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Photos from ex-residents (8) - Peter Chan

November 7, 2012, 5:47 am
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My friend Peter Chan, who had previously sent me some of his photos of Hillview, has just sent me what I think is one of the best aerial views of the Hillview/Upper Bukit Timah area.

This was probably taken in the early 1960s and reinforces some of the things I described in my earlier blogs. Click on the picture for a larger view to see the details.


Princess Elizabeth Estate is at the bottom right corner. The estate football pitch is clearly seen.

In front of P.E.E. is the Malayan Guttas company with its Casaurina trees. Part of Hume Industries is behind the Malayan Guttas factory.

In the centre, on the left of Malayan Guttas is the National Carbon (Union Carbide) plant.
Click the photo for a detailed view and you can see the tower at National Carbon where they had a huge battery on the top of the tower. The tower is beside Hillview Road, just before the railway girder bridge.

The 3rd factory on the left is the Hong Kong Rope Manufacturing Company. This was replaced by the Castrol company after the rope factory closed in the late 60s.

Upper Bukit Timah Road cuts across the picture in the middle, running parallel to the KTM railway line.

Beyond Upper Bukit Timah Road on the extreme left is Gammon Malaya, a company producing concrete pipes. The white patch on the right of Gammon is the road junction of Dairy Farm Road.
This led to both Dairy Farm (top left) and the Dairy Farm Quarry (behind the junction).

The housing development on the right is Fuyong Estate, where I lived after moving out from Princess Elizabeth Estate. My house was the 4th semi-detached unit in the front row from the left. There was a large malay kampong behind Fuyong Estate on the upper slope of Bukit Timah hill.

The Salvation Army Lee Kuo Chuan Home is between Dairy Farm and Fuyong Estate. You can see its beautifully manicured terraced lawn.

The quarry on the extreme right is the Singapore Granite Quarry. Today this has been converted into the Singapore Quarry Nature Park.

My grateful thanks to Peter for the above photograph.


Related link: Hillview from Bukit Timah Hill

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Bro Roger Photo Collection (3)

November 7, 2012, 8:01 am
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View towards Bukit Batok Hill. Taken from St Joseph Church steeple. 1968.
Look for the Eveready battery tower. If you can't see it, here's a clue


Bukit Timah view from the top of St Joseph Church steeple. 1969.
The original Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Chestnut Drive)  in the foreground

Trengganu Street 1960.


Woodlands to Johore 1960.

Boy's Town Vocational Institute 1971. Bukit Panjang in the background.


Related links:
Bro Roger Photo Collection (1)
Bro Roger Photo Collection (2)

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Bro Roger Photo Collection (4) - St Joseph Church Bukit Timah

November 9, 2012, 12:19 am
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Bro. Roger has lived at Boy's Town since 1953.
As Boy's Town is located just beside the parish church of St Joseph at Bukit Timah, he was witness to the demolition of the 1905 church building and the re-building of the present church.


St Joseph Church just before the demolition in 1963.
The church was built in 1905.

As the new church would sit on the same plot of land, it was constructed firstly behind the old church.
When the partly constructed church was ready, the transept used for services while the old church was demolished to build the main church hall. This picture shows the old and new portions of the church in 1963.

St Joseph Church as was built in 1965. With new renovations added in 2010.
(Photo: ©James Tann)

This was the original wooden/brick Church of St Joseph built in 1853 by French missionaries.
The church was built on a hillock at 9-1/2 ms (16km) Bukit Timah Road on land
bought from the English East India Company.

Related links:
Bro Roger Photo Collection (1)
Bro Roger Photo Collection (2)
Bro Roger Photo Collection (3)
St Joseph Church Bukit Timah
The French Connection
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Last pictures of P.E.Estate before demolition.

November 9, 2012, 6:29 pm
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Last evening, I was fortunate to be able to attend the 60th anniversary dinner of Princess Elizabeth Primary School. I was seated at a table with my ex-classmate, Shoen Yih, whom I had not met for nearly 45 years. With him were his three siblings, Shoen Liang, Shoen Yi and Shoen Keng, who were also ex- P.E.E. School students.

Also with me at this table were two others whom I knew only through my blog and via Facebook. They were Wendy Ng and Hrh A Sean (Andrew). Though we had communicated through Facebook, it was the first time that we were all meeting each other face to face.

