I lived on the ground floor of block 17 from 1975 to 1984. Before that, I lived in the kampung in Hill View Area. I remember the address was 01-103, Prince Charles Rise, Singapore 23. You might recall that at that time, we had 2 digit postal codes in Singapore.
Ours was a four room flat. The 3 bed rooms were really big by today’s standards, but the hall and kitchen were miserably small. Just in front of Block 17 was the Princess Elizabeth Estate Community Centre. I spent lot of time there playing all sorts of games like badminton, basketball, sepak takraw, table tennis etc.. at this community centre. We also played lots of childhood games, like my wooden guns, rubber bands, picture cards etc..
Just beside Block 17 was a small public car park . Parking was free in the mid 70s until the Coupon Parking system comes into effect. Occupying the same car park was a bus terminal where SBS bus Service 173 and 193 started their journeys. Princess Elizabeth Estate Primary was just beside the bus terminal.
There was also a football field surrounded by 3 Single Storey flats. I cannot remember the block numbers. An interesting thing about this football field was that it had a 'centre parting' - same as a kind of hairstyle. The reason was that the residents of this estate walked diagonally across the field to get to Bukit Timah Road to catch other bus services not served by Service 173 or 193. This caused the path to become 'botak' (bald).
Sadly, like many of the older estates, Princess Elizabeth Estate no longer exists. Today, it is just an open patch of ground awaiting development. Who knows what they will build here in the future; probably another condominium. I wonder if they will reuse the name.
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372 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 372 of 372Chun See. Yes, go ahead. Would you like me to send you a copy or you just download off my blogs?
btw, you just entered the 200th comment on this thread yourself. Congratulations.
Pls email to me. Thanks.
I did not know that after 200 comments (never happened before), you need to go to a new page.
Lowy, When did you work for Sime Darby?
Hi all Happy 2012 n Happy Chinese New Year :) More interesting comments were added. It's just fab! I remember Tanga n Indira's but not the younger brother Menon. James while u enjoyed going to their music lessons, I on the other hand couldn't bear Tanga's violin "sounds" hehe. However I used to always make myself present during Indira's lunch time, not because I ate there, I was simply fascinated at how the mum fed her with hand. The Estate had people of so many races and we were all very fortunate to get along well n learn about cultural differences in such a pleasant environment :)
Hi eagle.
Do you have more details of the other PEE people who were bands members? Who was with October Cherries etc. I only knew the Pest Infested boys.
And also the Moss boys who also formed a band but didn't do it professionally, just for their own entertainment. I was always intrigued by their xylophone.
James Tann, I remembered that these were the estate boys whom had played or practiced together during various times through the years as the Pest Infested group/band, Ernie Koh – Singer – band leader, Johnny Ali, Tony Cheong, Alam Shah – flute/lead guitarist (deceased), Richard De-Silva, Hock Lam (deceased), Jack Elias, and Sng Seng Chuan – drums. They started practising at the ground floor of block 24, Seng Chuan’s home. The Sng family later moved to Hillview.
D. I believed that the De Silva boy whom lost at sea was Alex De Silva. He was the eldest son. Other brothers are Kenny, Richard, Oliver, and I think Clifford with a few sisters.
Also, you mentioned a Peter Sim. His fathered was a very good carpenter, mother an excellent cook and a very hard working mother, brothers were – from eldest John Sim, Ah Tee, Lee Chia (Peter), Lee Hoe (Lee Hui) and a younger brother and two sisters.
Happy CNY to all and should anyone wishs to write me, I can be reached at jkschan@rogers.com.
Chan Kum Sung, was the Tony Cheong the same as the one in our year at PEES ? Peter Sim's youngest brother used to attend church at St Mary of the Angels with his sister(Janet) who now lives in Queensland. He was our aircon service man for a number of years together with one of his brothers. Their mum made the best sung kueh and sold in PEES. I had that for most of my 6 years there.
I posted yesterday but it didn't appear. Hehe brushing d carpet! I can't remember u helping James and yes it was to fluff our carpet.
This was wat I posted yesterday I hope this gets through:
Hi all Happy 2012 n Happy Chinese New Year :) More interesting comments were added. It's just fab! I remember Tanga n Indira's but nit the younger brother Menom. James while u enjoyed going to their music lessons, I on the other hand couldn't bear Tanga's violin "sounds" hehe. However I used to always make myself present during Indira's lunch time, not because I wanted to eat there, I was simply fascinated at how the mum fed her with hand.
The Estate had people of so many races and we were all very fortunate to get along well n learn about cultural differences in such a pleasant environment
Eh? I notice there are more postings here that I don't see on the homepage. I just discovered my post of yesterday here. Is it just me who can't see d postings on d homepage? The last post I see there is dated 17 Jan 2012
HI D,
The fact that I can remember that yr family used child labor to fluff yr carpet is proof that I was one of those abused children! Si I was there even if you can't remember it! hahaha.
The comments on this thread past 200 and a new page was automatically added. You need to click on the "newest" link to get to the last comment. That's perhaps why you didn't see the post you made yesterday as it was here all along.
Did you see the photo that Lowy sent to me? It has you in it too. I put it into my PEE blog.
Hi James you kaypo'd at my home n pretended to brush d carpet for thd F&N hehee. I clicked on ur name n was transported to ur profile…so many blogs. Which one are u referring to?
Whaaat! 200 over posts! Second page yayyy! What yakkers we are lol
It's in my Princess Elizabeth Estate blog, here at this link:-
http://ijamestann.blogspot.com/
I actually have 2 pictures of you in my blog (one under the photo section) but I guess you didn't see them cos you didn't come after me as I expected you would. But Lowy gave me her blessings for it so you have to go after her. It's permanent now!
Hi Janes I'm looking at d group pic of us kids at ur blog now. That's not Wai Hong, it's older brother Chee Hong n Bu Jong's sis is Yu Mei
James I'm quite certain it's Tanga bcos Indira is younger than me
James, D is right, that's Chee Hong not Wai Hong but I still think that its Indira not Tanga as Tanga was a big girl. So now you know Bu Jong's sister's name.
