History

I was at UWCSEA in the 70s at a magical time - monsoon drain riding, midnight escapes to Kent Ridge, metalworking with Skilbeck, being cared for by Matron Subramaniam (she really was a worthy jewel) and Mr Lim of Lim House making me dry the grass with my towel for making noise at night.

The United World College Cricket Club was initiated in the mid 70s when teacher and Singapore Cricket Club player, John Goodban, set up some social and student cricket games on Saturday afternoons.

I enjoyed my time at UWCSEA. I remember saying to Mr Waddell when my time at UWCSEA was coming to an end that I didn't want to leave, and his reply was: "We have prepared you to go out into the world, and we would have failed if you don't want to leave." He was right. We had to leave to meet the challenges of the world and be ready to serve society.

Who knew I was sitting next to my future husband, Kris Gourlay, back in the 70’s when UWCSEA was still SIS!

Cik Kalimah's legacy lives on through her meticulous work in curating the UWCSEA archives as well as in the hearts and minds of former students.

I often say though that it feels like my life started at age 13 when I entered UWCSEA because it brought out the very gregarious side of me, the desire to participate. UWCSEA was like that.

Down at the Padang I met real life heroes. One of them was Ronny Potts, a gritty defender and another was John Burgess, the best rugby player at SCC and within 200 miles radius of Singapore. Besides that, I learned they were teachers at UWCSEA. I rapidly changed my mind about school. I was sure that there must be more to this strange place with odd rules and regulations.

Without a doubt, UWCSEA made a great impact on my profession. It began with Mrs Ivy Lee's Child Development lessons which led to my passion in Early Childhood Education.

Monsoon drain riding was a craze for a while. I know we didn't invent it but my friends and I were partly responsible for starting this craze.

In the late 70’s I was a part of the UWCSEA “Canoeing Club” that practiced in the air con pool & school pool, perfecting our "eskimo rolls".

Fond memories of that blue dress with the brown jumper, and being a part of a wonderful new world with people from all over the world. 

Trekking for 2 weeks in such a beautiful and remote part of the world, with classmates from all over the world and going to Manali, Delhi, and the Himalayas was an experience that stayed with me forever.

Candid photos of life at UWCSEA in the late 1970s and early 1980s from Anna's personal collection.

Beluntu will always have a special place in my heart. A vivid way for a teenager to experience nature with all the excitement it has to offer.

During COVID lockdown in the UK Gareth David took the time to recount his expedition to Lahaul, India with UWCSEA classmates in 1983. "Leaving was the hardest part of the expedition, saying goodbye to friends who I had gotten to know during the short time in India and also the two years previously at UWCSEA in Singapore."

Mengembara was a student publication dedicated to promoting the qualities of leadership, innovation and resourcefulness demonstrated by UWCSEA students and staff alike on their travels and expeditions.

A most memorable anecdote for me was when I participated in a Morris Dancing event at the Padang in Singapore with over 10,000 spectators.

My experience with Mr. May inspired me to seek a career as a medical doctor; he showed how one can make a difference in this world.

My time at UWCSEA helped to build the foundation of my ambition to be involved in sailing and water sports and maritime in some way, shape, or form. The experiences and the opportunities that I had through the College’s outward bound and sailing programmes really served to cement and foster my love, willingness and desire to keep improving and learning. The school offers such a broad reach in holistic education, beyond lip service or token attention to outdoor education aspects.

With the news of Prince Phillip's passing in April 2021, Tejaswini shared her encounter with HRH during his visit to UWCSEA Dover in 1989.

I think about UWCSEA often. I could tell a story or two about the teachers I had...

UWCSEA allowed me to explore my own footballing enthusiasm and supported my initiative to set up a new team. It was transformational for young women like me and my classmates who wanted to play football, but had nowhere to go.

The iconic Air-Con Fountain Pool was drained as it is no longer used to air condition the school.

I still have my library card and it will always have a spot in my wallet, to remind me of this amazing school, the amazing classmates and teachers and how being a student there was a game-changer. Thank you UWC.

The iconic Roy Bennett Theatre on Dover Campus was built in March 1997! Many assemblies, performances and productions have taken place there since.

Plenty has changed on campus but one of the few things which has stood the test of time is the humble game of handball.

I was a UWCSEA student again in my old uniform as my daughter Lana '34 guided me through her Student-led Conference early this 2021.

UWCSEA taught me to value diversity and cherish all cultures. It opened a window to a vast universe of thoughts and points of view that eventually led me to become a diplomat. But, most importantly, I learned the true meaning of friendship.

I thoroughly enjoyed every day of school at UWCSEA! The friendships I made were life-long and most importantly, my husband Samer Haque '03 is a fellow alum.

UWCSEA introduced its alumni magazine, OneºNorth, in December 2007. There are currently 18 issues. The Alumni team held a community-wide naming contest and the winning suggestion came from long-standing staff member and former PE teacher, Dave Shepherd.

UWCSEA is where I developed my foundations in art. Alongside learning technical skills, we were given the freedom to explore, experiment and were encouraged to let our minds wander.

"Your love for the literature you taught fueled my interest in strong female characters, which eventually led me to major in theatre in college. You were also the single most influential person in making my decision for university." says Sumire Doi '09 of Dr Linda de Flavis who joined the College in 1998 and left in the summer of 2021.

As a teacher of Literature in English myself, I constantly remind myself of how I felt as a student of Ms Kate Levy, one of the most inspiring English teachers I've ever had.

I never considered becoming a teacher during my time in UWCSEA, but I largely attribute my teaching persona and philosophy to my experience as a student from 2009 to 2011. One of my inspirations is Mr Stephen Lumb, who showed me that a little bit of hope goes a long way. 

The selection of offiical mascots for UWCSEA was a collaborative effort between the Dover and East Student Sports Councils, Communications and Campus Leadership. The Dover Phoenix and East Dragons were proudly launched during the Sports Awards Dinners at each respective campus in April 2012.

UWCSEA is a campus that has undergone a vast number of changes over the years. Saying goodbye to the Humanities block and now the English Block circa (1975-2013) left many feeling nostalgic.

UWCSEA (the place, and the people) taught me to dream bigger and seek the unexpected. There are countless times I had to take a leap of faith. Performing on UN Night is one of them.

The hustle and bustle of backstage drama, the last minute redirection of scenes, or the awkward costumes changes in the wings - we formed relationships with one another that transcended our everyday experiences.

My favourite memory would probably be the process of teaching and presenting to junior school classrooms about climate change and our group Solar For East.

UWCSEA is presented with a ‘Top 10’ lifetime partner award from local service association, MINDS, in May 2012. Teacher Cathy Elliott accepted this award from then Singapore President Tony Tan.

The Ladakh expedition was an absolute dream. I am sure that everybody made memories during the Grade 9-10 trips, but for me, the friends and memories I made in Ladakh will stay with me for a long time.

The stunning Central Javanese Gamelan set in the ABT foyer on Dover Campus inspired Rohan to pursue ethnomusicology. “When I was in middle school I used to play in a beginner ensemble run by one of the music staff (Helen Rhodes). By the time I got to my final year of school, that was the topic of my Extended Essay and I took the initiative to form a high school ensemble that played some more advanced repertoire on the gamelan.”

The Small Hall was a heritage site that linked generations of alumni and their families to memories of Primary and Middle School UN Night performances, theatre productions, concerts, assemblies, forums, Theatre Sports, Rock Shows and staff meetings over much of the college’s fifty years.