A depiction of the history of our school, Raffles Institution, via an analysis of the lyrics of the institution anthem.

1. A History of Raffles
Institution
With the Institution Anthem

2. When Stamford Raffles held the torch,
That cast Promethean Flame…
On the 5th of June 1823, a visionary named Sir Stamford
Raffles, who had recently colonized the island of Singapore
for the British Crown, laid the foundation stone for what was
known back then as the Singapore Free Institution. The first
school in Singapore and the second English-medium
institution set up in British South East Asia (After the Penang
Free School, founded 1817), the Singapore Free Institution
was well-received by sons of village chiefs and the employees
of the East India Company, as much as it proved to be
instrumental in the economic boom for both the East India
Company and the Crown by raising students to work for the
various companies.
Above: The Jackson Plan of Singapore Town.
The area labelled ‘Open Square’ was the designated
site
For the building of the Institution.
Below: Illustration of the building of the Singapore
Institution.

3. We faced the challenge of the day, to
give our school a name…
The Singapore Free Institution, although founded in 1823,
was unable to function until 1837, staying dormant for 14
years due to opposition from John Crawfurd and a cut in
funding by the British administration, which did not agree
with Raffles’ views on education. Hence, the Institution’s
actual functioning was halted for over a decade. This caused
tension between Raffles and Crawfurd, straining the
relationship between Raffles and his close friend, Munshi
Abdullah, who also knew Crawfurd. The Institution had
already met with a bad start and many relations were strained
due to its formation. However, the Institution soon rose from
the ashes to start a 190-year legacy that would be the Raffles
Institution.
Above: John Crawfurd (Left), and Munshi
Abdullah (Right)
Below: The earliest known picture of Raffles
Institution

4. The eagle eye and gryphon strength, they
led us to the fore…
After its prolonged functioning, the Institution, which
changed its name to Raffles Institution in the 1860s to honour
its founder, started to spread the name of Raffles Institution
via its students’ achievements and its headmasters’ guidance,
the prime example being Headmaster Bayley, who, through
his intuitive guidance, managed to bring RI back on the right
track. Soon enough, Raffles Institution started producing the
top Queen’s Scholars in the colonies of Britain. This made
Raffles’ name known throughout the world. Eventually, the
school managed to exceed its own expectations of itself for
the future. It was the first time in the history of the world that
‘Raffles’ became a household name in Singapore, Malaya and
even as far as Britain.
Above: The first batch of Singaporean Queen’s Scholars from Raffles
Institution (Left)
Richmond Wlliam Hullett, longest-serving principal of RI (Right)

5. To reign supreme in ev'ry sphere, the
sons of Singapore…
When thinking of the school’s co-curricular activities, a lot
can be said. In the 1870s, the very first co-curricular activity,
the RI Cricket Club was formed, following a huge demand for
proficient players to bat and bowl for England which, at that
time, was very popular. Eventually, the Raffles Debate Club
was formed, and was the first debating club in Singapore
when it opened to few members. Soon enough, many CCAs
started to appear, all focused on building students’ interests
and allowing them to find what they were good at. Today, RI
offers a plethora of CCAs to choose from, each CCA
representing different ideologies so as to mould each and
every student uniquely to become leaders in their own right,
and to be the sons of Singapore.
Above: RINCC Cadets initiating a march-past in front of a guest-of-
honour.
Below: RI Rugby Competitors performing the ‘Haka’ during the
annual Kiwi Cup.

6. Come heed the call Rafflesians all, and
let our hearts be stirring…
School spirit was something that always knitted the Rafflesian
community together in harmony, regardless of differences.
Indian or Chinese, rich or poor, anybody who displayed
exemplary intellect was admitted into the school. Minister
Mentor Lee Kuan Yew recalls how RI was a melting pot of
culture and tradition when he studied there. Rafflesians stayed
with one another through thick and thin, and this was
especially paramount in their survival as a school. RI’s very
existence was threatened by the lack of staff after World War
I. Still, as one Raffles, they pulled through. Then came WWII
when Singapore came under direct attack from the Japanese
and Raffles Institution was renamed ‘Beach Road Boys’
School’. Still, Rafflesians stood together as one and overcame
their challenges.
Above: The two post-war campuses of RI, namely SJI and
Monk’s Hill.
Below: RI is a melting pot of several cultures.

7. We'll do our best whate’er the test, and
keep our colours flying…
RI is considered to be the pinnacle of academic standard in
Singapore. It takes in the best, and nurtures them to be even
better. Although RI’s methods and syllabus have been widely
criticized (One major criticism was not having soccer as a
CCA because it was considered to be too ‘rowdy’), many
people praise it for its approach towards education, and its
stance on education. Not only have Old Boys of RI grown up
to be leaders in their fields of specialty, the teachers and even
headmasters have achieved great things in life. Mrs Lim Lai
Cheng, RI’s first female principal, was awarded by the French
government for her contributions to education. RI also boasts
a wide network of alliances, being the founding member of
the GALES initiative, a member of the Winchester Network
and the G20 Top Schools Alliance. It has received several
accolades on its path to ultimate glory.
Above: Raffles Institution plays host to the TiltShift Conference of top schools (Left).
The Raffles Institution A-Division Softball team (Right).
Below: The President’s Scholars of 2013, of which two, namely Stephanie Siow and I-
Naishad Kai Ren, were Rafflesians.

8. Let comradeship and fervent hope, with
one voice make us pray…
The Rafflesian Spirit is the spirit that is imbued unto each and
every Rafflesian. It is the spirit that binds us as one, that binds
us not only in ideologies, but in heart, mind and spirit. It is
the spirit that Raffles envisaged the school would embody,
and follow on till the end. It is the spirit that serves the school
as a guiding torch, grasped by the claws of the Gryphon as he
leads us to the fore. It is the spirit envisaged by the eagle as it
soared over the skies of the British Colony of Singapore, and,
lastly, the Rafflesian Spirit is Raffles’ dream that the
Institution would serve Singapore, Asia, and the world as a
beacon of hope for Singapore. The hope that binds us together
is the Rafflesian Spirit, and the spirit that connects us as one
Raffles is that of hope, of auspice, and of betterment.
Although RI is secular, we pray to a single entity: Hope. That
is what brings us together in the hopes of making Singapore
and the world better.
The Five
Houses:
Bayley
Buckley
Hullett
Moor
Morrison

9. Auspicium Melioris Aevi.
With God to guide the way.
Raffles died on the 5th of July, 1826, leaving behind
an institution of great glory.
“Would that I could infuse into the Institution a portion of
that spirit and soul by which I would have it animated, as
easily as I endow it with lands.”
When he laid the foundation stone, Raffles had wanted the
Institution to serve as a beacon of hope for the newly-borne
colony of Singapore, and had wanted it to educate generations
of sons to become Thinkers, Leaders, and Pioneers. Although
Raffles did not live to see the institution bloom, his dreams
had come true. The Raffles Institution had indeed become the
Hope of A Better Age. Raffles Institution will definitely serve
as a cradle of Thinkers, Leaders and Pioneers, of Dreamers,
of Humanitarians and of the Sons of Singapore. The gryphon
will definitely rise up to the challenge of the day, to give our
school a name.
We’ve come a long way.
Above: The famous Chantrey Bust of
Raffles.
Below: RI through the ages.

10. The End