I was very touched when Wendy, who knew I would be at the function, produced out of her treasured memorabilia, an old newspaper cutting she had brought specially for me. Thank you Wendy!
The 1994 newspaper spreadsheet was an article on Princess Elizabeth Estate just before it was to be demolished. Sadly, the photos in the article showed the estate in its last neglected state.
Here are the pictures I scanned out from the article as well as the original write up in Chinese.


Princess Elizabeth Estate in 1994.
Sadly, ageing and waiting for its impending demise.
Most of the residents have moved on and the flats shuttered.
In the rear is Blk 23, Blk 22(left) and Blk 20 (centre).
Front left Blk 17 and right Blk 18.



The old commemorative signboard that was moved
to the football field between PEE and Hillview Estate.

Click on the newspaper article to read it in a larger size

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Primary School Diamond Jubilee

November 10, 2012, 5:08 am
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Fifty years ago in 1962, I enrolled into Princess Elizabeth Estate School as a Primary One pupil.
I was placed into Primary 1C under the care of Miss Tan Gek Eng. Six years later, I graduated from this school.

Since that time, I have not been back to the school except for a short period from 1994 to 1996, when I placed my son in my alma mater for his primary school education. Even then, I hardly visited the school except for the occasional parents-teacher meetings. I had never attended any of its anniversary celebrations, be it the 25th, 30th or 50th.
This year 2012, the school celebrates its 60th Diamond anniversary.


So what made it so different that I finally attended an anniversary dinner?
Well, for one, it may be because of this very blog that I maintain about Princess Elizabeth Estate.
The primary school is intrinsically connected with the old estate.
(Although the school had moved to Bukit Batok New Town). 

In fact, it is probably the only surviving entity from the old estate as with the old school building that still exists at Elizabeth Drive.
And since it's the only remaining survivor from our time I should at least see if some connections are still to be found.

Another reason was that I was persuaded by some of you who read my blog and I would be letting you all down by not turning up. Thanks especially to Shoen Kang who arm-wrestled me to attend by getting his brother Shoen Yih who was my old classmate at PEES to attend as well. I guess it was a good chance for an old reunion of sorts.

The celebrations were held last night, 9 Nov 2012, at the school premises at Bukit Batok.
The guest of honour was Dr Tony Tan, the President of Singapore.
The theme for their anniversary celebration was From Golden to Diamond which meant they focussed on the last 10 years of school development. Probably in line with the current principal's tenure?

As expected, I didn't recognise any of the people there, most being from the later generation.
But at least I got to meet people I already knew through facebook and through this blog like Wendy Ng, Hrh A Sean, Shoen Keng and his siblings. It was the first time we were meeting each other in person.


Here are some pictures I took of the event.

President Tony Tan about to cut the 60th birthday cake.

The school hall where the dinner was held.

Guests at my table,  Andrew, Wendy and Shoen Yih

All attendees were given a goodies bag - door gifts and souvenirs.

Included in each bag was a unique gift made by the students themselves. Mine was from Daniel of Pri 5E.

Everyone went home with a huge diamond! I am rich now.

Former teachers with former students.
Mrs Lim Choon Hui, Wendy Ng, Hrh A Sean (Andrew), Yum Shoen Keng, Mrs Kannan, Mrs Krishna.

Mrs Kannan chatting with Shoen Keng and Shoen Li.
Mrs Kannan came over specially to our table to say she reads this blog!

Andrew and Wendy,  former classmates!

Their new gallery showcases.


Memorabilia of past events at Princess Elizabeth primary school

The old school bell.

Hmm, wonder what the Swiss Cottage Sec Sch badge is doing in the showcase?
What is missing from the display is an old PEES school badge, the original one with the latin motto.



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Bees invade Princess Elizabeth Estate

November 10, 2012, 8:00 am
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On the evening of 4th August 1981, a block of flats at Princess Elizabeth Estate was invaded by a large swarm of bees.

This tale was told to me by Wendy Ng, who lived at the affected block at that time with her brothers and parents.
It was her brother Wilson, as reported in the Straits Times the following day, who called the Environment Ministry about the danger to the residents.

Strangely, they were informed that the Ministry would only send workers to eradicate the bee hive only the next morning !
I wonder if this is the normal operating procedure?  Wouldn't the danger of getting stung warrant an immediate response to this situation?
The report also mentioned that 2 residents were already stung by the bees. Just turn off the lights and shut your doors and windows, advised the Police.

