Boys Brigade started in my former school in the early 1980s, followed by Girls Brigade when my then principal saw how the naughty boys were brought to maturity by the caring Boys Brigade sirs and mems. He reckoned that if the naughty boys could be transformed, so could the naughty girls.... I guess.

For a few years I asked to be in Girls Brigade as teacher-in-charge but to no avail. Then in 1990s, I cannot remember exactly when, when the school could not get a replacement for a teacher in charge who was leaving school, I was roped in.

There began my encounters with GB heroines - unsung for their quiet works among the naughty girls.

Now that, I am out of the company, I will write what I have promised myself I will if I were ever out of the company, of the great GB heroines who have touched and inspired me the last years of my career as a full-time teacher.

Ms Rita Kwek was a quiet and unassuming lady who came every Saturday. She was a very conscientious no-nonsense mem whom the girls greatly respected. As a captain, she took great notice of everything - from the birthday of every girl, to the birthday of even the teacher in charge. Everything was spick and span. It was a great loss to see her go - this lithe but strong mem who turned up weekly even when her mother was fighting the last days of cancer.

Mrs Magdalene Wee is one of those 'never grow old' ladies that I know - wise in looks and young at heart. She gave great Art lessons, each art piece being symbolic of a biblical truth. I can never match up to her artistic and biblical knowledge which she intertwined with ease and wisdom.

Mengru mem, so frail looking (used to be, at least now a little more meat) - have you ever been so angry but still reprimand with a cheerful voice? I have not totally mastered - not even twenty percent I guess - of her powers to do so but I shall persevere till the day I see Jesus. She took up captainship after Ms Kwek had to move on in life. She inspired me so much that I decided to delay my own moving on until our company saw Gold. It was great working with her.

My greatest heroine - with whom I spent my last happy Saturdays in my former school - Grace Yao.

The first time she met me in GB, she said, 'Do you remember me? You used to teach me computer.' As I packed up my twenty-three years of items during the last five months of 2007 after my retirement, I came across a photograph of the Computer Club I initiated in the school. There were twenty

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