King Edward VII School (Taiping)
Encyclopedia
King Edward VII School is a premier school located in Taiping
, Perak
, Malaysia. It is a premier school. It is also a Smart School which emphasize in the use of Information Technology
in academic classes.
The school is consist two primary schools and a secondary school. The school is famous due to its reputation in the involvement in rugby.
The school began in a very small way, and in 1885 a gymnasium was added. In 1849, according to the report of Mr. Greene, the Headmaster, physical drill with music received due attention. The lads were also gradually being initiated into the mysteries of football and cricket.
The spotlight now turns on the outstanding personality of this period of the history of the School. Roger Francis Stainer, B.A. (London); Headmaster of Central School and later of King Edward VII School from 1900 to 1922. He was a great leader, a fine sportsman and a capable organizer. The greatest obstacle he had to face was lack of qualified staff. There was no normal training classes in those days, and so he set out to train his own staff. He infused into the handful of young men before him his own spirit. Still living to day are a handful of the old brigade seasoned in years, but ever young with fresh memories of the arduous past. To this great Englishman the school owes much of its traditions. “Play the game and play it well,” that was his motto. He loved football, a great player himself, and he made not only his pupils love the game, but also every parent of every child. He could pit his school team against the best of adult teams of those days and win. There were no games fees then, but Mr. Stainer had a cupboard full of the best British footballs all paid for by the citizens of the town. He was loved by all-rich and poor. He would walk many miles to reach a lonely hut in the outskirts of Tupai to join the marriage feast of a old boy.
Reading, Speech, Recitation and Dictation were his pet subjects. Magni Nominis Umbra was the motto he himself chose for the school. He lived up to it by every action and mind of his, by his example every unit in the school - both staff and pupils - lived up to it. When he visited the old school again late in the 30’s he had a vociferous welcome. He died on board ship homeward bound.
As Time went on the school building became inadequate, the enrolment having increased by leaps and bounds. First, a large shed built of jungle rollers and cheap timber was created in the already crowded school compound, then another of the same materials, each accommodating two and sometimes three classrooms. These temporary structures, however, did not solve the problem.
The demand for education had exceed all expectations; a new building on a new site was necessary. The site selected was the land on which the railway station, probably the first of its kind in Malaya, had stood. When the building was ready for occupation in 1905, the enthusiasm of the boys to move was so great that than, report the “Perak pioneer,” made two attempts to destroy the old school by fire. Out of Mr. Stainer’s fertile mind came the idea that the name of School should be changed to King Edward VII School in honour of King Edward VII who has succeeded to the throne of England in 1901 on the death of Queen Victoria. The official opening of the school was performed by H.H. The Sultan.
The ornamental gate with the name of the School inscribed on it was put up in 1908 by the P.W.D. The shade trees which make the School ground “the most picturesque school ground in Malaya” were planted by Mr. P. Moss in the early part of 1910. Into these surroundings came year after year an increasing number of boys of all nationalities to be educated so that they would be able to take their places in the rapidly changing society of the time. And, year after year the quality and the type of education offered to the boys were improved.
The highest standard in the School was still Standard VII but there was now provision for the brighter boys to do extra subjects the chief of which were Euclid, Algebra, and Typewriting. There were no Cambridge Classes yet and candidates wishing to sit for the Junior Cambridge Local Examination had to go all the way to Kuala Lumpur where, annually, the examination was held. A Normal Class was established in about 1907.
For many years soccer remained the chief sport. The success of the school at soccer was due largely to the interest taken in it by Mr. Stainer, himself a great player and referee whose services were often sought after by clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and by Mr. C. R. Hartley, a soccer international who was posted to the school. Gymnastics, cricket and athletics too, were becoming extremely popular and from school began to flow a continuous stream of athletes and cricketers. The first Athletic meeting of the School was held on 10th April 1908, the champion athlete that year was J. Manen who won the prize presented by Lt. Col. Walker.
The first World War did no hinder the progress of the School. Through along line of able headmaster among them Mr. R. F. Stainer, Mr. M. D. W. McLeod, Mr. D. R. Swaine,. Mr. J. B. Neilson Mr. R. P. S. Walker, the traditions of the school and the high reputation it had acquired in its academic and sporting life were maintained. Mr. Stainer in 1899, started Cadet Corps with himself as the Commanding Officer and Messrs. E. Foster Lee, A. J. Bruin, D. G. R. Peter and D. G. Doral his junior officers. (An earlier cadet corps is reported to have been flourishing in 1902). The first scout troop, now known as the Second Taiping Troop, was formed about six years later. In 1924, rugby football was introduced. Through the efforts of such exponents of the game as Mr. J. D. Josept, Mr. E. H. S. Bretherton and Mr. T. P. M. Lewis, a high standard was reached in a few years. School athletes distinguished themselves in the annual competitions held in Penang, winning the Gelugor Shield three times in four years. In purely academic matters, results were equally gratifying. The percentage of passes obtained in the Cambridge Examination remained high.