Lowy, Yes! It’s the same Tony Cheong and we still communicate. I even remembered some of the estate boys/girl in your classmates at PEES, and their names were Johari Ali, Wong Chin Yeow, Donald Upatissa, Kee Far, Chen Ming Yoong, Ernest (Edmund’s younger brother), Tony Cheong, Nora Chua, Baharudin, James Ong, Victor Chee, Chuan Lip (from Fuyong Estate). Do you still remember them? Big smile! Yes! Mrs. Sim made the best Soon Kueh and other Kuehs. She worked non-stop to support the large family. John Sim was the first amongst the sons that sold steaming hot Soon Kuek during the evenings for 5 cents each. Lowry did you work for Sime Darby? If so, what were the years.
OMG that photo of Susan n Janet, in James' blog, beside block 21 with the school in the background just brought back some memories. That dress that Janet has on was the Estate sisters' identity at one time. If I remember correctly the fabric had a white background n it came in different theme colours with checks, ducks and the border at the hem.
My sis n I wore the blue, Anne n June wore the yellow. The Eurasian family ground floor of Nora's block had two sisters n I think they wore the red. I think James' sisters may have worn the green or the pink. I don't know why we were dressed that way but I think our parents bought the fabric from the "lelong". I suppose all of us were crazy over the design. It was like a trend n all our dresses had the same cut, sleeveless with full gathered skirt n my sis n I wore net can-can to fluff up the skirt. And I recall that all of us seemed to like wearing them…together!…like a uniform. We all walked around feeling very pretty n proud of ourselves lols
Chan Kum Sung
wow you've got a pretty good memory for kids not in your class. Only error was Victor Chee who wasn't always in my class except once in P4 when I went into the B class for that year. Are you in touch with them all ? I've a photo of my p1 class that is on James Tann's blog but for some reason a number of p1s are not in it. Im in touch with Anne Moss, Lilian Lim, Nora Chua and Lilian is in touch with Ernest of course who's her cousin, Sok Yong and Sok Yong & Nora are in touch with Molly Tan. Anne is in touch with Santwant Kaur. Anne, Nora, Satwant are all overseas. Not in the p1 picture are Tony Cheong, Molly, Nora, See Toh Hon Hoi, Ngadiah, Gee Singh. I was in touch with Gee upto about 15 or so years ago. He got married to a lady from India and after that he slowly lost contact with all our friends. Gee used to live at the Castrol, I think his dad was the watchman there. I worked in Sime Darby I think 1971 to 72 for less than 2 years.
Lowy, please give me the name of the Sim's brother air-condition service company name. I believe that it is run by the 2nd eldest, Ah Tee - I don't really know his other name - could be Jack, becoz I will most likely be going to Singapore sometime this year and wish to meet as many old friends as possible. Cheers!!!
Lowy, oh yes! Molly Tan lived behind my house, and See Toh, but can't really remember Lilian Lim - does she has a brother named Robert - I got mixed up there, if so, then I know who. Lilian lived at blk 20. But I can't remember Sok Yong, Santwant and the rest - need to see their picture or know what block or house number they lived in. LOLs.
Lowy, I had worked for Tractors Malaysia Berhad, one of Sime Darby holding companies from 1970 to 1976. I still have some pictures of people that worked at Sime Darby whom went to the Sime Darby sports meet in 1970 at Kuala Lumpur. Do you want to take a look at them? I am sure you would recognized them.
Chan Kum Sung
No, it wasn't the older brother's company. It was the youngest and we always called him Sim. I will find out from a mutual friend the name of the company and how to contact him. Let you know soon as I know. Molly is in the US and Nora is in Canada. Yes Lilian has many siblings and her brother is Robert and the others are Richard, Philip, Andrew and several sisters.
OK I don't mind having a look at the pictures of the sports day in KL. I wasn't there very long so I knew mostly only the Sime Darby people in Robinson Road.
Lowy, I don't see your P1 photo in James Tann's blog. But I read what you said about a Jimmy Tan, if that is the same Mr. Tan whom was your form teacher then I totally agreed with you what a horrible teacher he was, in fact he slapped me and 5 other boys while we were in Primary 5. I also met him in an evelator at Toa Payoh sometime in 1975 while visiting my brother Kum Fatt, but I was so disgusted with him that I totally ignored him - actually felt like giving him back a slap. LOLs. Yes! I am still in contact with Tony Cheong, Ming Yoong, and Donald Upatissa. Donald is in contact with Chin Yeows younger brother whom move to NZ. Lowy, I heard from James that you have moved to Perth. If so, there must be lots of old estate people living there right now. The Hogan's and Amos Chew lived there for a long time now. Amos Chew from the estate married a eurasian girl name Marie whom had lived in the Boys Town area, Glen and Phillip Hogan once lived above James Tann's unit.
Lowy, sent me an email at jkschan@rogers.com and I will send you the pictures.
Chan Kum Fatt
OMG you're in touch with Tony, Ming Yong, Donald ??? That's fabulous. How are they ? Are they all still in Singapore ? This is soooo strange to hear of kids I last saw at 12 years and we're all way past middle age now !!!
Yes I know the Hogans, my mum and Winnie Hogan were good friends. Gary died many years ago. He and his dad died withing 6 months of each other. Winnie died about 10 years ago. I met Glen in Singapore once when Alice and Lilian Lim set up a meeting with some of the estate dwellers. Lilian Lim lived above the Gonzales family in the block behind mine, facing the school and Chua Sok Yong's family were above Lilians in the same block. OMG I still can't get over this, my Primary school classmates still in touch. I must tell Anne and Lilian this as I've remained very close to them over the years even though we're separated by distance. They both flew over to Perth for my 25th wedding anniversary and I ll be going to Melbourne early next month for Anne's daughter's wedding. Pls give my regards to Tony, Donald, Ming Yong who was my neighbour for a bit, but they may not even remember me !!! lol
Lowy, Tony is taking it easy now he said the other day. He was in the food business. His mother had sold their house in Jalan Zamrud not too long ago. Ming Yoong still works for FMC in Jurong and lives in Diary Farm since he moved in in the 1980's. Donald lives in Bukit Batok and works for a newspaper company. They are all doing very well. Very sad that Johari Ali had passed away for sometime now.
My brother Kum Fatt lives in Melbourne with his wife Audrey six months of the year, and six months in Singapore.
Lowry, now I know which Lilian you were refering too, and also his elder brothers Robert, and Richard Lim the diver. Yes! Yes! I do remember them now. There was also another Lilian that lived at block 20 whom had a younger brother also named Robert. LOLs.
