SINGAPORE – It is not every day that you see a group of men in their 60s dressed in their primary school uniforms.

Among the 42 men donning white blouses adorned with metallic buttons and khaki green shorts on Queen Street - the former location of their alma mater Catholic High School (Primary) - on Feb 8 was Mr David Kong.

The 67-year-old was the mastermind behind the idea of dressing up for this reunion, to mark 60 years since his batch first entered Catholic High School as Primary 1 pupils.

His theme for the gathering was “renew and regain one’s youth”, which was how the decision to wear the school uniforms came about.

Mr Kong, a furniture material trading business owner, said procuring the uniforms was not easy. Placing an order for custom-made blouses in adult sizes from a local school uniform maker took more than two weeks, and he had to get help from the school’s current vice-principal before the retailer accepted his order.

To save costs, Mr Kong had sourced for cheaper alternatives for the shorts from China, which cost around $5 per pair. He ordered the school badges directly from the school.

Business owner Eric Hooy, also 67, was part of the enthusiastic group donning their primary school uniforms and cheering loudly.

Describing this year’s reunion as “fun” since everyone followed the mandatory dress code, Mr Hooy said it was a “very cute” and “funny idea” to wear their primary school uniforms since it would be “very special”.

The former primary school building of Catholic High School is currently closed for redevelopment, as an arts house under Singapore Art Museum known as SAM@8Q.

But Mr Kong reached out to Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, who is overseeing the redevelopment works, to ask for permission to have a group photo taken at the site.

His request was initially rejected, but he appealed and finally received the go-ahead just one day before the reunion.

At the gathering, the men chatted over food and drinks at a comedy club located next to the former school site, in addition to singing the school song together and taking a group photo.