Hmm, in today's age of social media, I wonder how the people would respond to this kind of advice.

I guess that's the price you pay when your estate is located beside the luscious natural greenery that is Bukit Gombak.
Blk 22 Princess Anne Hill where Wendy lived with her family.
Many residents also knew this as the 'Gonzales' block.
Mr Raphael Gonzales was the PAP MP for Serangoon Gardens in the 60s
and lived the ground floor unit on the left. Wendy lived on the 3rd floor above him.


A follow-up report in the Straits Times of 6 August 1981.
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Photos from ex-residents (9) - Eddie Tan

November 17, 2012, 10:58 pm
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Eddie Tan used to live at #113B (Blk 19) at Princess Elizabeth Estate.
Eddie sent me his 1965 class photo when he was in Primary 3A.

He is hoping to make contact with as many former classmates as he can via this blog.
If anyone can recall being with Eddie from 1963 to 1968 at Princess Elizabeth Estate School, please do send in a comment.

Primary 3A of 1965.
(Click on the picture for a larger detailed view)

Seated L-R: Kwok Li Choo, Eddie Gan Chong Lek, Goh Peng Sum, Form Teacher Ms Tan Hong Eng, See Yang Chee, Eddie Tan, Song?

Centre L-R: Foo Sek Sen, Chew Ah Lan, Azizah, Grace Oh,  Poh Chew Yong, Lim Song Boon, Chan Yoke Meng, Lee Suh Yang, Deborah Phua, Lim? Kim Cheng,  Chua Sok Wee, Esther Wee, Lee Yuh Mei, Lim Nyuk Foong, Ho Kok Wah

Back L-R: Thia Boon Hwa, Tay Boon Kok, Leong?, Abdul Fattah, Leong Wing Soon, Chong Tian Seng, ?, Sarawan, Sim Khee Lian, Loh Kim Chong, Ranjit Singh, Hashim, ?, Ong Ee Tong, Choo Chuan Huat, Andrew, Mokhtar Ali
36 pupils identified (3 partial), 2 unidentified.

Reunited via this blog: 8 
Eddie Tan
Deborah Phua
Choo Chuan Huat
Lee Yuh Mei
Esther Wee
Sim Khee Lian
Mark Tay Boon Kok
Amy Poh Chew Yong.





On a happy note, a previous photo sent in by Brenda Low of Ms Pat Ortega's 1961 class managed to round up 20 of the 30 classmates! This is fantastic. I believe that they are trying to organise a reunion next January. Just hope they don't forget to invite me too!


Tip: if you are sending in a comment below, select "NAME/URL" instead of Anonymous when prompted. 
Then type in your name so that the comment will be attributed to you instead of Anonymous.


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Photos from ex-residents (10) - Grace Seah

November 18, 2012, 3:14 pm
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Grace Seah left Princess Elizabeth estate when she was only 9 years old but still remembers vividly her years spent there. Especially of her years growing up with her friends from P.E.E School and with her neighbours.  Grace now lives in Perth, Australia. These pictures are from  her.


The Dance Group photo was taken on 31 May 1968 at the annual primary school sports day held at the
football field bounded by the 3 rows of low rise houses.
I am 4th from the left (front row) and Grace Chua is the first girl seated from the left.
The teacher /dance instructor was Miss Cherry Tan.

This pic of Rosanna Ong (left) and me was taken at the green park just in front of my block 19. 
I remember there was a beautiful Flame of the Forest tree
 and I think we were probably standing right below it.
Rosanna Ong used to be our neighbour and we used to climb over to each other's homes via the balcony.





My brother Eddie & me on our balcony.  My parents would place a "bangku" just next to the dividing wall between my neighbour, the Ongs. that we could climb over to each other homes easily.  Many happy times were spent interacting with our neighbours in this manner.  Our balcony was also our "garden".  My parents would plant herbs and other flowering plants in pots in our balcony.   

My neighbours and grandma playing cheekee in our dining room.  
There was a big table in our dining room which doubled up as the dining table. 
It was made of solid timber and we used the same linoleum floor covering as the table "cloth" 



The Ong sisters, Eddie & me under the lovely Flame of the Forest tree. I will never forget that tree with its vibrant red flowers and recall always feeling a cool breeze emanating from the tree whenever it was a hot day.  It was pure and unadulerated "airconditioning" back then.  The Lee sisters used to lay a tikar mat on the grass on lazy afternoons and I often joined them there to play with Claire.


