Six years, and moving on.

Perhaps the time has come to seek after new thrills and experiences. Or else maybe the school, thirsting anxiously for the elusive gold, initiated the move.

It was never for the money, for the sum the school paid him pales in comparison to what others were prepared to offer.

Yet he stayed six years - experienced crisis and bittersweet success one after another. And I'm honoured to have the chance to be under his baton for the first four years, to have the foundation of musicianship laid into me. Exalted by his faith in me as the very first SC. Humbled by his passion and love for the band - the band which no one else wanted to take. Touched by his word of congratulations at The Republic Cultural Center's foyer nine months back.

Being part of the first batch he took personally from Sec 1, unsurprising there's a firm bond between us. A guiding hand in and out of the band room to some, a paragon of dedication to others.

There's a reason why my batch was fiercely passionate about this band - it is because we witnessed incidents which threatened the very existence of this organisation, and that the 06/07 batch of leaders were tasked with foundation-building, to start all over again - his way.

Having attained his goal, maybe he felt it was time to let the band run on its own. The current batches are already too young to ever know such a roller coaster ride existed. The pains we all went through. Yet there were fruits as well, during SYF, starting band camps, concert (approved finally..), annual BBQs, blogs, proper ceremonial handovers. And our juniors have done well to promote the band in school, restarting the tradition of drills that was abandoned by '05, increasing awareness of what we do.

Most importantly, looking back, we have really come a long way indeed. Even though NHband as I knew it is long gone (and the last batch to have ever seen me as a student will be leaving this year). After that I will really be a full-fledged alumni. Woah. The journeys we undertook, the successes will thereafter be etched only in our hearts and the history books. He took over a band disunited, which then disintegrated into near chaos and civil war before we and the batches following us rebuilt it.

Our batch had strong leaders which under his guidance pull all of us through. Kudos indeed to them.

Anyways, NHSB will be embarking on a new phase in its ever-changing history. Take care Mr Tan - we will miss you.. especially when Belle Notte rolls about in about 9 months time..

Farewell indeed.. to a legend, a fighter and mentor.

One last thing..
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