Chronicles of Old Singapore

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I didn’t realise that when I asked to interview Ronald Chng, Singapore’s golden judoka of the 1970s, he would take to the podcast to highlight the connection between sports and work. His fighting spirit helped him succeed as an engineer even though he faced discrimination from some companies that frowned upon his training and competing in judo. 00:00 Introdu...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Irene Hoe recalls having non-Chinese friends during her childhood in Dhoby Ghaut, as well as Indian, Eurasian, Chinese, and Malay classmates at CHIJ. She organised a three-day reunion party for old girls in 2006 and tells us why she feels CHIJ’s heritage and memory have not been adequately documented. 00:00 The Curriculum 06:27 The Malay Class 08:12 My Non-C...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Wilson Tang & Elsie Fong tell the story of Ren Ren Desserts, from his parents’ zi char business to studying at the Hotel & Catering Training Centre and then working at Hyatt Hotel as a chef. He explains the decision to run the desserts stall at the Chinatown Food Street with Elsie in 2001. They also talk about Yat Ka Yan 一家人 and Hup Ka Foon合家歡...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Old girl Irene Hoe takes us back to the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus at Victoria Street, where she studied from 1957 to 1966, and a few of the nuns she remembers vividly. She also recalls helping out at Stamford Café at Bras Basah Road, run by her enterprising mother. One of the patrons was the late former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. 00:00 Introduction...

欢迎来到旧新加坡记事录。何乃强医生讲述，日本轰炸新加坡时，第一枚炸弹落在牛车水。他讨论肃清行动以及家人如何逃难到波东巴西。他最后谈到战争给新加坡的三个教训。 Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Dr Ho Nai Kiong relates that when the Japanese bombed Singapore, the first bomb fell in Chinatown. He discusses the Sook Ching operation and how his family fled to Potong Pasir. Lastly, he talks about th...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. The Tans – Margaret and her sons Dennis and Jimmy – go back in time to their kampong house at 614-3 (later 10-J) Bedok Road. From 1954 to 1974, their doors were never closed, they were close to the sea and everybody knew everybody else. They moved out to Marine Terrace as the Great Reclamation along the East Coast arrived at Bedok Road. 00:00 Introduction 01...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Fong Hoe Fang runs through Breakthrough’s stories on the aged, world hunger and the 1981 Anson by-election. Though he decided not to practise as a social worker, he continued to volunteer with his friends, setting up a Crisis Centre for runaway kids and battered women. His advice for today’s young activist: listen to your heart. 00:00 The Story Behind the Ho...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Mary Abishagam, Vijayan Nambiar and Alfred Dass recall how the British military withdrawal changed the lives of many Asians who lived and worked in the Naval Base. They talk about its physical heritage that could have been preserved, staying in touch with other ex-Navalites, and ways to document and celebrate the memory of the base. Relive the Naval Base day...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. James Kwok went to the Teachers’ Training College after graduating from Victoria School and became a PE teacher at Kwong Avenue School. He managed the school’s volleyball and basketball teams, winning the national school championship with the latter. He also took his students to the old National Library, developing their love for books as he did. 00:00 Teach...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Wan Chan Peew tells of the numerous buildings and places worthy of heritage conservation in the Naval Base. We ponder over the different ways to document and celebrate the heritage and social memory of the Asian community that lived and grew up inside the base. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Wan Chan Peew talks about the Asian community living inside the Singapore Naval Base and how it fared when Singapore underwent racial conflict and labour strikes in the 1950s and 1960s. He also remembers Chong Pang Village – myth and reality – and relations with the British in their black and white bungalows. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldS...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Tong Siew Yin recalls more yummy food in Old Orchard Road, including a kway teow stall inside SCGS. She remembers her family and neighbours moving out of the shophouse at 198. Change is good but she misses the Orchard Road she knew. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loh-ks Facebook | https://...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Tong Siew Yin grew up in a shophouse at 198 Orchard Road and attended SCGS at Emerald Hill in the 1950s and1960s. She remembers fondly the old theatres, markets, Western stores, great food, and Emerald Hill, long before the road was lined with shopping malls and new hotels. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters.spoti...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. M. Subramaniam remembers S. Rajaratnam advising him to end his letters for the MP with ‘Please Help’. He talks about interesting developments and changes in Tanjong Pagar – the politics, loss of food culture and former labourers’ quarters. He also relates the social welfare needs of the elderly and poor today. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOld...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. M. Subramaniam, a social worker and grassroots leader, warmly recalls his childhood and schooldays at Trafalgar Street, Trafalgar Primary School and a very different Tanjong Pagar from what it has become today. One of his early jobs was to round up beggars from the streets and place them in proper homes. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spo...