Then came the catastrophe, the war with Japan and the subsequent occupation of the country by Japanese forces. The school did not function during those years. Its building and ground become the headquarters of Malayan Kempeitai, who converted the classrooms into torture chambers and dug up the playground for the growing of food. On 1 October 1945, however, the war over, the school came back life this time in St. George’s Institution under the Headmastership of Mr. E. A. Moissinac.
On 14 January 1946, the school moved back into its old buildings under Capt. C. R. Toliday and almost at once the work of reconstruction was begun. The most acute problem was the accommodation. With characteristic energy, successive principals, first Major Rawelife, then Mr. J .D. Jopseph, Mr. J. Young, Mr. G. D. Muir and Mr. D. H. Christie, tackled the problem. New buildings were acquired and converted into classrooms so that the one thousand four hundred boys of the school could be suitably accommodated.
In 1960,A Malay medium class was introduced.in 1965,for the first time, students sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
which is equivalent to the British O-Level.In 1969,Form 6 classes is introduced. King Edward VII School is the only school in the peninsula that has both Malay and English medium. Principals in the 1950s and 1960s such as the JEM Ambrose, EH Bromley, WV Hobson, JA McCumiskey and Bion Dury has tried to maintain the excellence of King Edward VII School in academics and sports.From 1964 to 1982, the school principal is Mr.Long Heng Hua, which is the longest-serving principal at this school.In those years, schools continue to show excellence in academics and sports, especially hockey and gymnastics.In 1989 ,four additional classrooms were built for Life Skills Workshop. In 1990 ,various physical facilities have been added, including computer rooms, covered walkways and renovations to the teacher room. In 1998 ,Engineering Workshop is completed to accommodate students for Form 4 Arts students and to accommodate the new Engineering Technology students.In 1999,King Edward VII Secondary School had been selected as one of the 90 schools for the Smart School program under the Ministry of Education.
In the 1926 season, little interest was shown in this apparently strenuous game. Nevertheless rugby practices were held once a week and the robust participants seemed to derive great fun from the game, leaving aside all anxiety to improve their tactics.
Mr. T.J. Thomas, who remained with the players from 1923 to 1927, spent many hours patiently coaching the boys. Of rugby in the school, he commented, “Up to 1926 - 1927 we used to kick a ball about and have an occasional practice; boys and masters combined. In the 1926 - 1927 season, we had organised school games - two picked sides, in which teachers and boys participated, but we had no matches with outsiders.”
By 1927 when Mr. Thomas, the first coach left, Rugby was as popular as football. Mr. F.R.C. Markham and Mr. E.H.S. Bretherthon then undertook the training and coaching of the boys, but because there were very few Asian rugby teams at that time, they were unable to arrange outside matches. King Edward VII School had the honour to field the first school fifteen in the country. The old boys came to acquire a love for the game and by 1927 the “ Old Edwardian” XV came into being.
The encouragement and support of Mr. J.D. Joseph, who remained in the school from 1927 to 1931, first as a teacher and later as principal, paved the way for rapid progress. During his time, five matches were played with outside teams - two against the All Blues of Seremban, an old established, heavier and more experienced side. There was naturally a weakness in the combination of the School forwards and backs, due to lack of practice, but in these their best two matches with an outside club, the team had every reason for satisfaction despite the score which was 13-6 in the first, and 16-3 in the second match in favour of the All Blues. The three remaining matches were played against the Ipoh Birch Rompers. Out of these three games, the school team won a victory in the first match on 17th November 1928. This was the first recorded success in the history of the school. However, the school was defeated in the second and third matches which were played in 1929.
A sudden decline in Rugby occurred in 1930, but the following year a complete reorganisation took place. To improve the standard of this game, each of the Six Senior Houses had to present a team. An Inter-House League Competition and Knock-Out Tournament were introduced. In addition, a Rugby Shield was presented to the Champion House for the year, and Rugby colours were awarded to the more outstanding players of the season. These incentives drew nearly a hundred boys to the rugby practices each week.
The honour of being the first winners of the Rugby Shield went to King’s House which won both the Inter-House League and Knock-Out Competitions.
Within that same season, the School XV played its only outside match and that was against the Taiping Asiaticts, which it beat 6-3. That was the first time that the school was represented by purely boys’ team, which was made up of Siew Hong, Ah Kow, Wan Noh, Kim Chan, Yahayaudin (Capt.), Raja Aziz, Yam Onn, Dennan, Mohd Ghows, Swee Aun, Hatton, Sulaiman, Ibrahim, Ahmad and Harun. The first to be awarded colours were Yahayaudin, Lim Swee Aun, Sulaiman and Harun.
Mr. R.P.S. Walker, the Principal, did a great deal to mould the School team. He did not play rugby, but the interest he took in the game and the regularity with which he attended all school and House Matches were sufficient to popularize rugby among the boys of the school. Mr. T.P.M. Lewis, the coach also worked assiduously for several years to improve the standard of play.