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Guest blogger - Grace Seah

November 18, 2012, 3:39 pm
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My dad used to work at Malayan Guttas as the Bookkeeper/Clerk in their office.  
We seem to have an endless supply of Wrigley's chewing gum at home during those days but funny enough I never enjoyed them!  My dad used to call the base product that was manufactured at the factory as jelutong.

The Malayan Guttas factory with Princess Elizabeth Estate in the foreground.

The American bosses at Malayan Guttas were very kind to their staff.  
One story my father told me was that most residents at P.E.E. were from low income families who worked in that vicinity.  

When my parents first moved to the estate, they didnt have much savings and so my dad on his first day of work had no proper shoes to wear.  
Instead he patched his old pair of shoes by hand just so they wont fall apart when he walked, hoping to be able to afford a new pair by the next pay day.  
His American boss saw that and immediately arranged for a salary advance on his first day of work so that my dad could buy new shoes to wear to work.  

That story of kindness has stayed in my memory ever since. In fact I ended up being his boss daughter's penpal for many years. She lived on Staten Island, New York and we corresponded by letters for many years. 

My dad and his colleague working at Malayan Guttas.

My dad continued to work at Malayan Guttas after we left right up to the day he retired.  
(After moving out in 1968) he ploughed all the way there and back from East Coast Road to Bukit Timah and back everyday to earn a living for his family.

I would pine for my old school and I even begged my parents to let me follow dad to school everyday. But of course that would have been so impractical.

My mum would tell me that for a long time after we moved out of our flat, during lunch time, my dad would drive over to the green park just infront of our flat and sit under the beautiful flame of the forest tree and just stare at the balcony of our flat in silence, just reminiscing of precious days gone by. 


Related link: No more chewing gum at P.E.Estate.



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Photos from ex-residents (11) - More from Eddie Tan

November 19, 2012, 2:18 am
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Besides looking for his classmates, Eddie Tan is also trying to find some of his former neighbours.
Eddie lived at Blk 19 on the 3rd floor, unit #113B.

The photo shows a young malay girl standing on the left.
Her name is Esah whose family was our neighbor before the Ongs moved in.
Her parents are Hashim & Fatima who moved out to live at the artisan quarters. 
Wonder if anyone here knows them?

Rajan was my very best friend who lived next door.
We would always hang out & play together & 
I remember his mum makes the best homemade Putu Mayam, 
which I had a helping hand in pressing the dough out of a special mould.
Hopefully someone can recognise him & God willing, we may meet up again after  50 years.

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The burial of the Hillview Mansion.

November 21, 2012, 3:01 am
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Most ex-residents of Princess Elizabeth Estate know, but speak softly, of the infamous Hillview Mansion. If you are not aware of what I am referring to, you can refer to my earlier article about the Hillview Mansion here.

This Mansion was destined not to be built. Some put it to bad luck, some say it was cursed. Most believe it was haunted. Whatever the reason, the land has remained vacant from the 1970s till today - prime real estate that was left untouched for more than 30 years! Why? Has it anything to do with the fact that a young lady was struck by lightning on this very spot?

When a landslide occurred in 2006, rumours spread like wildfire that the cause was supernatural. This so called paranormal incident was further reinforced when a bigger more massive landslide reoccurred at the very same spot a few months later in 2007! This confirmed in the minds of many nearby residents that the spirits refused to have any structure on that spot.

Here are some pictures of the 'Hillview Mansion' just after the 2007 massive landslide.
Though the mansion was previous demolished, the landslide finally buried all traces of the structure.


The mansion stood where the orange spot of earth with the excavator is on.


Strangely the landslide occurred only where the mansion's property lies.

The land terraced and grouted to prevent further occurrences.

The Hillview Mansion property is still vacant till this day.
Can you see something unusual in the photograph?

Related links:
The haunted house at Hillview.
The haunted house re-visited.

Photos copyright & courtesy of Yum Shoen Keng.
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Photos from ex-residents (12) - Yum Shoen Keng

November 21, 2012, 3:52 am
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S. K. Yum used to live at Blk 20, Princess Anne Hill, unit #120B.
He was in Princess Elizabeth Estate School in the 1970s.

