Ground-breaking for Sports Complex at ACS (International)

ON MARCH 2, 2009, representatives of the ACS Board of Governors, The Methodist Church in Singapore and the Methodist Schools’ Foundation joined members of the Board of Management, staff, students and parents of ACS (International) for the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Sport Complex.

The Guest-of-Honour was Mr Peter Lim, who has had two children at the school and who has given a significant donation to the building fund. The new Sports Hall will be named after his father, Lim Seng Guan.

Also present were the architect, Mr Theodore Chan (of CIAP), and Mr Frankie Cheah and Mr Lee Puay Seng (of Lim Keenly Pte Ltd, the contractors).

The new complex will include a sports hall, a gymnasium, a PE Department, changing rooms, a medical centre, classrooms and resources rooms and offices for the Preaching Point at ACS (International).

After a welcome address by the Principal, the Rev Dr John Barrett, and a speech by the Chairman of the Board of Management, Mr Tan Wah Thong, representatives of the various stakeholders dug the ground. They were Bishop Dr Robert Solomon (representing The Methodist Church in Singapore); Mr Richard Seow; (Chairman of the ACS Board of Governors); Mr Tan (Chairman, ACS (International) Board of Management); Mr Peter Lim; the Rev Dr Barrett; Miss Alison Lim, (Joint Senior Prefect); the Rev David Wee (Pastor, ACS (International) Preaching Point); and Mrs Severin Goh (Joint Chairman, PSP – the Parent-Support-Partners).

In his speech, Mr Tan said the Government had just granted a 30-year lease for the school site.

He said: “We recognise the facilities of ACS (International) are not up to par. By building an air-conditioned indoor sports hall that can hold about 1,000 students and together with the auxiliary facilities, we will improve and broaden the scope of meeting the school’s sports and physical education needs.”

He thanked the many generous people and organisations that have made the project possible. They included Mr Peter Lim, the estate of an ACS Old Boy, the late Mr Foo Hee Lim, Barker Road Methodist Church, parents of students and many well-wishers.

He also thanked Bishop Dr Solomon and The Methodist Church in Singapore for their “unstinting support” to the school. 

Bishop Dr Solomon then prayed and gave the Blessing.

Digging the ground at the ground-breaking ceremony, from left, Miss Alison Lim, Mrs Severin Goh, Mr Richard Seow, Mr Peter Lim, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, Mr Tan Wah Thong, the Rev Dr John Barrett, the Rev David Wee and Miss Sharon Lim, prefect. – ACS (International) picture.