The following seasons of creditable success were when the school team was launched into rigorous interschool matches. In 1933, the first inter-school rugby match in the history of Malaya took place. It was then that the regular and diligent practices proved rewarding, for the School defeated Penang Free School 9-0.
The victorious team comprised the following – Sey Poon, Beng Hoe, Yan Sau (Capt.), Zainuddin, Che Rose, Darus, Shaarani, Osman, Lim Swee Chin, Hamzah, Omar, Darus b. Raof, Sani, Foong Ah Kow, Toh Tuck, Mydin and Aziddin. The following year the score was increased to 10-0, in favour of the Tigers and for the first time since the series started in 1932, the School defeated the Old Edwardians in 1934.
SCHOOL RUGBY XV 1933
1935 again saw a decline in the strength of the school team to the fact that some of the best players had left school. However, two seasons later, the school managed to maintain an undefeated record. “The Edwardian” had this to say, “The XV of 1937 was a team each member of which knew exactly what the best way to do his part efficiently; there was less of the undesirable individualism selfishness of 1936....”
This was, in fact, the beginning of King Edward VII’s ascent to the top. There seasons of success followed and in 1939, the followers of the game began to wonder whether King Edward VII could ever be defeated by another school.
During 1938 there were some new developments. To encourage more boys to play rugby, members of the School team were forbidden to play for their houses. House jerseys were introduced to brighten up the game as well as to attract more boys to play.
The Second World War came, and until 1946, there was no rugby. At that time King Edward's was fortunate to have as its principal, Mr. J.D. Joseph, who had helped to improve the game in the School. His keenness and encouragement, coupled with the sound coaching of the rugby master Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo assisted by Mr. Lim Swee Chin enabled King Edward VII School to set up a rugby team again - the first school in North Malaya to do so. Though it was not as formidable as the teams of pre-war years the fifteen stalwarts had the true rugby spirit. Inter-school matches were resumed and the Tigers won practically all of them for the next eleven years.
A school Second XV was formed in 1947 and it had a creditable season. The year closed with the Buckley Cup match, played between the School team and the Old Boys. The School lost but the defeat proved an incentive to tougher training, and the following year, the School XV wrested the cup from the Old Edwardians for the first time in the series.
The Tigers dominated the Combined Schools Team for some years after the war. In 1948 itself, King Edward’s had nine members in the State fifteen, including Gian Singh who was the Captain. In subsequent years, more players represented the State.
Mr. D.H. Christie’s reign at K.E. saw no decline in rugby. Mr. Christie, an outstanding player in his youth, helped the side whenever possible - showing the finer points of the Perak Asiatic XV, the Taiping XV and the Penang All Blues which had several state players.
In 1949, the Edwardians, not contented in being the best team in North Malaya, took on what was reputed to be the best side in the South - the St. Andrews XV who had reserved their most formidable side to play against us. The Edwardians fought with tigerish ferocity and emerged victorious with the score 8-3. The victories repeated in 1951 and 1954 proved beyond doubt that King Edward’s had the best rugger team in the country.
Inter-School matches between King Edward’s and Anderson, Ipoh have always been popular with the boys. Edwardians who are seldom seen on the field generally make their way to the side lines. Since 1928, when the series started, the Tigers were not defeated until 1958 when they lost by a narrow margin, the score being 8-11.
The school never lacked support from the old Edwardians and the tiger cubs in school. At every game on our own ground and elsewhere their roars have spurred the teams on. The Rugby tour of 1954 was no exception. The great success of this tour was due largely to the spirit of the Old Edwardians who also contributed to the cost of the tour. What few members there were all turned up in full force to cheer their Alma Mater to victory. This was specially noticeable in Singapore where more than half the spectators were old boys of the school. By going down to Singapore the rugby team made history in the school for that was the first time the Edwardian tigers had gone as far south as Singapore, The Rugger team was therefore entrusted with the honour of showing the school colours to new teams in new places, And they did keep the Edwardian flag flying high indeed. Convincing victories were scored in all the encounters they had. But it was a great pity that the true tigerish prowess of the rugby team could not be tested for many or the teams whom we wished to meet refused our challenge. Summing up the events of the highly successful season of 1954. “The Edwardian” commented. “Wherever the ‘Tigers’ went they were always on the ‘Kill’.
They proved themselves masters of the game not only in the Federation but also in the island of Singapore. Out Of a total of eleven inter-school matches only one School, the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, had the effrontery to cross our line and beat us 5-3. However, we avenged out defeat by beating them in the convincing score of 8-0 when they turned up on our padang.”
Credit for the success does not rest on the ‘Tigers’ alone. It is only right that tribute should be paid to the man behind the post-war rugger scene – Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo. King Edward’s own able, tough and experienced coach for many years. It was he who brought out the best in the players, subjecting them to rigorous and merciles coaching by putting them through their paces on the field while the sun was still scorching until the title stars were peeping through the dusky sky.