Though he continues to reside in the Hillview area, he still reminisces about his days in the old primary school. He takes his children there now for walks and occasionally visits the old school building. The building that was our old primary school is now the United Medicare Nursing Centre.

Here are some photos SK Yum took of the old school building whilst it was under renovation last year.
Former students of P.E.E.S. will remember fondly these scenes.

The school caretaker's quarters. There were 2 units housing the families working for the school.
Many will recall the vegetable gardens planted around it.
In my own days in the 1960s, it was always flooded with mud flowing from the construction of Bamboo Grove Park.

The old school store replaced by a new structure.
The old store housed the school sports equipment and also the scouts den.

The drain which ran under the bridge leading to the school field.
Remember catching fish and crabs from this stream?

The new  Nursing Home has built a new elevator at the far end of the school building.


Related links:
New use for an old school



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Going up the Hill

November 23, 2012, 2:08 am
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First  generation of children, especially boys, living at PEE would be familiar with the term ‘the hill’.  Though Princess Elizabeth Estate was built on the hillside of Bukit Gombak, the ‘hill’ which we all knew was not the high summit of Bukit Gombak located behind the tall 7-storey blocks of our estate but rather was another location to which this moniker seem universal to everyone at the estate.

“The Hill” was the lower hilly area beside the primary school. This was the then undeveloped land across Elizabeth Drive opposite the estate.  This would be where the terrace houses of Popular Estate and Bamboo Grove Park would be constructed in due course.



Whenever we were going there, we would say we’re “going up the hill”, “playing on the hill”, “exploring the hill”, etc.  This was the best playground we had and everyone knew the place as ‘the hill’.

The hill was covered with low shrubs and grass and was not forested as much as other parts of Bukit Gombak, although the hill was part of its ridge.
The small shrubs and trees were mainly Tembusu, from which we would forage for the best branches to make our ‘lastik'– catapults! There was no shortage of good lastik material there.

A peek of the hill beside the old primary school.

At the top of the hill was a wide plateau where today the Gumilang, Dermawan and Chu Lin areas are located. It was on this plateau that kite flying or rather kite fighting in those days was the common activity. Main layang layang we called it.

Unlike today where kite flying is recreational with its myriad of modern nylon and plastic designs, kite flying in those days was more combative. Kites were made of rice paper or brown paper or even of newspaper and bamboo. Many were homemade and kite-making was a skill every P.E.E.S. schoolboy worth his salt must know.

I can recall how I was taught to measure the ratios of the kite length and breadth, how to bent the bamboo sticks to get the right tension and how long the tails had to be to increase drag for stability of the kite. It was a skill we all picked up from experience. I wonder if kids today can understand the mechanics of building a fighting kite?

The meanest thing about fighting kites was the ‘glass string’. This was the repulsive string that was coated with grounded glass particles and was the main weapon in fighting kites.

Whenever you saw someone flying their kite high, it was an open call for a fight. You would then raise your own kite to the challenge. The idea was to try and entangle the opponents’ string and with several hard tugs to try and cut their string. This was where the evil glass string did its worst!

Believe me, whenever a fight was on, there would be lots of boys just waiting to claim the down flyer.
There was no such things as personal property. All downed kites were free for all and you had kids running after them shouting “Anjong! Anjong! Layang terlapas!”. The trophy belonged to whoever reached it first.

Knowing how to make your kites also entailed knowing how to make glass strings. You would boil some sort of resin (I forgot what its called, but was told by my friend Peter Chan it’s “lau peh kau”). This awful smelling stuff would be boiled in a condensed milk tin together with a few coils of kite string. To this was added glass powder which we obtained from a crushed and grounded Green Spot bottle. This was the worst part of the entire process because our fingers would always get cuts from the glass splinters.

After the resin, glass and string were fused by boiling, you had to quickly run the string out to dry. This was usually done by running the string between trees. I usually did mine on the clothes rack that was provided behind each block on the ground floor. After a few hours the string would be dry and you wound it round another condensed milk tin and you were ready to go fight kites!

Wonder why it was always a condensed milk tin we used?
That was the only type of containers available those days and we sometimes had to buy it at five cents a tin from the coffeeshop ah pek. Takeaway coffee was always dispensed in used condensed milk tins then.