Lowy, I just saw your primary photos. I got the names wrong on my previous post, the names I mentioned Kee Far is Ki Fu, and Cheung Lip is Chuan Cheng. Chuan Cheng has a younger brother Chuan Hoe. The is also a fellow by the name Hai Lip or something from Fuyong est that was in your class? Also maybe her name is Elaine not Lilian that lived in block 20. My mind gets screwed up - old already lah! LOLs.
Lowy, re-your primary one photo back row fourth person from left. Is his name John something? And middle row left of Chuan Cheng, could his name be Hia Lip that lives in Fuyong Estate? :)))
Lowy, it was Donald's bother Ebert whom introduced this website to me the other day. Then I notified Tony Cheong about his baby picture on line. Today, I sent an email to Ming Yoong asking him to help fill in the missing names of your classmates. Haha! Big smile!
James Tann, the Peranakan family, The Teo family you mentioned 1st Dec 2011 lived at Blk 18 #109. They have 4 sons and 3 daughters. Eldest to youngest are Margaret, Rosalind, Kim Hock, Kim Bee, Kim Leng, Jennie, & Georgie. FYI, I am still in contact with Kim Leng & Georgie Teo.
Somebody mentioned a Malay clerk that walks with a limp at PEES, he rings the school bell and also delivers class attendance register, his name is Farwi - not sure of the spelling. I met him afew time in the 1980's at the Singapore satay club - the Esplanade mouth of the Singapore River in downtown Singapore selling Satay. Farwi a very friendly guy.
Re: Peter's msg 1st Dec 2011, the Fernadez family that lived in PEE and a teacher of Boys Town. Yes! D. was right they did lived at the 7 storey and moved to Jalan Zamrud. The family had moved to Australia. Mr. Fernandez was my English teacher at Boys Town Sec Sch.
Lowy, you know what is stranger? The fact that we have walked passed each other at least a thousand times along school corridors, up and down the staircase of your 124B apartment and we have never said a single word to each other (I believe). It must be more than 40 years since I saw you and we are miles apart or the furthest point from one another on planet earth between Perth-Aust & Toronto-Canada, we are now chatting. How about that being strange, huh? LOLs.
Wow talk about coincidences!
Kum Sung mention of Hai Lip. Chu Hai Lip was my neighbour at Fuyong Estate when I lived there in the mid 70s.
But I thnk you should be referring to his brother Hai Tin, as Hai Lip (Hai Lih) was in the year after you (1954 as Hai Lip was in my sister's class instead).
Both Hai Tin and Hai Lip are now aircraft engineers with SIA. They also have a younger sister Hai Yan (Serena), who married one of the Cheng boys from the chinese kampong at Lor Taluki
Hi D.
The girls in the photo you mentioned wearing the 'uniform' fabric are actually Joanne and Janet. The girl on the right is Penny Kam, the daughter of Kam Eng Cheong. You may not know her as she transferred to PEES from CHIJ Convent in Pri 5, when the Kam family moved into Popular Estate along Elizabeth Drive.
James Tann, Yes! You are right. I got mixed up with Hai Lip and Hai Tin. You mentioned the Cheng boys from the Kampong, I remembered a Tony Cheng whom is much older than me. I believe Tony Cheng is somewhere in Toronto Canada, do you know this?
Kum Sung, no, I don't know anyone named Cheng in Toronto. The only people I know there are my former colleagues from Shred-It based at Mississauga but they are not Chinese.
Kum Sung
lol yes you're right :) its so funny but you know this is what is called "aging" hahahaha much as I hate to say it !
We loose our inbitions and chat with everybody ! My children get very embarassed when I start conversations with random people :)
I was very very shy and quiet all through school, even secondary and no one believes me now when I say Im shy. Honestly though I remember your family as the "Chan Kum ...." boys but apart from Kum Fatt, for obvious reasons, can't remember each individually and even while in Sime Darby, your brother was the one who said he'd lived in PEE, if he hadn't I would've been none the wiser. I was a dreamer, totally unaware of what was happening around me. When you next speak to Tony & Ming Yong & Donald, pls say hello from me.
Lowy, I am the same in some ways...don`t know how to talk to girls and had stayed out of sight. LOLs. I am the youngest amongst a family of 5 boys growing up. Yes! I have conveyed your best regards to Ming Yoong. You know, without your email address I can`t show you any pictures from Sime Darby. Hey, I don`t want to push if you are not comfortable giving out email address..I will know now that you are a very shy person. LOLs. If you do so, I will also send you a photo of me taken in the 70`s and you may remember me.
Kum Sung
I sent you my email addy last night together with P1 photo and some questions ! Surprised you didn't get it. Will resend.
Kun Seng you mentioned Chuan Cheng n Chuan Ho n now I remember the name of their brother who was in my class: Chuan Huat. Poor Chuan Huat was picked on daily by mr Jummy Tan who was our P6 form teacher. He did make going to school quite dreadful for some boys.
Someone in an early comment was confused abt two Ms Kees. The earlier one during my time was Irene Kee, slim n tall, shoulder length hair n pouty lips n reddish lipstick, who was constantly flirting with Jimmy Tan and they eventually married. I believe Lowy saw them in church?
I have no clue who the other Ms Kee is. She must have started teaching after I left. It's so nice to read the comments n listen to ur surprises when u recall each other. Does anyone know what happened to Tian Seng? He used to come to my home with Rani. Tian Seng was a great agogo dancer. He used to sometimes play with Boon Hoo n James. Do u remember him James?? Rani lived on the ground floor near the Bulner family n she was often seen carrying her baby brother Douglas. Rani n Tian Seng were close friends as they both loved dancing…n me too. We used to spend hours "choreographing" in my home, at that time the hot hit was Wooly Bully!
Sorry Kum Sung I was addressing u but iPhone loves to respell
Hi D. I have to see faces to remember that two you mentioned. This is what I remembered over hearing Boon Hoo commented about your Ballet dancing, "She said that she can jumped up and tap her feet together three times before landing back on the floor", it is something to this regard. You took up ballet dancing right, and did you actually said something to him like that? LOLs. Lowy said that she does not remember me, do you remember seeing me? Hehe!
Chan Kum Sung
Sorry, can't remember the name of the guy, back row 4th from the left. Actually can't remember quite a number of names and appreciate if you or the others you're in touch with can remember some.
