THE three-storey building on Jermyn Street, Liverpool, once the place where Malay seafarers got together after their long voyages at sea to exchange stories and experiences, and later regale awestruck young students with their tales, is now slowly stirring back into life after being left in a state of derelict for more than 10 years.
The four walls that had been witness to lots of jaw-dropping stories from the high seas as sailors like Md Nor Hamid, who sailed on British Merchant Navy ships met up with his friends, had been in a sorry state of disrepair. There are worrying evidence of leaks and damps, rotting beams and crumbling floors.
Making the place habitable again is something of a challenge, considering the cost and manpower that is sadly lacking.
But for Md Nor and Jantan Lisut, another old member of the once meeting place for members of the Malaysia and Singapore Community Association, it is now their mission to restore the place back to its former glory.
There are many possibilities as to what a newly-renovated clubhouse could offer even though the number of Malay seafarers are dwindling.
There is still a steady stream of Malaysian students pursuing their studies in several universities in Liverpool and surrounding areas. There are also diehard Malaysian Liverpool FC supporters as well as fans of the Fab Four, who are the Beatles, who pay homage to the birthplace of their idols.
The clubhouse with newly-restored facilities could offer accommodation to visiting parents of students and tourists to the seaside port with its many attractions.
Jantan, also a former sailor who sailed with the Malaysian navy as well as the haj vessels ferrying pilgrims from Malaysia to Jeddah, has put in his own time and money for now.
“There will be a surau and there are enough rooms for families visiting their children who are studying here. They will find halal butchers, a mosque nearby and also public transport just up the street,” said Jantan in earnest when met recently at a thanksgiving gathering at a student’s house in Liverpool.
Normally, a gathering such as this — a thanksgiving feast-cum-late Hari Raya celebration — would have been held at the clubhouse.
“There is no need to pay for expensive accommodation elsewhere,” added Jantan.
At the time of writing, the floorboards are being replaced first and Jantan spends his spare time there, helped by several students.
Malaysian students have always been a huge part of the association. It was a place they went for Hari Raya celebrations, for when they missed the company of the elders for some chats and advice and had their spirits lifted with stories from the high seas. It is not unlike a Malaysia Hall.
It was one Ramadan in the early 90s that I first visited No. 7 Jermyn Street. It was undergoing some repairs but according to Pak Cik Arshad Hassan, an old sailor from Johor, a room was being done up for me for the duration of my stay.
Although suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, he kept me company for two nights. Pak Cik Bakar, who was in police custody, was also allowed a few hours out and he kindly baked me a cake. Pak Cik Kahar, a Singaporean, cooked dinner.
The next day, we had a breaking of fast with students; I remember some young students sitting around a table listening in awe as Md Nor told them the incident when he was swept out of his ship by a big wave and later was swept back in by another wave.
I remember too these students. While keeping the old sailors who had become like their uncles company, they also helped out at the clubhouse doing bits and bobs to maintain the place.
They too helped fill in the gaps for the old sailors who missed their loved ones back home.
“I would like to appeal to these former students, to people who had come and were with us during those days, those people who found solace and made it their meeting place here, help us in whatever way you can,” appealed Md Nor.
A grant of £25,000 (RM130,400) had been given by the council to restore the front as well as the back portion of the house. It is understood that Umno Luar Negara had also donated around £4,000.
“But we need more money, maybe around £30,000, as the interior is really not fit for anyone to live in,” said Jantan.
Although there is electricity supply, there is no gas and water.
The clubhouse was acquired in the early 60s.
“In those days, there was no meeting place for sailors, except for cafes and bars. We really needed a place for the community, for sailors who came back after a stint at sea.
“At first, we rented a shophouse from an Arab. But it was not suitable. Then, several old seamen pooled together some money and bought this place for £1,700. Haji Bahazim, who lived next door, helped to look after it,” recalled Md Nor.
He then registered it as a community centre, which allowed them to receive grants from the council.
“I told the council, we help to look after old sailors here. They came here to eat and rest,” added Md Nor.
However, there were also stories of arrears in payments, of disrepair which put the clubhouse at risk of being repossessed.
No: 7 Jermyn Street was recently featured in a documentary on the making of the movie Pulang, about the search by a son for his seafarer father in Liverpool. Indeed, the meeting of father and the son that he left when he was 5 years old, was at the very clubhouse.
The clubhouse was revisited and its derelict condition and the challenges faced by the surviving members of the club were highlighted.
There were indeed many voices of concern; especially from people who knew the place when they were students from the Malaysian navy, students who went to universities in Liverpool, who found a home away from home there.
Jantan and Md Nor would be pleased to hear that there are people who are willing to help.