欢迎来到旧新加坡记事录。黄文祥回忆起他的读书日子和教育观。 结婚后，他离开了万礼，搬进了德惠的一间政府组屋。 他描述当今的万礼以及他对以前十六号道老房子的感受。 Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Ng Bon Siong remembers his school days and his outlook on education. He left Mandai when he married, moving into a HDB flat in Teck Whye. He describes present-day Mandai and his feelings about the old...

欢迎来到旧新加坡记事录。黄文祥在万礼路第 十六号道的一间大甘榜大房子里长大。 他讲述了小时候在农场和橡胶种植园工作的漫长岁月。 Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Ng Bon Siong grew up in a large family in big kampong house at Track 16 along Mandai Road. He recounts the long days of working on the farm and rubber plantation as a kid. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | ht...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Mike Liew talks about his passion for learning and the experience he gained from the multinationals. We had an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of foreign investment in Singapore. Mike also tell us what it means to be a Quaker and why he continues to do voluntary work. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcast...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Mike Liew charts his early life, from growing up in Kim Seng to studying at Tanglin Technical School and then training to be an industrial engineer under a master (or ‘sifu’). He would apply his skills in his first job at the well-known British multinational, Fraser & Neave. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters....

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Ibrahim Ariff relates the common jobs of ordinary Bugis in the past and his many and varied business ventures. He also talks about Bugis & Malay heritage and the future books he might write. The Bugis in Singapore by Ibrahim Ariff is available at the National Library: https://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/search/card?id=7f6c77b4-0101-5d75-87e8-9ad9bb168f1f&en...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Ibrahim Ariff talks about how the common perception of the Bugis as pirates came from the British colonial government, and how he experienced the stigma himself. This prompted him to write a book, The Bugis in Singapore, to correct the misconception. The Bugis in Singapore by Ibrahim Ariff is available at the National Library: https://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/se...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Chellapandi Chellaiyya talks about learning from the British and seeing how Jalan Kayu changed. He explains how we can capture the hard and soft heritage and Jalan Kayu and its memories. Through An Insider’s Lens: RAF Seletar and Jalan Kayu 1950s to 1960s https://pagesetters.sg/through-an-insiders-lens-raf-seletar-and-jalan-kayu-1950s-to-1960s/ Get a copy of...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Chellapandi Chellaiyya lived at 195-H Jalan Kayu with his big family. He remembers growing up amidst much love and many friends in the 1950s and 1960s – an experience he fondly recounted in his book on Jalan Kayu. Through An Insider’s Lens: RAF Seletar and Jalan Kayu 1950s to 1960s https://pagesetters.sg/through-an-insiders-lens-raf-seletar-and-jalan-kayu-19...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. R. Asokan remembers going into the Naval Base and the three schools in Chong Pang Village. We discuss the heritage of old Nee Soon and Sembawang which have changed beyond recognition. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loh-ks Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/61551786759344/ Patreon | https:...

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. R. Asokan recounts his attap house at 42-D Nee Soon Road, the British Ordnance Depot at Transit Road where his father worked, and the Sree Narayana Mission in Chong Pang Village where his mother was an active member. YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@ChroniclesOldSG Spotify | https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loh-ks Facebook | https://www.facebook.com...