D, I'd forgotten about Tian Seng :) I remember now how he and Rani used to come to our house ! He was always soooo enthusiastic and poor Rani perpetually with that child on her hips, she herself a child. I remember Douglas looked like a bean .... :)
Hi Kum Sung, sorry I can't remember meeting u. I know James cos he lived in d same block n I played with his sisters. Boon Hoo also used to play at my block and his younger brother was in my class followed by the youngest boy who was in one of my brothers class, Boon Hwa n Boon Meng. They used to hang out in our home a lot to watch tv. Man From UNCLE played on a particular night around 8pm n all three brothers wud even be at my home in their striped pyjamas n then rush home when the show ended. Tony Gonzales was also often at my home cos he loved to play board games, and even with my dad. As a matter of fact there were a lot of children in my home everyday, especially during school holidays.
I think you're probably right abt me telling Boon Hoo abt my ballet "moves" lol That was one of the things Grade 2 dancers had to achieve to move up to Grade 3. My goodness what a super memory u have!
James my dad told me yesterday that George Catherasoo wasn't the first PEES principal, it was a Mr Punosamy
(spelling?) I read in ur blog that Mr Catherasoo had a white Volvo? I think it was grey. Also have u heard of the story regarding how St Joseph's Church was built there? Or abt that huge statue of St Joseph?
Lowy lol glad u can now remember Tian Seng n Rani n Yes Douglas' profile was bean shaped. He was such a cute n good baby! I mentioned Sumiati Sukarman in one of my earlier posts. Do u remember her? She has an older sis n brother. The mum was the sexiest sarong kebaya clad lady in the Estate with long wavy waist length hair. The dad was short n stout n they lived in 7 storey.
If I'm not wrong she was in the same year as James n Boon Hoo n she had a major crush on Boon Hoo. She was a very good runner. I got to know her during our inter district meets.
Hi D. That ballet maneuver seems so technically impossible to me at that time was why I remembered it so well. LOLs. Do you think you can still perform such a move today? Just kidding only lah! :)))
Ah Yes! The Man from Uncle. You too have a very good memory. I was the one that printed T-shirts for all my friends - you see in secondary one I joined the Boys Town Arts club and we did silk screen printing. We all wore that printed T-shirt so proudly parading (like a peacock) around the estate...we were kids. Haha!
hello D.
Yes, I knew that Mr Ponnunsamy was the 1st principal before Catherasoo (It's listed in my chronology blog too). Mr Ponnumsamy lived at Fuyong Estate near where I used to live once.
About St Jpseph, do write to me about the story and I'll publish it for you on my blog. It'll be interesting to know.
Boo Hoo and I were not in the same class, we were from different sessions. Sumiati was in Boon Hoo class but she and I became went to the same secondary school. She had lots of admirers and boys would always asked me to 'introduce' her 'cos they thought that I knew her well, coming from the same primary school, from the same estate and always took the same United Bus 173 to school. Strangely I knew Sumiati only after being in secondary school and not in PEES!
Deb, you remember that huge granite boulder on top of the hill where they later built Jalan dermawan estate? I think you have a picture of that boulder. I would like to write an article about that boulder but I need a photo of it. Do you still have one?
James, I have the picture but give me a chance to look for it ! Been busy recently so haven't been through my 'old' stuff :) Doubt if D has it, right D ?
D yes I remember the comings and goings in our house with all the kids running in and out :) We weren't allowed to wander far but children were welcomed in our home. Wonder how mum coped with it :) I remember Tony spent hours in our home playing chess, draughts especially with Dad and getting his ears pinched when he made a wrong move. I wonder if he still remembers. Then of course the Thia brothers lol .... they'd run home have dinner and come back in their striped jammies .... so funny and Boon Hoo trying his best to be Robert Vaughn in man from UNCLE !!! I remember Sumiati and her pretty mum too.
D, James ....
yes and of course mustn't forget the Tann kids, and James brushing the carpet lol
and so many others, I have pictures of some but can't remember their names !!!
I met Robin Gonzales last weekend and told him about this website but he said he was totally PC illiterate but he will try and get someone to log in for him. He's working at Tuas 2nd Link as an ICA officer. I have his contact if any of you want it.
His mom, Jacqui Gonzales was running the Sunday canteen at St Mary's Church for many years. She was quite a character but I knew many other ladies couldn't take her brash way of speaking, although we got along famously together when I worked at St Mary.
Talking about the Gonzales, I just added a photo of Mr Raphael Gonzales to my photo blog. Mr Gonzales was the elected MP for Serangoon Gardens under the PAP ticket in the 1963 elections.
I can't recall all the children's names except for Robin and Tony. I believe the others were Kevin and Bonita.
They lived on the ground floor of Blk 22 beside the primary school.
the twins were David and Jacquita
In PEES, I was at firstly in Guttas House but was re-assigned to Kiwi House when in Pri5. I don't know the reason for the switch.
If you are not aware of Guttas, I wrote an article about it in my PEE blog here,
http://ijamestann.blogspot.com/2012/01/factories-at-pee-5-malayan-guttas.html
James I don't have the boulder pic. Lowy has it. I'm glad u guys remember Sumiati :) I wonder what happened to her. She was very pretty. Actually the Estate had lots of pretty girls n handsome boys!
Someone mentioned the name Alam Shah. I had forgotten abt this person but now I remember he was tall n slim n wore glasses, a talented musician. He was much much older than me but he was famous in the Estate as a musician.
Btw…hvnt seen any comments from Old Timer for some time. Hope he's fine. Oh yes another thing, my younger brother also had a Chuan boy in his class, Chuan Seng.
D. I mentioned Alam Shah afew days ago. Yes! He was a talented musician and very nice guy. Very sad, he passed away last November after a year’s battle with lung cancer.
Hi Kum Sung its sad to find out news of ppl who have passed on.
I looked at ur recent photo n I find ur face familiar but I can't really recall u as a young boy. Which block is 18? There were no block numbers that I recall when I lived there.
Hi D. You were at block 21, and the one left front from you was 17, block 18 was further left of 17. Then block 20 was Boon Hoo block, further left of block 20 was block 19, get it? :)))
When did your family moved out of the estate?
Since you indicated that I looked familiar, I like to ask you this. There was a restaurant in front of Cathy cinema - not sure whether it is still there. This restaurant was famous for its nasi Briyani back those days. Know which restaurant I am saying here? Anyways, one evening sometime in the early 1980's I remembered someone was waving/making eye contact at me in that restaurant and never know who was it. However, I did not wave back or returned that gesture because I was not sure who was that. It was much later after I left the restaurant that I realized that it may be you. This has always stayed at the back of my mind and now like to find out. D. can you remember whether that you were the one? This will unsolved the mystery once and for all. LOLs
Kum Sung
and how about the number of the block behind 21 that was facing the school at an angle ?