From 1954 to 1957, the school fielded fairly strong teams, turning out the usual crop of outstanding players. The ‘Tigers’ were still feared and respected.
After Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo left, in 1958, a revival took place and the second successful rugby tour to Singapore was undertaken in 1961. Once again no game was lost and the two notable victories were against the Johore English College and the St. Andrews School. The Old Boys throughout Malaya contributed financially towards the tour. Since then, many rugby masters and coaches have come and gone – a most undesirable fact. From 1958 on, a slight detioteration in the standard of play became evident.
SCHOOL RUGBY XV 1954
All in all, we have had a fair share of victories. It is true that we cannot always win, but nevertheless, we must all the same maintain our determination to win – in the true Tiger Spirit.
The history of rugby at K.E has been dominated by many ups and downs, victories and defeat. The undesirable change of rugby masters and coaches has to be coped with. Often at the beginning of the season, an entirely new team has to be built up around the nucleus of the few remaining players of the previous year. Since this is unavoidable, it has been taken as a matter of course. Thus there are times when the School XV is at its ebb and peak strength. But as long as the rugby spirit remains, fifteen ‘tigers in red and black’ striped jerseys will continue to be seen breaking the green monotony of the K.E field.
As long as the Taiping Hills stand
King Edward’s will shine forever
For the glory of this land
In this year of our victory
We are proud of the days of yore
King Edward VII School we hail thee
You’ll be greater than before
King Edward VII School we hail thee
You’ll be greater than before
The Tigers will roar loud and full
Magni Nominis Umbra
The motto of our great school
Magni Nominis Umbra
Edwardians old and young tigers
Let’s unite in a song of glee
King Edward VII School forever
In Malaysia of the free
King Edward VII School forever
In Malaysia of the free
Taiping, Perak
Taiping is a town located in northern Perak, Malaysia. With a population of 191,104 , it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital. Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh...
, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Malaysia. It is a premier school. It is also a Smart School which emphasize in the use of Information Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
in academic classes.
The school is consist two primary schools and a secondary school. The school is famous due to its reputation in the involvement in rugby.
Early history
The history of King Edward VII School, Taiping, goes back to July, 1883, when the Central School was opened. The site selected was the small area of land on which the present Nurses’ Hostel stands.The school began in a very small way, and in 1885 a gymnasium was added. In 1849, according to the report of Mr. Greene, the Headmaster, physical drill with music received due attention. The lads were also gradually being initiated into the mysteries of football and cricket.
The spotlight now turns on the outstanding personality of this period of the history of the School. Roger Francis Stainer, B.A. (London); Headmaster of Central School and later of King Edward VII School from 1900 to 1922. He was a great leader, a fine sportsman and a capable organizer. The greatest obstacle he had to face was lack of qualified staff. There was no normal training classes in those days, and so he set out to train his own staff. He infused into the handful of young men before him his own spirit. Still living to day are a handful of the old brigade seasoned in years, but ever young with fresh memories of the arduous past. To this great Englishman the school owes much of its traditions. “Play the game and play it well,” that was his motto. He loved football, a great player himself, and he made not only his pupils love the game, but also every parent of every child. He could pit his school team against the best of adult teams of those days and win. There were no games fees then, but Mr. Stainer had a cupboard full of the best British footballs all paid for by the citizens of the town. He was loved by all-rich and poor. He would walk many miles to reach a lonely hut in the outskirts of Tupai to join the marriage feast of a old boy.
Reading, Speech, Recitation and Dictation were his pet subjects. Magni Nominis Umbra was the motto he himself chose for the school. He lived up to it by every action and mind of his, by his example every unit in the school - both staff and pupils - lived up to it. When he visited the old school again late in the 30’s he had a vociferous welcome. He died on board ship homeward bound.
As Time went on the school building became inadequate, the enrolment having increased by leaps and bounds. First, a large shed built of jungle rollers and cheap timber was created in the already crowded school compound, then another of the same materials, each accommodating two and sometimes three classrooms. These temporary structures, however, did not solve the problem.
The demand for education had exceed all expectations; a new building on a new site was necessary. The site selected was the land on which the railway station, probably the first of its kind in Malaya, had stood. When the building was ready for occupation in 1905, the enthusiasm of the boys to move was so great that than, report the “Perak pioneer,” made two attempts to destroy the old school by fire. Out of Mr. Stainer’s fertile mind came the idea that the name of School should be changed to King Edward VII School in honour of King Edward VII who has succeeded to the throne of England in 1901 on the death of Queen Victoria. The official opening of the school was performed by H.H. The Sultan.
The ornamental gate with the name of the School inscribed on it was put up in 1908 by the P.W.D. The shade trees which make the School ground “the most picturesque school ground in Malaya” were planted by Mr. P. Moss in the early part of 1910. Into these surroundings came year after year an increasing number of boys of all nationalities to be educated so that they would be able to take their places in the rapidly changing society of the time. And, year after year the quality and the type of education offered to the boys were improved.