Today's kite flying is probably no less fun !

You can see another photo showing part of the hill here.
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Green Bus No.5 at Princess Elizabeth Estate

November 24, 2012, 5:58 am
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A remarkable set of photographs taken by Mr FW York in 1955 showing the Green Bus service No. 5 within Princess Elizabeth Estate.

The bus terminus beside the primary school (right).  The terminus was not paved with bitumen but red laterite.
The trees were just saplings in those days, with the undeveloped hill at the rear.
The bus was the British Seddon model. 

The bus had just reversed backwards from its parked position and preparing to leave the terminus.
Blks 21, 20 and 23 (7-storey blk). See the hedges planted around all the grass fields.

A Green Bus No. 5 Vulcan bus passing the Hillview Circus.
On the right, the fence of the Hong Kong Rope factory and the Chinese kampong opposite.

Another Vulcan bus after passing under the girder bridge at Hillview Road.
The bus stop was at the top of this slope, just outside the gates of the Union Carbide factory.
There was another bus stop at the junction where the bus turns off Upper Bukit Timah Rd.


Related links:  The No 5 Bus Terminus at Princess Elizabeth

More photos on the Green Bus Co No. 5 service.
No 5 bus leaving Queens Street terminus.
How many of you boys can remember using Brylcreem?

No. 5 bus after refuelling at the King Albert Park depot.
Very common occurrence, giving passengers a free whiff of diesel!

No.5 bus waiting at the Queen's Street Terminus.
The route was Queen's Street, Rohor Canal Road, Bukit Timah Road,
Upper Bukit Timah Road, Hillview Road, Princess Elizabeth Estate.

No 5 bus at Rochor Canal Road.

No 5 bus boarding passengers along Bukit Timah Road.

No 5 buses bunching up along Bukit Timah Road. As usual !

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Primary school gotong royong 1974.

November 26, 2012, 5:09 am
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Gotong Royong is a Malay phrase depicting the ideals of community self help and  neighbourly assistance. For example, everyone pitching in to help with the arrangements of a neighbourhood wedding, cooking, cleaning, entertainment, etc.

In 1974, the authorities started another one of their many campaigns. This was styled Gotong Royong with the aim of getting citizens interested in community work. Though the concept was borrowed from the Malay connotation of self help, it was more perceived as getting groups of people to maintain their own surroundings instead. I guess it didn't work out after all since the results today smack more of self interest kiasuism than any sense of community!

Anyway, the campaign in the Bukit Batok district was launched by the MP for Bukit Batok, Mr Chai Chong Yii on 17 March 1974.  The launch location was at Princess Elizabeth Estate School.

The following photos are from the National Heritage Board and shows the launching of the Gotong Royong campaign. If you were at P.E.E.S. in 1974, you might be in one of these pictures. Do drop me a comment if you remember the occasion.












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P.E.E.S Reunion (Class of 1967 - 1972)

November 28, 2012, 12:56 am
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Princess Elizabeth Estate School Class of 1967-1972 held its 40th anniversary class reunion last Saturday 24th November.
They have sent me some photographs showing the great time they had!
Thanks to Grace Chua and Moliano.


But first a message from Grace to all.....

Hi All (including the Absentees!)

We had a BLAST last night.

I hope most of you managed to rekindle old ties, exchange numbers and stay in close touch again.
As the saying goes...
Old Friends are like Diamonds ; Precious & Rare!

The night ended at 10.45 pm and spilled over to 1am at the poolside..

Everyone went home w at least one gift. Mostly with two. The luckier ones with three. All made possible by generous sponsors. Thank you! thank you!

There were games that brought us back to 1972... like 0-be-som n lom jiam pas !
The 'kids' went crazy!

We jammed the night away with songs from our era. Country Road, Beautiful Sunday and heated up to Hey Jude & Venus. Many jumped to their feet in rhythm to the beat! With loud speakers, rock guitarist, amateur tambourin-a n cajorn-a..real concert - Led by Mol !

Not forgetting, we had volunteers too-
Guest Relations Officers - Beatrice & Fiona Yeo
photographer (Mols Son) & projectionist (Gary). Thank you!

Finally , the moment everyone was waiting for...... the grand prize went to ... (Drumroll please)..... appropriately from the one who flew the Red flag .. to his target object..    Wong Mun Yee ... !!