Lowy, The block behind you was 22. The 7-storey behind Boo Hoo's block was 23 and the next 7-storey was block 24. I think there is a map of the estate showing all the block numbers in James Tann's blog.
Kum Sung, I tried looking for the map on James' blog but couldn't find it, however by ur description, I think I get it now…ur block was next to Nora's block. U do look familiar but I don't think I've ever spoken to u then. In regards to the lady in the nasi bryani restaurant waving at u…it wasn't me so ur mystery of the waving lady continues.
D. Wow! You are up so late - not working tomorrow? Yes! Block 18 was next to Nora's block. Well, since you weren't that lady whom waved to me, I actually feel better already, because now I know that you weren't the person I snubbed - actually I didn't mean to since I wasn't sure who was that person then. LOLs.
D. Yes! I have never spoken to you. We did only made eye contact during our meeting while either going up or down the staircase at block 21 when I visited the Chen family.
D. Go to James Tann's blog, left screen under POST, look for Locating Princess Elizabeth Estate, select that and scroll down midway and you will see an aerial picture of PEE with every block labelled with numbers.
D. When did you moved in and out of PEE? If I remember correctly my PEES primary two classmate, his name was Prakash - an Indian boy, had lived in your unit before you moved in. Prakas told me that his family was moving back to India. That must be sometime in the middle to late 1961. There was also a cantonese girl in my class, her name is Wong Kim Kwan and she had lived just below your unit - 124A. Do you remember Kim Kwan? Wow! That was more than 50 years ago.
Kum Sung I was there since baby n I think we moved out in 1967. U mentioned going to the Chen home. Were u the friend of Lawrence Chen? And were u the one who liked to play high jump with him n other big boys in the field next to my block, which is the field in front of Boon Hoo's blk?
I remember James played with Nannie Chen. My brothers played with the youngest, Peter Chen.
Kum Sung I think Kim Kwan is the girl we called Momoy, which is her pet name. Her brother is George or Foo Keong? I remember my Mum told us that an Indian family lived in our flat before us. U must have lived there way before us.
D. Yes! I was a friend to the Chen family. I am not sure who is Lawrence, if he is the eldest then I called him Ming Chee, then Roland is Ming yan, followed by Ming Yoong, Nannie - Ming Lai and Peter - Ming Wah. Your younger brothers did go over to the Chen family house many times. Lawrence, Ming Yan, Ming Yoong, me and some of the estate friends would either go to the Johor causeway for spear fishing or hunting somewhere in the jungles of Mersing Johor on most weekends. I remembered your brothers well, especially Herman - a very intelligent boy. We were not high jumping but pole vaulting on that field.
Ming Yoong is Lawrence. And YES! Not high jump but pole vault lol I'm beginning to remember. After u changed ur photo I kinda remembered ur face n then when u mentioned the Chens I suddenly had a flashback of Lawrence n u playing pole vault! I used to watch from the verandah in anticipation not as to who makes it over but whose weight would break the bamboo pole! Hehe
I believe you big boys had kite season too n included those younger ones like James n my brothers.
Kids in those days were so creative with games!
D. Lawrence is Ming Yoong, how come I don't know that? Haha! I will asked him tonight or your time tomorrow morning while he is at work. So! You now know who I am. :))) Ming Yoong was the one whom introduce us that sport, I believe.
Kum Sung you're still in touch with Lawrence! That's amazing.
He used to be so shy, the other brothers were not shy. I remember whenever Lawrence n I crossed paths at our block staircase he would move as far away from me as he could, practically pasting himself to the wall. I didn't realise he was shy then, I was much younger than him so I asked my mum what was wrong with me n she told me Lawrence was shy that's all lol. Please send him my regards :)
D. I have already sent him an email about his name - Lawrence, and have notifed him about James Tann's website, the primary one picture of him, and communicating with Lowy.
The next time, I will convey your regards to him.
Oh my post didn't go through. Kum Sung, I was saying in that post that Lowy told me a Eurasian family lived in our flat before we moved in. Teacher Mr Koshy was living with an Indian family in Chens' flat way before they moved in. They or the Bakars may hv been our first neighbour. Perhaps someone else can shed some light on this?
Kum Sung,
I think Min Yoong is also know as 'Ah Kor'
Are you still in contact with 'Katek' aka Richard the kampung boy who climed up durain trees at night and start shaking from the top of the tree to the bottom to dislodge the durains behind 7 storey? He was my driving instructor in the late 70s.
Chuck
Hi Chuck, Yes! Ming Yoong aka Ah Kor. Richard after battling with stomach cancer for a few years has died more than two years now. He wasn't the one whom had climbed the durian tree. He taught me driving too and was a very good friend.
How many of you can recall Quah Kim Choon, of the football Quah family, visiting PEE families regularly. Kim Choon worked at Union Carbide and would visit colleagues in the estate very often after work.
Hi D,
Surfing the net to reminisce on long lost childhood memories and chanced upon this blog. I read the post and noted my 2 brothers' and my name being mentioned. Yes, those precious memories at peeps drives me to captivate and ponder with heartfelt laughter and tears. Thanks to all who post and share on this blog. Feeling young again. Ha!ha!
Hi D,
Its 3 of my brothers and myself being mentioned in the post.
Still remembers the school's kacang puteh and sweet stall that burns the super smelling joss stick every morning without fail.
Hihiii Chuan Huat! Wow so great to read that ur fine. Kum Sung told me u posted so I had to rush here to "see" u. Yes it's great to remember our childhood. Are u in touch with any of our classmates?
Hi D,
Yes, its so...so nice to hear from u. I have lost touch with each n everyone of our classmates. U remember my neighbour Khee Lian. His whole family moved. Can u still recall classmates names like Kok Hua, Boon Kok, Ian Hogan, Chong Lek and Peng Sum. Are u in touch with any of them? I can still recall u giving me my first christian name 'Rex'. Glad that u are doing great.
Hi Guys,
If u all can recall, there was this Hume factory just beside the Union Carbide factory. I use to play n have friends staying in the employees quarters provided by Hume during the '50 to '70s. I can still recall the beautiful landscape and a big windmill( like those in Holland) sited at this living quarters. Unfortunately, this beautiful one and only iconic heritage was not conserved. Maybe the URA wasn't aware that there's a windmill up there. Can anyone recall or have seen this? I believe only a handful of people actually witness this iconic windmill. I believe I must be one of the few lucky ones. Sad to see it vanished.
