The LEADER of The BAND ! ...ttc Reunion.

In those early pioneering years of the YLTC and our response to the call for a more " RUGGED SOCIETY "by the government of the day, many of Dr Lau Teng Chuan's old faithfuls were in the forefront of all manner of adventurous outdoor pursuits and activities. Those were the days BEFORE even the old ECAC ( today CCAB) even had an outdoor education section formed. The old faithfuls and those spurred on by the training they had in the YLTC began to translate the vision of a "Rugged Society" first to the schools they were teaching in and later elsewhere.

And who planted those early seeds of outdoor education and leadership training?

As Dr Lau said here when he was invited to give his opening address...

" We have planted the first seeds ( referring to the early days of TTC YLTC ) and it is for you the present generation to carry on the good work.."
Dr Lau was instrumental in leading and crafting the PE curriculum for schools which included a strong dose of YLTC type activiteis.

Truly and rightly, he has often been called the "Grandfather of S'pore PE".

Today, I dedicate this special post to this special "Leader of the Pack ". All of us from those early TTC days, as the song says.....

" We are your LIVING LEGACIES !"

Hope you like this song...one of my favourites.

LEADER OF THE BAND(Dan Fogelberg)


An only child alone and wild, a cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant for different work And his heart was known to none
He left his home and went his lone and solitary way
And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay

A quiet man of music denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once, but his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love through discipline, a thundering velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band

My brother's lives were different for they heard another call
One went to Chicago and the other to St Paul
And I'm in Colorado when I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose and come to know so well

I thank you for the music and your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough
And papa, I don't think I said I love you near enough
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
I am a living legacy to the leader of the band