Rafie gave out the prize via teleconference.

It all ended with the finale song. YOU VE GOT A FRIEND.

Thanks again to all for making the night an evenFUL one!
Without all of your presence this would not have been possible.

Warmest Wishes
Blessed Christmas to All!
GraceChua




















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Factories around P.E.E. (8) - Kiwi Polish Co

November 30, 2012, 8:00 am
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This little flat tin was part of a rite of passage for all Singapore men.
Who among them can forget the endless hours spent 'kiwi-ing' their parade boots? the paraphernalia that's associated with it - shoe brush, cotton wool, lint-free cloth and the upturned tin cap to contain water?
National Service would forever be remembered with polishing boots.





From an earlier start even school children (i.e. during my time!) already knew the word kiwi. It was not the black shoe cream but rather the whitener that was applied to our canvas school shoes each weekend. At times, we kids were so lazy that we forget all about washing our canvas school shoes till the last minute and then desperately applying the white globs before going to school. Blanco, we called it.



The Kiwi Polish Company that manufactured these shoe products was located along Hillview Avenue, just beside Princess Elizabeth Estate. In fact, it was one of the original factories that was set up in the fledging Colonial Industrial Estate back in 1953. (The Colonial Industrial Estate developed into the Hillview Industrial Estate in time.)


Kiwi Polish Co (Pty) Ltd began operations in 1954 with 50 employees manufacturing shoe polish under their brand KIWI. In later years, its product range expanded to include floor polishes, floor waxes and industrial cleaners, and of course, the canvas shoe blanco whitener.

In 1967, it was given a huge boost when the Singapore Armed Forces contracted it to provide boot polish for every soldier in the SAF. I recalled during my NS days, we NSmen were entitled to 2 tins of black polish each month.


Vintage photos of Kiwi Polish Company production line.

The factory closed after the Hillview area was re-zoned for residential development in 1993.
Today, the Chantilly Rise Condominium complex sits on the former factory site.


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Tragedy at Sleepy Valley

December 15, 2012, 7:48 am
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In past articles, I have described some interesting places around Princess Elizabeth Estate.
I have also mentioned some places in the vicinity being famous as World War II heritage sites like Bukit Batok Hill and Ford Motor factory.

From historical records, we learned that Bukit Batok and Bukit Timah were the places where some of the fiercest battles were fought between the defending British forces against the invading Imperial Japanese Army. Though there is a general heritage marker at the top of Bukit Batok Hill and another at Bukit Timah Hill, most people today do not know exactly where these battles were actually fought.

One of the most tragic military events of the war happened at a place called Sleepy Valley.
During a retreat from the enemy forces, a whole battalion comprising 1500 Australian, British and Indian soldiers was trapped and almost annihilated by the Imperial Japanese Army. Of the 1500 men, only 400 managed to escape to join their comrades further on defended locations.

A little background for the war enthusiast:
At 10.30 pm on 8th Feb 1942, the Japanese Army crossed the Straits of Johor and invaded Singapore through the Lim Chu Kang Sarimbun area. These areas were defended mainly by British soldiers from the Australian regiments.

By 10th Feb, the British forces were pushed backed where they formed a defensive formation called the "Jurong Line".  The Jurong Line covered the entire stretch from Kranji River in the north to the Jurong River in the south. Tactically, this blockade would contain the Japanese forces within the western sector of Singapore island.

However, the Jurong Line didn't hold, and by the afternoon, the British forces began retreating again.




In the above war movement map, you can see the Australian forces spread out along the Jurong Line.
The 12th Brigade in the north retreated towards Bukit Panjang and defended its position there.
The 44th Brigade located south at the Jurong River, retreated towards Pasir Panjang and the City.

In the centre, 15th Brigade and the Special Reserve Battalion moved east towards Bukit Timah.
It is this last group of soldiers under the command of Brigadier Coates that re-grouped and fought the Japanese around Bukit Batok* area.  By 7.30 pm, the commander realised that they were almost surrounded by the Japanese and ordered his troops to retreat south through Sleepy Valley towards the British lines at Ulu Pandan.