Chuan Huat
Your older brother was in my class in PEE and if I'm not mistaken he could've been in kindy with me too at the Salvation army lee Kuo Chuan day kindy :)
Yes Lowy,
My elder brother,Chuan Cheng, was your classmate in PEES n kindy at the Salvation army. All my brothers including myself also did kindy at the Salvation army too. Can still remember the big size patron we use to address her as Major. We will have milk and biscuit for breaks. Cannot forget the taste of that milk.
Me bro, Chuan Huat, was so exhilarated when he stumbled onto this blog and saw my P1 photo, that he printed a hard copy of it for my keepsake. Yes! I'm Chuan Cheng, 1960-65. I've initially rummage thru this site but was fascinated with it, so I went thru it all again more thoroughly. My bro has made a great discovery! Names that were hidden in some corners of this old brain of mine became apparent. The school, the estate, shops, etc. I began recalling them all, 1 by 1. I can now understand why my bro, Chuan Huat, was so excited about it all then. Well, he still is! And I won't deny it myself. Great job! Sad though that the estate has changed so much. My mum still lives in Fuyong Est & I passed by the estate sometimes but most of what was isn't there anymore. I've lost touch with all my classmates/schoolmates. Last person I'd been in contact with was Lilian Lim, little red riding hood and gee, that was some 40 years ago! Yes! I remember most of my classmates, Anne Moss, Nora Chua, James Ong, Wong Chin Yeow (always at the top of the class), Ernest Wee, etc...Does anybody remember Lai Bun Tot & Chew Teck Kian? Didn't come across these two so far. And Johari Ali aka Joe Ally, my buddy. God bless your soul. That's life!
oh my goodness Choo Chuan Cheng !!! lol I'm thrilled to bits and was so pleased to see your post in my notifications. I'm in touch with a number of our class mates and actually we met up in mid June this year at Ah Mei's cafe in Rail Mall !!! :)
There was Chen Ming Yoong, Donald Jayasena, Seetoh Hon Hoi, Tony Cheong,Victor Chee, Lai Bun Tot and me !!! Great huh ? Even have a picture to prove it. Unfortunately Lilian Lim and Elaine Yau couldn't make it due to prior commitments. I'm still in regular contact with Anne Moss (now Duncan living in Melbourne) and Lilian Lim (now Arriola), on email with Nora Chua (in Canada) Nora is in touch with Molly Tan (USA) and Anne is in touch with Satwant Sandhu (Adelaide)I remember you, the woodcutter, James was the wolf, Lilian was Little red riding hood and Kamalan the grandmother. If you want everyone's contacts, send me an email at brenda.brendalow@gmail.com
I'm living in Perth.
I was in touch with Gee Singh for a number of years till he got married and I got married and eventually we lost touch. I'm trying to find out from mutual friends what happened to him.
Kum Sang
Thanks for everything that you've done. I've received the photos Lowy requested to be sent to me. Most of all, thanks for getting all this started in the first place.
Honestly, I still am unable to place who you are yet. But I figured you couldn't possibly be in my class. Probably a year or two my senior.
My family, I shall put it here as the Choo Chuan family, actually had 5 brothers in PEEPS. The eldest is Chuan Chai, who was in the same class as Nigel Moss, Tan Boon Huat, Sng Seng Chuan, Seetoh Wat Hoi. I'm No. 2 followed by Chuan Hoe, classmate June Moss. Then Chuan Huat & Chuan Seng. By then, I had moved on to Swiss Cottage Sec together with Lilian, Nora & Molly. Does anybody remember Chuan Chai? Anyway, he is presently residing in Sunbury, Melbourne.
Lowy has been asking about Gee Singh. If I'm not mistaken, he used to live at the far left end of the big field, first or second corner house, right? He has a younger brother who was in the same class as Chuan Hoe. I remember dropping by Gee's house on my way home by foot sometimes. Slightly further on, there's Sapuan, who later on goes by the name Mason. I think he was in a band, can't remember the name, which included a Henry Ang, who moved into the estate later on and happened to be with me at Swiss Cottage. I remember Henry was from Gan Eng Seng.
Hello Chuan Cheng - I was in the same year as you but in a different class - same class as Sapuan since you remembered him. Yes! I can remember only the three eldest in your family - Chuan Chai, you and Chuan Hoe. Chuan Chai may be in the same year as my elder brother Kam Lock. I do remember your younger brother Chuan Hoe too because we both attended the primary school district sports meet at Toh Tuck primary school - representing PEES. I think we were teamed up with Ramli (Ramli lived up at the Bukit Timak Hill and played in a famous band in Singapore)and one other for the 4-100 relay and also in the long jump events. The last time I saw Chuan Hoe, he was wearing a merchant navy kind of uniform getting down the bus across Fuyong estate sometime in the 1970's. Henry Ang and Tony Cheong always hung out together, and are still in contact with one another. This coming December we plan to meet and you are welcome to join us. Cheers!
Strangely, like Kum Sang, my memories of Chuan Hoe was also of him in his spiffy white uniform (white shorts, white shirt with epaulette, black cap and high socks) that was the trademark of his Pre-Sea engineering course at Singapore Polytechnic. I lived at Fuyong Est in the 1970s and saw him often at the bus stop as well. Chuan Hoe was one of the few who took up the call to join the Pre-Sea course. We were in the same sec sch but he was a year ahead of me.
I often met Subash Chandra who later became a curator at Mandai Zoo, at the same bus top. Subash also lived at Fuyong Estate and was the bro-in-law of Mr Venugopal from PEES.
Kum Sang & James Tann
Yes! you're both correct about my bro, Chuan Hoe. He was doing Pre Sea at S'pore Poly, then at Shenton Way, and wearing those navy uniform. Graduated and went on to sail the world for quite a number of years. Remembered whenever he came back, he, Chuan Huat, myself & my girlfriend, would go out and get ourselves drunk stupid! lol.
He's well! Retired, doesn't need to have a mobile phone and enjoys drinking.
James Tann. If you had lived at Fuyong Est in the 70s, then we should know each other. Your surname, Tann, looks familiar.Is Joanne Tann your sister? I remember Chuan Hoe dated with a Joanne Tann, also living in Fuyong Est, for a period. But, that was a couple of decades ago! And yes, I remember Mr Venu & Chandra.
