Photos by Linny Folau

Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga's Tupou College, ex-students paraded through central Nuku...’alofa on June 13, on their way to the Royal Palace.

There gifts were presented to the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu Tuita by the ex-students from 1924-2005, proudly wearing blue blazers with their school motto ...“Tonga Mo'unga ki he Loto...”. Ex-students included a former Tongan Prime Minister, Baron Vaea of Houma.

Later a roll call of ex-students of the college, was held at the Centenary Church, followed by feasting and fund raising at the Akoteu grounds.

The 140 anniversary celebration began on Sunday June 11 with a welcoming church service, but the main celebration will take place on Saturday June 17 at Tupou College where the Princess Regent will officially open a new residence for the college principal and the newly renovated Tupou College Museum. The construction of the residence cost about $300,000 and was funded by Tupou College ex-students who are residing in the USA, while local ex-students contributed $10,000 for the renovation of the Museum.

On Saturday at 11:00 am a church service to be conducted by Reverend Siupeli Taiamoni Taliai, the school...’s first Tongan principal, will be followed by the opening of the buildings. In the afternoon there will be traditional feasting and dancing together with a fundraising by the ex-students for the college.

Meanwhile, the opening of the 83rd Annual Church Conference of the Free Wesleyan Church will be held on Thursday June 15 at the Centenary Church. The election of the Church President will be held today.