Talk to any former students of St Nicholas Convent, Alor Setar, and the conversation will inevitably turn to Ms Sibert, our former headmistress, who not only put the fear in our hearts but also made sure that our uniforms were starched and creaseless, the hems were well below the knees, our hair neatly combed and tied back, and no chatting during assembly. Today, I woke up to the news that Ms Millicent Sibert has passed away in Penang.
She was in her eighties. Thank you QOTH for leaving me a message this morning. This was confirmed by a journalist friend in Penang. The sad news is now seeping through the ex SNC network, thanks to sms and YM’s.
Pix of Ms Sibert at a recent reunion with QOTH's batch
Most of us have our own memories of Ms Sibert. I remember her arriving in the trishaw in the mornings and we’d scramble back into straight lines in the canteen waiting for the assembly to begin.
No running along the corridors, no speaking in any other languages but English. A strict disciplinarian she was and today, we are grateful for all the rules and regulations and disciplines that have shaped us into what we are today.
Rest in peace Ms Sibert from all your former students at SNC.
To the family and friends she left behind, our heartfelt condolence.
These are some of your former primary school students at a reunion in Alor Setar some years ago.This article "A Loving Mother to 6,000 girls" was written by T Thant in the NST on 22.5.2000
Other tributes to Ms Sibert:
MarinaM
Queen of The House
Zlaa
Naz
Sue