I was chatting with Kum Sang last night and I happened to thank him using Malay. He replied using Malay briefly. Which reminded me that hey, we had to study Bahasa Kebangsaan when we were at PEES! You all remember? Guess it was when we became part of Malaysia then.I remember taking part in a play speaking Malay together with Johari.
On the sports front, Chuan Hoe was quite a good sportsman then, esp the long jump. Ramli Sarip was real good! I envied him during sports day. He will always walk home with lots of trophies & medals. I kept in touch with him for a period. He lived in the Malay kampong at the foot of Bt Timah Hill. A good musician with band Sweet Charity. Read about him quite a bit on and off in the papers.
Actually, there were quite a number of residents of Fuyong Est who studied at PEEPS then. Names like Katherine Chua, Maureen Boh, Brian Wilson Merlyn Chan, Wong Kong Chak, the Sim Khee family, etc. Anybody remember anybody?
Chuan Cheng - I could only remember my primary 1-4 classmates from Fuyong estate - they were Sulaka, Solmon, Jaya - father was the PEEs tamil school teacher. Then in the 1990's I worked with Vijay - younger brother of Sulaka here in Canada. We still meet up once a year before Christmas for X-Spar Aerospace engineering staff. Wah! You can still remember Ramli's surname and band name - you aren't so blurr after all. Big smile! Donald Jayasena told me sometime back that he met Ramli near Bencoolen Street, and Rammli was playing at a night club somewhere around that area. Ramli and I were primary school classmates. Cheers!
I made some mistakes with the names of kids from Fuyong Est... They should be Boey Kong Chak, reckon he's related to Hai Tin & Hai Lip, Wong Kong Meng and Merly Chan.
Kum Sang, see! Still quite blur, right? lol. I'm on summer holidays' break now till mid Aug. Will be very, very free to un-blur myself. Need to exercise this old brain. Should improve more or less by then. Cheerio!
HI Chuan Cheng
Yes, Joanne is my sister. I lived at no. 71 directly opposite Chu Hai Tin and Hai Lih's house. I vaguely remembered that your family lived on the other side of the estate somewhere near Jalan Uji.
I didn't know that Ramli Sarip was from PEES ! I should put him up as a luminary on my own blog.
Hi James,
Ramli has got a younger brother by the name of Hanafi and is the classmate of my bro Chuan Hoe. Understand that like his elder brother Ramli, he himself is also very sucessful in the music circle both in Singapore n Malaysia.
Hi Chuan Cheng & Chuang Huat !
When Kum Sung mentioned Chuan Hoe, the dots started to connect and when Chuan Cheng mentioned my sis Joanne, the whole thing just went boomz! It started to come back in a flash!
Long lost and forgotten bits of memories began appearing. This has happened to me several times on LCS's blog here.
Suddenly I remember you all as Richard, Robert, Ricky and Raymond with sis, Ivy! Chuan Cheng, you are Robert right? My sis Joanne who was dating Chuan Hoe at that time was a bridesmaid at your wedding (in the last century haha).
And you know something funnier? Another sis Janet was dating your other brother Raymond (Chuan Seng?) Raymond and Janet were in the same year at PEES.
Small world indeed.
Hello James
The dots, followed by boomz & then the flash were natural phenomenon. But, the sequence were not in proper order.
Okay James, let me try and help enlighten you to the best of my ability. I mentioned in my earlier posting, the Choo Chuan family were 5 boys. Eldest Chai is Ronnie who later shorten it to Ron. I'm no. 2, Cheng, Richard. Hoe is Robert, Huat is Ricky and youngest Seng is Raymond. You got us not in proper order. Ivy is our baby sister then.
Ron left for Australia in the mid 60s. I was the 1st to marry in the family, mid 70s. I can't remember whether or not Robert & Joanne were already dating. Could be, and maybe not. Cos, Robert would be sailing during that period. Unless they dated while he was in between changing vessels in his sailing career. Joanne, may have been a guest during my wedding, if they were dating then, but definitely not a bridesmaid.
As for Janet & Raymond, yes they dated but for how long, I wouldn't know. But, yes, I remember she came to my house with Joanne quite frequently then. So, the sequence should be dots, followed by a flash and finally BOOM! Bingo! Hahaha!
Yes James, it a small world!
Hi Chuan Cheng (Richard)
Thanks for straightening that out!
The memory cells containing that data hasn't been working for at least 25 years! so it's understandably a bit corrupted.
By the way, I've added 2 'new' old photos of PEE residents on my blog. These are of past residents.
If anyone can identify them, I would be most appreciative. Hope Brenda Phua is reading this cos I know she's good at that.
Some of the people features include Ann and June Moss.
Here's the link:http://ijamestann.blogspot.sg/2012/06/photos-from-ex-residents-4.html
Hi All
Bored, since I'm on long break, and feeling nostalgic, I ran thru this blog page (posts 201-301) again! And, yes! dots, flash, & boomz, as James put them hit me. I remember some unanswered questions along the way.
James Tann mentioned about the granite boulder on the summit of the Jln Demawan Est. Yes, I remember that hugh boulder. I vividly remember during my school days, they were in the midst of clearing up the hill to build the Dermavan Est and it was almost bare of trees. Just a bare reddish brown hill with a few bulldozers and lorries hardly moving. We used to call that hill Botak Hill. I remember climbing up that hill once after school to see that boulder and it felt like climbing a mountain! Remember going home after that only to get a good
whacking from my mum cos my uniform, shoes and all were reddish brown stained! And, I remember several years after that climb, I was already a teenager, I went up that hill again with Ernie Koh, whom we used to call Fai Meng, and a few others. The boulder was still there! Parts of the hill were already developed. And I remember Ernie naming that boulder Heaven!
Kum Sung was asking D about an incident at a restaurant opposite Cathay Cinema. The name of that Nasi Padang Restaurant was called Rendevous Nasi Padang. It later became Rendevous Hotel. Rendezvous Hotel is still there but the delicious nasi padang restaurant is no longer operating there. Just a few weeks back, my guest from Jakarta mentioned about it and after a no. of calls, found out it's still operating, but at Central Mall, beside the Merchant Court Hotel. Still as delicious, but about 20 times what it had cost back then! Inflation :)
Finally, our good friend, the late Alam Shah. If I'm not mistaken, he wasn't a PEES student. He moved into the estate later, like Henry Ang. I remember he lives in one of the terrace houses along Elizabeth Drive directly
opposite where the shops were. Yes! A very good lead guitarist with Pest Infested 4(?). God bless his soul.
