Remembering Anna Abisheganaden nee Wen my Mum this Mother's Day

My Mum  (extreme Left) Anna with Dr Kwa Soon Bee (2nd Right) 

My Mum Anna was an amazing woman. She was born 30th Novmeber 1930 and first lived in Guangzhou China, before moving to Hong Kong, then Penang and finally Singapore. The eldest of 4 sisters and 1 youngest brother, she was a very loving and strong mother to me and my brother John.

She met my father in the 50s and while she was married once before, she took care of both John and I with her usual dominant matriachial style. Stern, yet loving. I don't think we turned out too badly in life. Though I still need to aspire to greater achievements in the business front, John is very established in the medical fraternity.

Visit by K.M. Byrne, Mum was the Girl Guide Troop Leader (extreme Left in White)

As a young woman, she showed tremendous leadership and was the Troop Leader for the Singapore Girl Guides in the 1950s and had the privilege of meeting Prince Philip during one of the National Days and K.M. Byrne in the photo above.  

When I was cognizant enough, I realised that she was a very gregarious person and loved to meet with plenty of people in her line of work and play. She joined the Singapore Swimming Club together with my father in 1973 (I was 11 then) and made us 2 'monkeys' take up swimming under the late Mr. Neo Chwee Kok (aka Flying Fish). Mr. Neo was one of the first Olympians to swim for Singapore way back in the 1950s. 

Alas he passed away in the late 1980s - still a youngish man in his early 50s.  

Mum took part in many activities first with the Swimming Club, then with her workplace and was active in Badminton, Swimming, Kong Qian (martial art), tennis and squash to name a few. 

We as young tweens went to the club most days after school, Monday to Friday with the exception of Wednesday (pool cleaning) most times in the afternoon. The swimming times were from 5.30 to 7.15 pm. 

I really look back to those days with absolute joy and longing as they were so carefree !

Mum at the SBTS 50th Anniversary dinner on 1st September 1996, 
York Hotel, Carlton Room

She always could make 'arrangements' for John and myself if we happened to be sick, to visit the best specialists back in those days. Her forte was her people skills and she relished meeting many people from most humble to the most privileged backgrounds.

With her 'team' (she is in the colourful dress.) 

Mum made it a point to have 2 events each year at our house from the late 1980s till the time of her demise in 2011 so thats over 25 years. Each year, she would host 1 party during Chinese New Year and 1 party during Christmas and there would be up to 50 people coming and celebrating the occasions with us.

Those were truly memorable days and certainly happy memories for me.

Carpe Diem