A Historical Perspective

Rev Bro Emmanuel initiated the process of forming the Boys’ Town Alumni (BTA), formerly known as Boys Town Old Boys Association (BTOBA), in 1959.

In 1960, with some teachers, former and outgoing students of Boys’ Town English School (now known as Assumption English School) and St Joseph’s Trade School (now known as Assumption Pathway School), the alumni was established, with Mr Wilfred James as its pro-tem president.

1961 First AGM For The Alumni	Boys’ Town Old Boys Association Dinner In 1961

The BTA embarked on a series of high profile fund raising projects for the BTA Scholarship Fund. Most notable amongst these projects was the Talentime for Schools, which had a remarkably successful run from 1963 to 1975. Hundreds of students turned up to support their favourites through the auditions, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Grand Finals. The success of the project was also due to the generous sponsorship from Nestle (1963 to 1972) and Titles Dental & Photo Supply (1973 to 1975).

Picnic In 1962	The First Talentime In Singapore, Which Evolved Into The National Talentime Show

Along with the Talentime for Schools, the BTA also successfully staged the popular "Peep Pop Shows" and "Variety Shows" at the National Theatre. These were tremendously supported by the public at large and contributed in no small measure, to the promotion and growth of local musical talent in the Sixties and Seventies.

This Is Really Cool	Orgainsed By The Boys’ Town Alumni

In the late Seventies, with the emergence of the drug culture and its association with long hair and pop music, the Talentime project was discontinued. However, this did not deter the BTA from channelling its energy into other avenues such as Charity Film Premiers, Walkathons and until recently Charity Bowling Tournaments, to raise funds.

Barbeque Session In 1971	Event In 1976 For The Scholarship Fund

In 1980, BTOBA changed its name to Boys’ Town Alumni (BTA) to reflect the change of accepting female students into Assumption English School at secondary level. With this change in name, BTA was able to invite females as members into the alumni, including its Executive Committee.

Scholarship Awards Being Presented By Joseph Leong In BTA Dinner 1982	Part Of The Silver Jubliee Celebrations Of Boys Town

In 2007, together with Boys’ Town Home, Assumption English School and Assumption Vocational Institute, a karaoke contest was staged during the Founders’ Day Dinner and a total of $ 4,732 was raised for the Scholarship Fund. Members, staff and well-wishers rose to the occasion and came forward to support the project by casting their votes to their favourites with ping pong balls purchased for the purpose. 2 members also donated $2,000 each towards the Fund which is used to support needy pupils through their education.

The BTA started to realize its charitable objectives since 1964, when it started offering scholarships to poor and deserving pupils as well as other scholastic projects of Boys’ Town. To date, about $200,000 has been expended from the Scholarship Fund.

In recognition of its contributions to Boys’ Town, the Brothers of St Gabriel here in Singapore, in 1984, appointed the President of the Alumni to be a member of the Board of Management of the Schools of the Brothers of St Gabriel. With the formation of separate Boards for the respective schools, we were also invited to sit on the Management Committees of both Assumption English School and Assumption Vocational Institute. A member of the Alumni also sits on the Board of Boys’ Town Home.

The BTA does not exist for itself. It also caters to the recreational and social needs as well as sporting pursuits which are organised for the benefit of its members and their families. These include fishing expeditions, tours to West Malaysia, outings at holiday camps, playing Father Christmas to underprivileged children and celebrating feast days or farewells with the Brothers. In addition, the BTA annually awards book prizes to members’ children who have shown outstanding results in the school examinations. It is also worthy to note that the BTA did also assist its own members who wish to further their studies either at the local or overseas’ Institutes of Higher Learning by offering them financial help in the form of loans.

2010 and beyond will see many changes will taking place in the BTA – in the range of activities, our approach in building up friendship and business networks, how we engage members, how we create value for members and our approach in assisting needy students and scholastic programs in the various components under Boys Town.