(* I use the term Bukit Batok as a reference to the area found today. In 1942 the entire area was still called "Jurong" [9th & 10th milestone]. Bukit Batok region was named by HDB/MND after the 1970s.  At that time Bukit Batok would only refer to the Bukit Batok Hill)



Unbeknownst to the retreating British forces, the Japanese Army 18th Division, whom they had been fighting, had already bypassed them along the ridge line that borders today's Jalan Jurong Kechil. (See the black arrow movements above)

The British forces regrouped, in an area where today the  Bukit Batok Nature Park and St Mary of the Angels Church lies, and was ordered to move in columns through Sleepy Valley.
This escape route was unfortunately open farmlands with little cover and the Japanese Army had them trapped when they closed the pincer movement (the location where today's traffic turnoff from Toh Tuck Road to PIE lies).

The result was that 1100 men of the 1500 were killed at Sleepy Valley. By 10.30 pm, only 400 men managed to escaped from the Japanese towards the Australian defence line at Ulu Pandan.

An aerial view of the region where the British forces were caught in the open

Today, this former battle site, Sleepy Valley, is long forgotten. Very few today have heard of it, much less know about its tragic history.
Bukit Batok East Avenue 3 runs through it with Yusof Ishak Secondary School and condominiums like Park View and Burgundy Hill occupying the site where the massacre of British forces took place.

A graphic representation of the final movements of 15 Brigade and Special Reserve Battalion
superimposed on today's street map showing the location of the Sleepy Valley battle ground.


If you live in Bukit Batok or will pass through it, do remember this unmarked heritage site where once men fought and died for their country.

Related links:-
A grave discovery
Ford Motor Factory
Bukit Batok Hill War Memorial
Bukit Batok Hill
Bukit Batok New Town
Searching for an unmarked grave at Sleepy Valley


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Topographical map of Princess Elizabeth Estate

December 18, 2012, 3:02 am
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I’ve always had this long fascination with topographic maps. It started way back when I was in secondary school. No, not during geography lessons but during my time spent in the National Cadet Corps. It was an exciting learning experience and we were taught how to read maps in preparation for field exercises.

For a layman, looking at a topo map the first time would be like looking at a big mess on the sheet. What to look at? What’s all those numbers and lines and cute pictures? It’s really messy right?


The beauty of a topo map is in its details. And the key to crack its secrets lay in its ’legend’. 
I was enthralled at how, with just a compass, ruler and string, you can navigate and move through terrain that you have never been to before. And yet know precisely where you are, where you should be or where you should be heading next. 
A good topo map gives you details right down to the path to trek, the type of trees you would encounter and even if you should be climbing up or going down a slope.

I remember those years in the NCC stood me so well that during my time in National Service, my mates had always wanted me in their group during topo exercises as I was noted for being able to read maps!

Here’s a map of the region around Princess Elizabeth Estate.
It is surrounded by the hills of Bukit Panjang, Bukit Gombak, Bukit Timah and Bukit Batok.
Unnamed hills are simply marked with the height of their peaks. 
You can even see the plateau that was beside the estate which I had blog about earlier (marked .170 on the map). 

Click on the map to enlarge it for a detailed view and enjoy looking out for the details. 
Can you see where you can find rubber trees, coconut trees or even lallang patches? 
It’s all marked there.

I am always amazed at how the map surveyors can manage to include details like every kampong house, temple and mosque in the right places. Anyway, with the build up today in Singapore, I guess there’s no longer a need for topo maps. And of course there’s GPS now.

     Here's the key to read and better enjoy looking at the above map.

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Bukit Batok Hill (3)

December 18, 2012, 5:31 pm
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Here are some vintage views of Bukit Batok hill taken around 1963 to 1968.

Back then, the 'greening' of Singapore had not yet taken place and the views from the hill top were magnificent. Today, with the development of the Bukit Batok Nature Park around the hill, the views are obscured by trees.


Source: National Heritage Board PICAS Photo database. Taken in 1963.

Photo taken in 1968.

View of the Singapore Granite Quarry located on Bukit Timah across the Upper Bukit Timah valley.
The buildings in the foreground are of the Ford Motors factory.

View from the summit towards the city. Photo 1968.

The view from the same angle today (2012)


The Poh Hin Granite Quarry that worked the hillside of Bukit Batok in 1963.
Today the disused quarry has been converted to the Bukit Batok Nature Park.

Related links:
Bukit Batok Hill (1)
Bukit Batok Hill (2)
Bukit Batok Nature Park
Personal Historic Pixs at Bukit Batok



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