The highest standard in the School was still Standard VII but there was now provision for the brighter boys to do extra subjects the chief of which were Euclid, Algebra, and Typewriting. There were no Cambridge Classes yet and candidates wishing to sit for the Junior Cambridge Local Examination had to go all the way to Kuala Lumpur where, annually, the examination was held. A Normal Class was established in about 1907.
For many years soccer remained the chief sport. The success of the school at soccer was due largely to the interest taken in it by Mr. Stainer, himself a great player and referee whose services were often sought after by clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and by Mr. C. R. Hartley, a soccer international who was posted to the school. Gymnastics, cricket and athletics too, were becoming extremely popular and from school began to flow a continuous stream of athletes and cricketers. The first Athletic meeting of the School was held on 10th April 1908, the champion athlete that year was J. Manen who won the prize presented by Lt. Col. Walker.
The first World War did no hinder the progress of the School. Through along line of able headmaster among them Mr. R. F. Stainer, Mr. M. D. W. McLeod, Mr. D. R. Swaine,. Mr. J. B. Neilson Mr. R. P. S. Walker, the traditions of the school and the high reputation it had acquired in its academic and sporting life were maintained. Mr. Stainer in 1899, started Cadet Corps with himself as the Commanding Officer and Messrs. E. Foster Lee, A. J. Bruin, D. G. R. Peter and D. G. Doral his junior officers. (An earlier cadet corps is reported to have been flourishing in 1902). The first scout troop, now known as the Second Taiping Troop, was formed about six years later. In 1924, rugby football was introduced. Through the efforts of such exponents of the game as Mr. J. D. Josept, Mr. E. H. S. Bretherton and Mr. T. P. M. Lewis, a high standard was reached in a few years. School athletes distinguished themselves in the annual competitions held in Penang, winning the Gelugor Shield three times in four years. In purely academic matters, results were equally gratifying. The percentage of passes obtained in the Cambridge Examination remained high.
Then came the catastrophe, the war with Japan and the subsequent occupation of the country by Japanese forces. The school did not function during those years. Its building and ground become the headquarters of Malayan Kempeitai, who converted the classrooms into torture chambers and dug up the playground for the growing of food. On 1 October 1945, however, the war over, the school came back life this time in St. George’s Institution under the Headmastership of Mr. E. A. Moissinac.
On 14 January 1946, the school moved back into its old buildings under Capt. C. R. Toliday and almost at once the work of reconstruction was begun. The most acute problem was the accommodation. With characteristic energy, successive principals, first Major Rawelife, then Mr. J .D. Jopseph, Mr. J. Young, Mr. G. D. Muir and Mr. D. H. Christie, tackled the problem. New buildings were acquired and converted into classrooms so that the one thousand four hundred boys of the school could be suitably accommodated.
Modern History
In 1946,class is conducted in a low building in the Trump Way, elementary classes in 'Sheffield Hostel' in the Museum Road and the Student Hostel in the Old Street Station. Middle class is placed in the main building near the Rest House Taiping.In 1951, as well as science laboratories, there is room for Geography, History and Form 6 Arts.Level 6 Classes began in 1954 and that is when the first batch of female students entering the school. In 1958, there is separations of the classes because the number of primary and secondary students is overwhelming.Lower classes are divided into two which is Primary One & Primary Two and are placed in the main building at Station Road and Middle Class is in Sheffield Block. Former Infant Department and the new blocks are erected along the Trunt Road.In 1960,A Malay medium class was introduced.in 1965,for the first time, students sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia
The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia , or the Malaysian Certificate of Education, is a national examination taken by all fifth-year secondary school students in Malaysia...
which is equivalent to the British O-Level.In 1969,Form 6 classes is introduced. King Edward VII School is the only school in the peninsula that has both Malay and English medium. Principals in the 1950s and 1960s such as the JEM Ambrose, EH Bromley, WV Hobson, JA McCumiskey and Bion Dury has tried to maintain the excellence of King Edward VII School in academics and sports.From 1964 to 1982, the school principal is Mr.Long Heng Hua, which is the longest-serving principal at this school.In those years, schools continue to show excellence in academics and sports, especially hockey and gymnastics.In 1989 ,four additional classrooms were built for Life Skills Workshop. In 1990 ,various physical facilities have been added, including computer rooms, covered walkways and renovations to the teacher room. In 1998 ,Engineering Workshop is completed to accommodate students for Form 4 Arts students and to accommodate the new Engineering Technology students.In 1999,King Edward VII Secondary School had been selected as one of the 90 schools for the Smart School program under the Ministry of Education.
