The year was 1974, the month, December approaching Christmas. I had just turned 14 years of age. This trip was the reward for all the training we had the whole year, and to compete in a regional meet was the highlight for all of us teenagers.
We were all decked out in the nice tracksuits of our Singapore Swimming Club. I had just been nominated as the Boys Swimming Captain, by our Head Manager, Mr. Henry Chan.
Those days we felt invincible, and we wanted to see how we ranked regionally. I believe this was the first time many of us had taken a flight overseas (I was fortunate to travel I believe 2 times before to Europe (June 1974) and (possibly) Hong Kong (June 1975).
All in all, when I was a Club Swimmer, we had taken part in 4 regional Sanya Samaki tournaments to (if my memory serves me correctly) :
a) Penang - 1974
b) Bangkok - 1975
c) Manila - 1976
d) Jakarta - 1977
From left : Kelvin Wee, Carl Chan, Yours Truly, Boatman
The cammaderie amongst us swimmers and non-swimmers was great. We had loads of fun, and these memories I will take all the way to the end of my days.
There was the competition, then the evening dinners, the friendships made, (we exchanged addresses, and promised to write to our new found Filipino friends) and all the wonderful memories singing campfire songs and just being boisterous kids out of the country creating all kinds of havoc.
Our generous hosts were the Manila Polo Club (Swim Section), so we handily beat them as we were and still are the premier Swim Club in Singapore.
Bangkok Story 2 (1975)
I was just 13, and a playful teenager. We had travelled by bus to Bangkok all the way from Singapore to swim against the Bangkok Sports Club. The bus ride from Singapore to Bangkok took 2 full days, and we had an overnight stop at Hat Yai.
At the Hat Yai Hotel, once we finished our dinner, we headed back into our rooms to play and chat with our swim mates.
All of a sudden, we heard what sounded like huge metal cabinets falling over
"Bam Bam Bam"
We were all frightened and stayed in our rooms while my Mum the chaperon went down to investigate.
She came up ashen faced, and said there had been a gun fight, and one businessman pulled out his revolver and fired at somebody.
The next day, down at the lobby we saw 3 bullet holes.
Till this day, I do not know if any one had been killed or injured from those shots.
It just goes to show, we had no idea how 'cowboy' other countries were in the 1970s.
Carpe Diem
Here are 2 more untitled photos from days past. I believe they were taken when my Mum went to either KL or Bangkok (1975 and 1974 respectively) though I can't verify for sure.
John has grown taller, and I estimate this is when he was around 12 years of age.
Long Time Ago 1969 at the Marshall Residence.
Those early years (the first 16) growing up at 6 Adis Road, Singapore 9 (there was only 1 post code number back in those days nearly 60 years ago) were in my opinion best characterized in one word :
"carefree"
Primary School - St Andrew's Primary (Woodsville Close)
Homework was very rare, if any. My brother and I had Chinese tuition, from Primary 3, and my eyesight developed myopia from Pri 1 to Pri 3. I have 6 long time very clear recollections
1) Eye Check
the Nurse from MOH who came to check us with a visual chart, was shouting at me and sternly said " Dont bluff !" when I couldn't see properly past the first few rows.
2) Communal Brushing outside the Class.
we had dental hygiene daily, and all the Junior Primary school boys would squat outside the classroom and with their appointed toothbrush, and some toothpaste, brush vigorously and rise with their appointed tumblers.
Once, my then best friend Edward Ong and I came late and we rushed to the side to see that everybody has started their routine and we quickly assumed our places at the end of the line and brushed and gargles like nothing happened.
3) Ting Xie
my Chinese teacher was a Mrs. Pang, a huge heavy set woman and she would always conduct "Ting Xie" or spelling. Every time I failed, which was often. I would be summoned to the front to explain why I couldn't even remember 5 of the 10 words she told the class during spelling test.
She would then proceed to twist the living daylights of my ear, and I can still head the membrane crackling and the pain from the twisting punishment.
4) Taxi To and From School
I was fortunate enough in Primary 3 to be ferried by taxi to and from school. My form teacher Miss Ang happened to also 'tompang' in the same yellow top and black bodied taxi. She was always dressed in very bright clothes, bright blouse and skirt and the smell of her perfume permeated the entire taxi.
1966 Sitting atop my father's Simca SU 7867
5) Tuckshop Time
Everyday in the morning, we would have our half hour recess or tuckshop time at 9.30 to10.00 am in the morning and from 3.30 to 4.00 pm if we were in the afternoon session.
The place would be a regular mess, we had the drinks stall at one end and I recall having a drink (glass with Bandung, or glass jelly or some green stuff) for 5 cents. In those days, 5 cents went a long way, we could buy 3 sweets for 5 cents so the phrase "5 cents 3" became a catchphrase till inflation caught up with us. (We didn't know about inflation, it was just play, football and school all the time). A Mee Siam or Mee Goreng cost all of 10 cents, and a plate of Char Kway Teow cost 20 cents.
One big recollection still to this day is this. Whenever anybody had dropped the bowl of noodles, (mee siam, yellow fish ball noodles or char kway teow), the entire tuckshop would break and shout in unison.
Picture this : > Smash ! (the sound of breaking glass or bowl)
All the Boys : " Awwwwww Paaaaaaaay !!!!!! ".
6) Dental hygiene Programme
In those days, it consisted of regular checks of the boys' teeth, and the dental clinic was located beside the tuck shop at the bottom of some stairs. We boys took it as a 'death sentence' every time our names were called. My favorite impression all these years (or should I say depression) was that of the earlier boy who went to the clinic and had his tooth( teeth) extracted.
He would walk up slowly with the orange card which had the next boys' history, and extractions. When he reached our class, the entire class would fall silent and the teacher would call out the name of the next 'victim' to go to have his teeth examined and most likely extracted if there was rotting or something wrong with their teeth.
The tension was palpable, made worse with the antiseptic from the injection the previous boy had coming from his mouth. 40 boys would wait with dread until the teacher called out the next victim's name, the boy who kena (got) called would grimace, while the rest of the 39 boys would heave an audible sigh of reliet !
On looking back, I think this was the most hilarious experience of my Primary School days at St Andrew's School !
Carpe Diem !
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This Video uploaded by me is probably taken in 1968. My father had a Cine Camera and probably had the maid or my Mum to take the film. I w...
