a few times.  His made a sampan sea trip from Tanjong Tokong round the island from 10.00 p.m. to 10.00 a.m. the next day.  He also arranged a day trip in his planters’ ship for my Scouts to sail to Pulau Rimau.

As the Headmaster, he also had to look into the funding of the school. He had the able assistance of his Secretary, Mr. Tan Chong Bee.  With the introduction of  Bahasa Malaysia,  he was the first Headmaster of the school to use this language on the rostrum on Speech Day. Fortunately, he had the assistance of Capt. Mohd. Noor, a member of his teaching Staff. 

In his time, all school gates were open.  The Sixth Form Block near Green Lane was also erected.  Initially, only boys were admitted.  The top floor was used as a hostel.  The excellent academic tradition, which by record was the most distinguished in the country, had to be upheld.  The school continued to win places at the local Universities and under the Colombo Plan scholarships.  Dato Lim Chong Keat was one of the best pupils he had taught together with many other very able scholars.  The last Queen Scholar of the school was our former Chief Minister, Dr. Lim Chong Eu.

He believed in the quality of education absolutely.  The students excelled through the excellent quality of their work in school.  ‘Not everybody is successful, but you must start with the objective and hopefully you will succeed in the long run.  I know that sounds pompous but it must be true,’ he said.  Quality covers many aspects: academic, sports, treating people as individuals and caring the less fortunate and disabled.

His Return to Penang

Old Frees gathering at Ming Court Hotel in honour of Mr & Mrs J.M.B. Hughes on 20.10.1983

His passion for the school was forever burning.  He was the only Headmaster, if I am not mistaken, who had returned to visit the school four times.  His first trip back with his beloved wife Jean was in 1983 after being away for 20 years.  We were delighted to welcome them with a reception at the Penthouse at Ming Court Hotel.  Thirty-two old boys and former teachers hosted the party. The OFA also entertained  them with a tea-party in its premises.  Much camaraderie and fellowship prevailed.  He represented  OFA  and spoke at the Speech Day on 21^st October, 1983.  His second and third visits were made in 1996.  His fourth visit was in October, 2000.  I had the opportunity to welcome him and drove him from the airport to Dato’ Lim Chong Keat’s residence.  Again, I accompanied him to visit the school.  A plague commemorating his three previous visits to the school was mounted on the landing of the front school staircase. 

 

 

H  H Hughes at Penang Club with Hwang & Dennis Lee on 14.10.2000

No headmaster of PFS had ever made such an  impact and created such a rapport with the school after his 
 term was up.  It is truly amazing to have such a caring and dedicated personality!  All  Old  Frees  during  his  time were gratefully blessed. 

We all thank him and Jean from the bottom of our hearts.  May their souls rest in peace as they rejoice in heaven forever. 

NB: Perhaps, like his predecessors Messrs Hargreaves, Pinhorn and Hamilton, a road in the vicinity of PFS should be named in memory of J.M.B. Hughes as the last expatriate Headmaster of PFS, 

Hwang Hong Shi, DJN, PPN, PKT, PJK, PJM.