NINE outstanding Boys’ Brigade (BB) Primers have been conferred The President’s Award this year. For the fourth year running, this Award was presented by President S. R. Nathan to the top percentile of the BB Boys in the Primers Programme. The award presentation ceremony was held at the Istana on July 17, 2008.
The recipients had undergone intensive leadership training and were given ample opportunities to lead, coach and mentor junior Boys in the BB companies. On the average, they had served at least six years in the BB, completing the demanding requirements in leadership and service in the community.
To attain this award, they had to undergo two rigorous rounds of selection process. Their achievements and contributions to the BB and the community were assessed, as well as the extent to which they had served as a role model or inspiration to the BB Boys and Officers.
One of the recipients, Adriel Leong Zhijie, had served on the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) Prefectorial Board as Head Prefect and subsequently on the Students’ Council as Head of Welfare. He was also the Chairman of his school’s Primers External Relations Committee and wa involved in the BB Sharity Gift Box project.
In 2006, he represented Singapore at the Global Youth Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York. He had served as a small group leader in his youth group as well as in his church youth choir.
Another recipient, Wesley Chan Jin Yi, was the Chairman of his school’s Primers Steering Committee and had served on the School Prefectorial Board. He was the Concert Master of his school’s chamber orchestra and is the worship coordinator in church. He was also awarded the Sword of Honour in school.
Benedict Chen Rong was Vice-Chairman of the Steering Committee responsible for devising and executing creative weekly BB programmes for six standards in his BB company. Having a passion for community work, he volunteers at the Bethany Methodist Nursing Home on a monthly basis and is a keyboardist in his church worship team.
John Kao Yue Han had served as the Vice-Chairman of his company’s Sharity Gift Box Committee. He also led the School Prefectorial Board as Prefect Councillor.
The other five President’s Award recipients are Joel Lau Wen Liang, Kenneth Lim Chi Shen, Timothy Lim Min De, Mervin Wee Jiayi and Yong Yong Qian.
OBITUARY: LIAU NYUK SIONG (Nov 26, 1930 – July 4, 2008)
The passing of a good captain
MR LIAU NYUK SIONG, Chairman of the Finance and Administration Council of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) from 1976 to 1992, passed away on July 4 after a battle with cancer.
He had lived a full and active life in the Methodist Church and the Boys’ Brigade (BB), and was a member of the Gideons Organisation, apart from his business interests, first at the Port of Singapore Authority, then at CWT (Container Warehousing and Transportation Pte Ltd).
An Old Boy of Anglo-Chinese School, he grew up in the Straits Chinese Methodist Church where he joined the 2nd Singapore Company of The Boys’ Brigade, an organisation which became his life-long passion.
He was appointed Captain (1957-1964), a position in which he cared for his boys and set a high standard of discipline, in return for which he was endeared and respected by them. He was elected President of the BB in Singapore (1965-1969) and continued as one of its Honorary Vice-Presidents until his death.
A member of Wesley Methodist Church, he served for many years in the Local Church Executive Committee and its various committees, and was a valuable member of the Committee of the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home. His service in the wider Methodist Church in Singapore can be traced to the 1970s, a challenging period of transition for the MCS.