06-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- Free Malaysia Today
She may be 95, but Pony's still got a spring in her step
Una Tan-Kinlock was nicknamed Pony by her husband Richard Dick Kinlock. (Adrian David pic)
PETALING JAYA : At 95, Una Tan-Kinlock can put many who are half her age to shame with her vitality and vigour.
A firm believer that health is wealth, Una – who goes by the nickname Pony – is also an avid golfer, line-dancer, swimmer, fitness guru and bridge player.
She said she is likely the oldest living member of the Royal Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur.
'I've probably not only outlived many of my friends but enemies, as well,' she quipped.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has gifted the retired English teacher with a strong mental, physical and spiritual outlook.
She said much of her good health had to do with her upbringing at home and at school at Convent Seremban, where she was educated, and later returned to teach until her retirement.
'While my father Tan Chin Beng was a strict disciplinarian, the teaching nuns – one of whom named me Una – were equal drill-masters as they groomed me to a successful life,' she said.
(L-R) Goh Lay Poh, Teo Bee Heong, Wong Siew Hoon and Una Tan-Kinlock at the 'Malayan Teachers' Training College (MTTC) Kirkby 2025' reunion recently. (Adrian David pic)
As a student, she was active in sports, representing Negeri Sembilan in a number of events.
'I continued an active lifestyle after retirement, and have kept myself occupied till today. My only complaint is my friends preferring to play only nine holes at the Seremban International Golf Club,' said Una, who at one time held a 16-handicap for international competitions.
She has even played at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, Scotland.
In 1953, Una was selected to train at the Malayan Teachers' Training College (MTTC) Kirkby in Liverpool, England.
'Life in England for two years was enriching. It exposed me to a lot of wonderful things and broadened my outlook, which I cherish till today.
(L-R) Chong Hong Chong, Balwant Singh and Nordin Ahmad catch up with each other at the reunion. (Adrian David pic)
'We were trained by respectful lecturers, interacted with a multicultural community, were hosted by English families on weekends at their homes and had various outdoor activities,' said Una, at a 'Kirby' reunion at the Armada Hotel in Petaling Jaya.
She added that her family were originally from Burmah Road, Penang but attended Seremban Covent when her father was posted there.
She later married Scottish planter Richard Dick Kinlock who died 50 years ago. The couple have a son Richard and daughter Caroline living in Britain.
'My husband was once a prisoner of war at 18, during the Japanese Occupation of Malaya,' she said, adding that he stayed back with his family and worked here after the war ended.
'It was Richard who nicknamed me Pony during a badminton game, as I was fond of tying my hair into a pony-tail, especially during sports. And that name stuck among the convent nuns, teachers and students,' said Una.
Peggy Fong (left) and Emily Yap at the reunion. (Adrian David pic)
Meanwhile, reunion organising committee member Chong Hong Chong, 87, from the 1957 batch, said: 'It is a real joy to get as many Kirkby alumni out of their homes and to meet their fellow multi-racial collegemates.
Chong, who after retirement joined Selangor Pewter as a production manager, added: 'Apart from the annual reunion, we do meet up impromptu in smaller numbers to forge camaraderie, when the situation permits.'
Kirkby first opened its doors on Nov 17, 1952 to 149 teacher trainees from Malaya to overcome the acute shortage of teachers for English-medium primary and secondary schools.
'It became known as 'Kampung Kirkby' in tribute to the 'home away from home' feeling it created over the years.
'While the pioneer batch travelled to England from Port Swettenham (Port Klang) onboard the cruise-ship SS Chusan for their 21-day journey, subsequent batches until 1962 travelled by flight,' recalled Chong.
The former British-trained teachers at the 'Malayan Teachers' Training College (MTTC) Kirkby 2025' reunion recently. (Adrian David pic)
Veteran journalist K Nadarajah, 83, from the 1958 batch taught for six years before working for The New Straits Times, The Star, Hong Kong Standard and Far Eastern Economic Review.
Cheong Loo Kong, 83, from the 1960 batch, taught for five years and then became a trainer with the Matsushita electronics factory in Shah Alam and later with the National Productivity Centre.
VL Kandan, of the 1955 batch, recalled how then chief minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had on Feb 7, 1956 made the first-ever public announcement at Kirkby Hall that Malaya was to achieve independence.
Kandan later served as the Malaysian Intellectual Property Association's founder president and became a senior legal partner with Shearn Delamore.