Early History
Rugby was played at King Edward VII School as far back as 1923. It had been introduced to the school by Mr. T.J. Thomas, one of the European schoolmasters. But the earliest record, written by the Vice-Captain, Che Wan Chick bin H. Ismail, appeared in “The Edwardian” for December 1925. “Rugby is still in its infancy for the boys do not understand the game thoroughly. Many turn up for practices and many more to watch. We cannot force them to play what they call a ‘dangerous’ game. Let us hope that in the near future it will be as popular as football.”In the 1926 season, little interest was shown in this apparently strenuous game. Nevertheless rugby practices were held once a week and the robust participants seemed to derive great fun from the game, leaving aside all anxiety to improve their tactics.
Mr. T.J. Thomas, who remained with the players from 1923 to 1927, spent many hours patiently coaching the boys. Of rugby in the school, he commented, “Up to 1926 - 1927 we used to kick a ball about and have an occasional practice; boys and masters combined. In the 1926 - 1927 season, we had organised school games - two picked sides, in which teachers and boys participated, but we had no matches with outsiders.”
By 1927 when Mr. Thomas, the first coach left, Rugby was as popular as football. Mr. F.R.C. Markham and Mr. E.H.S. Bretherthon then undertook the training and coaching of the boys, but because there were very few Asian rugby teams at that time, they were unable to arrange outside matches. King Edward VII School had the honour to field the first school fifteen in the country. The old boys came to acquire a love for the game and by 1927 the “ Old Edwardian” XV came into being.
The encouragement and support of Mr. J.D. Joseph, who remained in the school from 1927 to 1931, first as a teacher and later as principal, paved the way for rapid progress. During his time, five matches were played with outside teams - two against the All Blues of Seremban, an old established, heavier and more experienced side. There was naturally a weakness in the combination of the School forwards and backs, due to lack of practice, but in these their best two matches with an outside club, the team had every reason for satisfaction despite the score which was 13-6 in the first, and 16-3 in the second match in favour of the All Blues. The three remaining matches were played against the Ipoh Birch Rompers. Out of these three games, the school team won a victory in the first match on 17th November 1928. This was the first recorded success in the history of the school. However, the school was defeated in the second and third matches which were played in 1929.
A sudden decline in Rugby occurred in 1930, but the following year a complete reorganisation took place. To improve the standard of this game, each of the Six Senior Houses had to present a team. An Inter-House League Competition and Knock-Out Tournament were introduced. In addition, a Rugby Shield was presented to the Champion House for the year, and Rugby colours were awarded to the more outstanding players of the season. These incentives drew nearly a hundred boys to the rugby practices each week.
The honour of being the first winners of the Rugby Shield went to King’s House which won both the Inter-House League and Knock-Out Competitions.
Within that same season, the School XV played its only outside match and that was against the Taiping Asiaticts, which it beat 6-3. That was the first time that the school was represented by purely boys’ team, which was made up of Siew Hong, Ah Kow, Wan Noh, Kim Chan, Yahayaudin (Capt.), Raja Aziz, Yam Onn, Dennan, Mohd Ghows, Swee Aun, Hatton, Sulaiman, Ibrahim, Ahmad and Harun. The first to be awarded colours were Yahayaudin, Lim Swee Aun, Sulaiman and Harun.
Mr. R.P.S. Walker, the Principal, did a great deal to mould the School team. He did not play rugby, but the interest he took in the game and the regularity with which he attended all school and House Matches were sufficient to popularize rugby among the boys of the school. Mr. T.P.M. Lewis, the coach also worked assiduously for several years to improve the standard of play.
The following seasons of creditable success were when the school team was launched into rigorous interschool matches. In 1933, the first inter-school rugby match in the history of Malaya took place. It was then that the regular and diligent practices proved rewarding, for the School defeated Penang Free School 9-0.
The victorious team comprised the following – Sey Poon, Beng Hoe, Yan Sau (Capt.), Zainuddin, Che Rose, Darus, Shaarani, Osman, Lim Swee Chin, Hamzah, Omar, Darus b. Raof, Sani, Foong Ah Kow, Toh Tuck, Mydin and Aziddin. The following year the score was increased to 10-0, in favour of the Tigers and for the first time since the series started in 1932, the School defeated the Old Edwardians in 1934.
SCHOOL RUGBY XV 1933
1935 again saw a decline in the strength of the school team to the fact that some of the best players had left school. However, two seasons later, the school managed to maintain an undefeated record. “The Edwardian” had this to say, “The XV of 1937 was a team each member of which knew exactly what the best way to do his part efficiently; there was less of the undesirable individualism selfishness of 1936....”
This was, in fact, the beginning of King Edward VII’s ascent to the top. There seasons of success followed and in 1939, the followers of the game began to wonder whether King Edward VII could ever be defeated by another school.
During 1938 there were some new developments. To encourage more boys to play rugby, members of the School team were forbidden to play for their houses. House jerseys were introduced to brighten up the game as well as to attract more boys to play.
