It is indeed a privilege to be invited by Mrs Tan Hoon Hwee, Wee Liat and Wee Wern to officiate at the Opening of the “Harry Tan Mathematics Room”. I am honoured to be considered fit to do the honours.

First, let me say a few words about Harry.

Harry was a passionate “Saint” in true St Andrew's fashion. He loved the school unstintingly, where he was a student and later the Warden. He served the school as Warden for 18 years where he displayed his passion for rugby, the music of the school brass band and mathematics. In fact, he taught the teaching of mathematics to would-be teachers of the subject at the Teachers Training College where my wife Gena was a pupil of his!!

I was conscripted by Harry to give support to the rugby team and the brass band both of which won high honours for the school. He was particularly taken by the Kiwi Cup; the annual home and away match with Raffles Institution. In fact the last “proper” holder of the Rugby Kiwi Cup was St Andrew's. That gave him immense pride and he regularly reminded me of that fact.

The brass band was equally successful and won several overseas competitions and continues to do so as far as I am aware. Both owe their successes at the time to Harry, to his tremendous drive and determination that St Andrew's would excel at music and rugby. Many an old boy dug deep and often into their pockets to support Harry’s determination for St Andrew's to succeed and none of us ever begrudged him the support. In fact, I am personally very glad I did as it gave me pleasure in doing something for my alma mater.

Apart from this passion for rugby and music, Harry was also a very devout Christian. He worshiped at the Church of the Ascension and St Andrew's Cathedral where we often met after the 7 am service for breakfast. The after church breakfasts were always interesting affairs as we usually discussed St Andrew’s and reconstructed the political system in Singapore as only Harry and his friends could do! But in those conversations I also found a deeply compassionate man who was devoted to his family, very much in love with his wife Hoon Hwee, fiercely proud of his sons and having a deep affection for Hoon Hwee’s mother.  This was especially so after his own beloved mother passed on. Harry often took the old folks on his many travels around the world, and it was never any trouble to him. I was his air travel advisor and recipient of the complaints about SIA’s service or lack of service!! It was great fun to have a debate with him, which occasionally I won! .... and I think with Hoon Hwee’s assistance.

His Christian faith also took him into the Boys Brigade fold where I assume his love for brass band music was developed. I believe he was the drum major for the band when he was a student at St Andrew's. I am aware of his deep and proud involvement in the movement right up to the time of his passing. He was continually in touch with his BB friends.

Harry was a supreme optimist and even when he was fighting his battle with cancer, he never gave up hope. Indeed, he continued planning for a trip to the Holy land whilst he was undergoing chemotherapy. Sadly he did not make that trip but it went ahead nonetheless, principally I think, as a tribute to his supreme optimism and his belief in the power of the Almighty. I would venture the thought that Harry was present on that trip spiritually…making sure everything went well.

To the subject at hand; the “Harry Tan Mathematics Room”. Where teaching was concerned, Harry was happiest when he was teaching mathematics, especially additional and pure mathematics. He would make the subject interesting and as a result simple to his students, many of whom had struggled with the subject previously. He would set up remedial lessons on his own and often coached the weaker students in his own time and I believe at no charge…such was his love for the subject and his compassion for the less fortunate. Even after he retired, he would get involved in the teaching of mathematics, writing on the subject, arranging remedial classes and giving private tuition.

Harry therefore wanted to leave a legacy to the study and teaching of mathematics which this room represents. It is his way of continuing to give of his love for the subject of mathematics and that of his alma mater, St Andrew's. It is typical of this wonderful Saint, Harry Tan. We will all continue to remember him with much love and affection.

Thank you.

Capt Leonard McCully (Retired SIA Pilot)