"A Better Man": Yee Teck Peng, 90
Yee Teck Peng
21 November 1932 - 5 January 2023
At the St Andrew’s Alumni Annual Dinner in 2015, Mr Yee Teck Peng, the dinner’s Guest-of-Honour, gave a speech extolling the virtues of a morning assembly at St Andrew’s School.
"Now, what have we learned from the morning assembly? What have we learned? What has St Andrew’s School taught us, directly or indirectly?
St Andrew’s School has instilled in us, directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, to be a better man. That is the education we received from St Andrew’s School.
To be a better man, Praise the Lord for St Andrew’s."
In 1946, after the Second World War, he joined the school. The St Andrew’s Boarding House gave him a home until 1952. Since then, he had stayed loyal to the school and all of its endeavours. In 1955, Mr Yee returned as a teacher, master of the Boarding House and the rugby coach, until his retirement in 1973.
Retired he did, as a coach and a teacher. But retired from the school, he did not.
His love for the school saw him returning at different periods of time as rugby master (1955 to 1990) and relief teacher.
He attends key school events, such as the Crossover on the first day of school, Founders’ Day, Perfects’ Commendation, school performances, as well as almost every rugby match.
He was that familiar and assured presence at every inter-school, club and national team rugby games he attended.
Source: New Nation, 11 July 1980
Yee Teck Peng appointed as caretaker national rugby coach in July 1980
“First, let me say there’s really no mystery about coaching a rugby team. Basically, it is teaching the boys to do the simple things and getting them to do it well. And where flair exists, a lot of room must be given for the boys to express themselves on the playing field.
If I have anything close to a coaching philosophy it is this: Even if a player is good but does not turn up for training or cannot be disciplined, he should be dropped from the side.
We have to keep our perspectives right – winning is not everything.”
As he puts it in an interview in 2015, “Get involved in anything that is organised by the school, Get involved.
Mr Yee Teck Peng was also the “Town Crier” of the school, continually updating the larger alumni community of the school’s developments and its many achievements.
With every step he takes, Yee embodies the school’s motto, “Once a Saint, Always a Saint”. In fact, with every breath he takes, the chorus of the school song flows excitedly in his blue and white blood.
Up Boys! Truest fame
Lies in high endeavour;
Play the game! Keep the flame
Burning brightly ever!
Without a doubt, Yee Teck Peng was the quintessential soul of the St Andrew’s spirit. He personifies all that St Andrew’s School stood for: its values, vision and mission to society-at-large.
Over the years, whilst his physical self weakens considerably, there was no wavering in the pride that he has for the school and the alumni community.
“I go crazy singing the school song. I think it’s one of the best songs amongst schools, I think. It’s a song that after I leave school, when I sing it, sometimes I can cry, you know. It’s a great song, and the lyrics are very good”, he once said passionately.
Yee was, indeed, a Saint, who lives St Andrew’s. Such love, such pride and such joy he has.
His true legacy probably lies in the fact that he was a sower, who planted the seeds for generations of better men to arise from the hallowed grounds of St Andrew’s School.
He was the Better Man. But he was also more than a Better Man.
On 5 January 2023, he crossed over to the other side, where he will be looking down fondly and proudly over the school whilst praying for all of its future endeavours fervently.
Up and On, Mr Yee. We will miss you!
Top image: St Andrew's Alumni Community Facebook page