The Second World War came, and until 1946, there was no rugby. At that time King Edward's was fortunate to have as its principal, Mr. J.D. Joseph, who had helped to improve the game in the School. His keenness and encouragement, coupled with the sound coaching of the rugby master Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo assisted by Mr. Lim Swee Chin enabled King Edward VII School to set up a rugby team again - the first school in North Malaya to do so. Though it was not as formidable as the teams of pre-war years the fifteen stalwarts had the true rugby spirit. Inter-school matches were resumed and the Tigers won practically all of them for the next eleven years.
A school Second XV was formed in 1947 and it had a creditable season. The year closed with the Buckley Cup match, played between the School team and the Old Boys. The School lost but the defeat proved an incentive to tougher training, and the following year, the School XV wrested the cup from the Old Edwardians for the first time in the series.
The Tigers dominated the Combined Schools Team for some years after the war. In 1948 itself, King Edward’s had nine members in the State fifteen, including Gian Singh who was the Captain. In subsequent years, more players represented the State.
Mr. D.H. Christie’s reign at K.E. saw no decline in rugby. Mr. Christie, an outstanding player in his youth, helped the side whenever possible - showing the finer points of the Perak Asiatic XV, the Taiping XV and the Penang All Blues which had several state players.
In 1949, the Edwardians, not contented in being the best team in North Malaya, took on what was reputed to be the best side in the South - the St. Andrews XV who had reserved their most formidable side to play against us. The Edwardians fought with tigerish ferocity and emerged victorious with the score 8-3. The victories repeated in 1951 and 1954 proved beyond doubt that King Edward’s had the best rugger team in the country.
Inter-School matches between King Edward’s and Anderson, Ipoh have always been popular with the boys. Edwardians who are seldom seen on the field generally make their way to the side lines. Since 1928, when the series started, the Tigers were not defeated until 1958 when they lost by a narrow margin, the score being 8-11.
The school never lacked support from the old Edwardians and the tiger cubs in school. At every game on our own ground and elsewhere their roars have spurred the teams on. The Rugby tour of 1954 was no exception. The great success of this tour was due largely to the spirit of the Old Edwardians who also contributed to the cost of the tour. What few members there were all turned up in full force to cheer their Alma Mater to victory. This was specially noticeable in Singapore where more than half the spectators were old boys of the school. By going down to Singapore the rugby team made history in the school for that was the first time the Edwardian tigers had gone as far south as Singapore, The Rugger team was therefore entrusted with the honour of showing the school colours to new teams in new places, And they did keep the Edwardian flag flying high indeed. Convincing victories were scored in all the encounters they had. But it was a great pity that the true tigerish prowess of the rugby team could not be tested for many or the teams whom we wished to meet refused our challenge. Summing up the events of the highly successful season of 1954. “The Edwardian” commented. “Wherever the ‘Tigers’ went they were always on the ‘Kill’.
They proved themselves masters of the game not only in the Federation but also in the island of Singapore. Out Of a total of eleven inter-school matches only one School, the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, had the effrontery to cross our line and beat us 5-3. However, we avenged out defeat by beating them in the convincing score of 8-0 when they turned up on our padang.”
Credit for the success does not rest on the ‘Tigers’ alone. It is only right that tribute should be paid to the man behind the post-war rugger scene – Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo. King Edward’s own able, tough and experienced coach for many years. It was he who brought out the best in the players, subjecting them to rigorous and merciles coaching by putting them through their paces on the field while the sun was still scorching until the title stars were peeping through the dusky sky.
From 1954 to 1957, the school fielded fairly strong teams, turning out the usual crop of outstanding players. The ‘Tigers’ were still feared and respected.
After Mr. Yeoh Teng Khoo left, in 1958, a revival took place and the second successful rugby tour to Singapore was undertaken in 1961. Once again no game was lost and the two notable victories were against the Johore English College and the St. Andrews School. The Old Boys throughout Malaya contributed financially towards the tour. Since then, many rugby masters and coaches have come and gone – a most undesirable fact. From 1958 on, a slight detioteration in the standard of play became evident.
SCHOOL RUGBY XV 1954
All in all, we have had a fair share of victories. It is true that we cannot always win, but nevertheless, we must all the same maintain our determination to win – in the true Tiger Spirit.
The history of rugby at K.E has been dominated by many ups and downs, victories and defeat. The undesirable change of rugby masters and coaches has to be coped with. Often at the beginning of the season, an entirely new team has to be built up around the nucleus of the few remaining players of the previous year. Since this is unavoidable, it has been taken as a matter of course. Thus there are times when the School XV is at its ebb and peak strength. But as long as the rugby spirit remains, fifteen ‘tigers in red and black’ striped jerseys will continue to be seen breaking the green monotony of the K.E field.
