Hall Personalities
The tradition of boarding school goes back to the early days when ACS was located at Coleman Street in 1886. The building was home to Rev William F. Oldham, his wife Marie, and other missionaries.
In 1992, ACS moved to Dover Road. The laying of the foundation stone for the new Boarding School at Dover Road was officiated by then Prime Minister Mr. Goh Chok Tong in 1994. It started operations in 1995 with 120 boarders. The ACS(I) Boarding School was officially opened on 1 March 1996.
Eight Halls of Residence were named after distinguished men who are remembered for their contributions to the ACS.
Rev T.R. Doraisamy at the Tamil Methodist Church
Hall 1: Theodore R. Doraisamy (1912-1992)
Bishop Doraisamy, born in India was educated at MGS, Serangoon English School (ACS branch) and ACS Telok Anson. He taught briefly at ACS (Seremban) before taking his father’s place in ACS (Singapore) as a teacher and chaplain for the next 25 years.
Under his brilliant leadership, the Literary Society, the School Magazine, debate and oratory flourished. The cricket team also made an impact. He set up the reference library in 1941 and wrote the Souvenir Programme for the opening of the Barker Road Campus in 1950.
In 1958, Bishop Doraisamy left ACS and subsequently became the Principal of the Teachers’ Training College.
Thio Chan Bee and Lee Kong Chian looking at the
ACS Cairnhill Donors Board, 1956
Hall 2: Lee Kong Chian (1893-1967)
Lee Kong Chian was well-known and respected not only for being
the “Rubber King,” but also for his philanthropic contributions
especially in education.
He made possible the building of our auditorium and an additional
classroom-cum administration block for ACS at Barker Road. He
continues to be one of the chief benefactors of the school through
the Lee Foundation.
Dr Tay Eng Soon at ACS Founder’s Day, 1986
Hall 3: Dr Tay Eng Soon (1940-1993)
While at ACS, Dr Tay Eng Soon was awarded both the Seow Poh
Leng and Tan Chin Tuan Medals. He was active in a number of
ECAs but his favourite was Scouting. Dr Tay also became a
Christian at ACS and was one of the group of students who
founded Barker Road Methodist Church.
Dr Tay was a university lecturer in Electrical Engineering and later
headed the Defence Science Organisation. In the last twelve
years of his life, he served as a Member of Parliament and
Minister of State. Dr Tay was active all his days in service to the
church and the nation often in partnership with his former ACS
classmates.
Thio Chan Bee with the Special III-B Class of 1924
Hall 4: Dr Thio Chan Bee (1904-1978)
The first Asian principal (1952) of ACS, Thio Chan Bee was also
an old Boy who had joined the teaching staff in 1921. He was a
legislative Councillor (1948 – 1955), the Member of Parliament
from Tanglin (1959 – 1963), the Education Secretary for Methodist
Mission Schools (1964 – 1970).
He believed in character building, helping others and promoting
racial harmony.
Tan Sri Dr Runme Shaw
Hall 5: Tan Sri Dr Runme Shaw (1902 - 1985)
Runme Shaw came to Singapore in 1924 and established himself
as a prominent businessman and philanthropist. He made a
considerable fortune from the production and distribution of movies.
Convinced that “education is more important than money”, he set
up the Shaw Foundation in 1957 with the expressed aim of
“fostering, developing and improving education of all kinds”. Since
its establishment, the foundation has distributed over US$150
million to education, welfare, medicine, arts and heritage.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoisington
Hall 6: H.M. Hoisington (1880-1933)
Henry Martyn Hoisington, a scholar of great versatility devoted
himself fully to the cause of educating the boys at his alma mater –
his sacrificial dedication was legendary.
Well-loved by colleagues and highly esteemed by former students,
his greatest gift must be the ACS anthem which continues to bind
thousands of ACSians through the generations.
Mr. Hinch with the Faculty of ACS Singapore, 1930
Hall 7: T.W. Hinch (1887-1970)
Hinch became Principal of ACS in 1929; his tenure was
interrupted by the Japanese Occupation, but when he retired in
1947, he was the longest-serving principal the school had seen till
then.
Hinch began several important traditions in the school. He started
the house system to encourage greater participation in sports. He
also encouraged the setting up of different clubs to enrich school
life. It was Hinch who gave the school its very inspiring motto,
“The Best Is Yet To Be”
Mr. and Mrs. Oldham
Hall 8: William Fitzjames Oldham (1854-1937)
William Fitzjames Oldham founded ACS on 1 March 1886 at 70
Amoy Street with 13 students and 3 teachers. English was taught
in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon, thus giving the
school its distinctive name.
Within a year, ACS developed so rapidly that it had to move to
new premises and a boarding school was subsequently
established. Oldham ended his tenure as first Principal of the
school in 1889.