Modern History
During the years between 1954 and 1961, the "Tigers" organized a tour of friendly games against opponents from all corners of the country, from Kedah to Singapore, and beat them all. This earned the team the tag "Kings of Rugby". We owed the success of the tour to the "Old Edwardians" [former Edwardians] who provided moral and financial support to the team . The "Tigers" are definitely more than just a 'one-hit wonder' and they have a list of victories to prove their stand. Besides being the Champions of Perak, they also earned multiple glory in 1979 when they won all four titles deemed most important in school-level rugby; The District Champs, Taiping Cup winners, Malaysian Champs of the Northern Zone, and Champs of Malayan Inter-School Rugby Tournament whereby they beat the Royal Military College 22-6. Previously in 1978, they had been elected the Malaysian representatives to the ASEAN Inter-School Rugby Championship in Haadyai, Thailand and won the 3rd spot. They have also been three-consecutive time winners of the Perak Cup several times, namely during there years of 1983-1985, 1987-1989 and 1996-1998.they also managed to come forth as runners-up in national-level meets like The Royal Selangor Cup, twice, once in 1987 and the other in 1998. 14 members of the school team also chosen to play for the state team in 1996 whereby they went on to beat Negeri Sembilan in the finals 7-5 and claim the tittle of champions for themselves. The year 2000 saw SMKE create waves by winning the district and state championships. That year, they were chosen collectively to defend Perak in the MSSM held in Perlis. In the Perak Zone Premiership, they grabbed second spot just as they had in the Friendly Cup organised by UTM and the Under-15 Rugby Championship organised by TV3 and the Education Ministry. They also were semi-finalists in the National Premiership and so the team went on to represent the state of Perak in state level championships as well as the 10-school tournament organised by MRU, MILO and the Education Ministry.Headmasters
| Year | Name |
|---|---|
| 1899-1905 | C. Greene (Central School, Taiping) |
| 1905-1921 | R. F. Stainer (King Edward VII School) |
| 1913 | E. Foster Lee (Acting) |
| 1918 | J. A. Roberts (Acting) |
| 1921-1922 | J. M. Moade (Acting) |
| 1922-1927 | D. W. MC Leod |
| 1927-1928 | C. G. Coleman |
| 1928 - 1929 | J.Bain |
| 1929-1931 | D. R. Swaine |
| 1931-1939 | R. P. S. Walker |
| 1932-1933 | L. R. Wheeler (Acting) |
| 1934 | C. W. Bloomfield (Acting) |
| 1937 - 1938 | E. T. M. Lias |
| 1938 - 1939 | J. B. Neilson |
| 1939 - 1941 | F. C. Barraclough |
| 1941 | R. M. Young (Acting) |
| 1945 | E. A. Moissinac |
| 1946 | C. R. Tolliday |
| 1946 | F. J. A. Rawcliffe |
| 1946-1947 | F. G. Barraclough |
| 1947 - 1949 | J.D Joseph |
| 1949 | J. Young (Acting) |
| 1949 - 1950 | W. H. Wallace Little |
| 1950 | G. D. Muir (Acting) |
| 1950 - 1952 | D. H. Christie |
| 1952 - 1953 | N. Campbell |
| 1953 - 1956 | A. L. McCorkindale |
| 1956 | J. R. North (Acting) |
| 1957 | Yeoh Teng Khoo (Acting) |
| 1957 - 1958 | J. E. B. Ambrose |
| 1959 - 1960 | W. V. Hobson |
| 1960 | N. S. R. Bickers (Acting) |
| 1960 - 1962 | W. V. Hobson |
| 1962 - 1963 | J. A. McCumisky |
| 1961 | Bion Dury (Acting) |
| 1963 - 1985 | Long Heng Hua |
| 1982 | V. Ravinder Singh (Acting) |
| 1983 - 1986 | Ismail Sajad B Sajad |
| 1986 - 1991 | Abdul Moein Skymar B Abdul Wahab |
| 1991 - 1992 | Haji Azidin B Mahmud |
| 1992 - 1994 | Haji Samsudin b Abdul Hamid |
| 1994 - 1995 | Salleh B Mohammad Husein |
| 1995 - 2000 | Haji Ibrahim b Jusoh |
| 2000 - 2003 | Haji Serip Mohamad B Gulam Din |
| 2003 - 2004 | Mohd Arif B Ramli |
| 2004 - 2010 | Yahaya B Liman |
| 2010 - 2011 | Abdul Wahid b Nuruddin |
| 2011 - present | Tuan Hj Abdul Rahsib b Husain |
School Anthem
King Edward’s will live foreverAs long as the Taiping Hills stand
King Edward’s will shine forever
For the glory of this land
In this year of our victory
We are proud of the days of yore
King Edward VII School we hail thee
You’ll be greater than before
King Edward VII School we hail thee
You’ll be greater than before
The Tigers will roar loud and full
Magni Nominis Umbra
The motto of our great school
Magni Nominis Umbra
Edwardians old and young tigers
Let’s unite in a song of glee
King Edward VII School forever
In Malaysia of the free
King Edward VII School forever
In Malaysia of the free