Cheers!
Yes Chuan Cheng that restaurant is still there & still good. When I was there in March I'd been out all day with my camera and didn't realize I hadnt eaten till 8pm so I wandered round looking for food and chanced upon it! Lol the staff must have thought strange ole bat eating by herself. I was soooo hungry & tired lugging all my paraphernalia but I enjoyed every mosel of my solo dinner & with a view of the river too.
James tann I know I still owe you the pic of the boulder ! It'll take time but you ll get it. Say hi to the sisters for me.
Hi all,
yes, that granite boulder was really an outstanding landmark on top of the hill!
It must have been at least 15 feet high and weight several tons. At least it was super tall to a short kid kid like me.
I recalled that there were more than 1 large boulder and we could play around them and also jump from one boulder to the next.
Hopefully Brenda will find the time to sent us that photo.
But like my anecdote about the PEE school field, I won't be surprise that the boulder turns out smaller than we imagine it!
Chuan Cheng. You are right. My sis Joanne confirmed she was not a bridesmaid at yr wedding but was one of the 'Ah-Ees'. Part of the bridal party of single ladies who accompanied yr wife around.
Hi James Tann
Yes! That boulder may have been much smaller! Ha! I remember there were scrubs around some of the other smaller less explored boulders, and we would be hoping to find buah susu. A small type of fruit, greenish yellow, about the size of a large buah luku! Anybody?
Rgds your sis Joanne, thank her for me for her confirmation about being Ah Ee during my wedding. I wasn't sure myself. Must try and dig out my old wedding photos. How's Joanne. It's been a long time. Have her know that Shirley, my wife, passed away in 1989. Thanks James.
Hi James,
Are you from AAME12 batch at SIA?
Hi Chuan Cheng.
There were tons of buah susu growing all over Bukit Gombak right up to the radar station. I remember we made a hole at one end and sucked out all the juice, pulp and pits, esp sweet were the golden ones.
Joanne is aware of Shirley's passing and actually attended her service at St Andrew's Cathedral. She saw the obit in the newspapers and rush down to the church in time.
To anon: regards the SIA AAME12 batch, send me a personal email as this place may not be the right place for that.
To anon: sorry if I sounded a bit too strong above abt sending me an email. Didn't mean it that way tho it came out sounding like it.
You might have related me to the SIA 12th AAME batch because we more probably crossed each other during the Pre-Aeronautical Engineering course at Sing Polytechnic instead. I was not SIA, I was sponsored by Lockheed Aircraft.
But do please send me an email if you think we know each other. hjtann@mac.com
Hey!!!
Is there something wrong with this blog page or are my eyes playing tricks! Posted a comment this morning, saw it being published and now it's gone!
Folks. You will be happy to know that I have some old photos of Bt Gombak sent to me by a reader from UK.
Chuan Cheng. Only I can delete emails from this blog. I did not do anything; so maybe you made a mistake when posting.
Or you might have posted your comment to another article accidentally.
Hi Chun See
It's nice 'meeting' you. Thanks for initiating this site. Great job!
Well, obviously I made a mistake somewhere along the way. Blur king :)
Okay, I was addressing my comment to James Tann.
James,
That was very thoughtful of your sis, Joanne. I was grief-stricken at that moment, despite expecting her imminent passing, to notice those who attended the funeral. Shirley struggled a very painful bout with bone cancer & eventually leukemia. Shirley went with me a long way. I met her when I was in Sec 2 and stayed together till her passing. Well? That's life!
James, pls send my warmest regards to Joanne, and also Janet, if she remembers me! :)
Didn't know that there were tons of buah susu at Bt Gombak. And there we were, hoping to find a few among the scrubs at Botak Hill. Yes James, poke a hole at one end and zooop with all our breath and made sure we sucked the whole fruit dry!
Cheers James & Chun See too!
Chuck has already blogged about the fruit trees of PEE area here.
I have also blogged about the buah susu in our garden here
I've uploaded an aerial photo of the Hillview Area taken in the late 1950s. Have a close look at the photo. The only 4 structures left in that picture are 1. The Chartered Bank, 2. Fuyong Estate, 3. P.E.E School building, & 4. For Motors.
All other structures, including all the kampongs, are no longer in existence!
http://ijamestann.blogspot.sg/2012/06/aeriel-view-of-hillview-1950s.html
I was driving on the road on saturday evening when I heard this song, 'To Sir With Love' sung by Lulu, being played on 90.5 FM. This particular song immediately brought back memories dating back to 1967 when I was in Pri 5 in PEES, and it was during the school holidays. I was spending my school term break staying with the Gonzalez family. Tony Gonzalez was my classmate in Pri 5. It was during my stay with them that I had half boil eggs sprinkled with a pinch of salt for breakfast (still very swa-ku at that time though). My family would have our half boil eggs with dark or light soya sauce. Well, most probably its either western or oriental style of eating half boil eggs and its also the reason why my bro Richard and I are dark skinned.
It was , also, during my stay with the Gonzalez family that Tony and Robin brought me to Serangoon Gardens to watch the movie 'To Sir With Love' starring Sydney Pointer. We went there taking the #5 green bus from the PEE terminal all the way to Rex and later transit with the STC electric bus to Serangoon Gardens. I must say that it was during my Pri 5 days and my stay with the Gonzalez family in PEE that I experienced one of the happiest moments of my life. We would erect tent on the field just outside the flat and camp overnight.
I remembered that Tony has another elder brother named, Kelvin. Anyone has any feedback on Kelvin?
Chuan Huat
I only have a very diluted memory of Bonita Gonzales. Not sure if she's Tony's sis. Remember, she was a plump, blonde girl, over sized for her age and hair knotted like the Dutch Lady on the condensed milk can, only much younger. Was Bonita ever in our class Lowy? As for the other members of the Gonzales family, I really can't remember any.
Lulu's To Sir with Love. Bro, you wouldn't be in Mr Jimmy Tan's class then, I bet! Hahaha!
Chuan Cheng,
I don't thing Bonita is Tony's sis. He has got a elder sis, but not plump.
Yes, I was in Mr. Jimmy Tan's class in P6. Got hell from him. The one thing he hates most is the smell of medicated oil. He claims the oil gives him a terrible headache.
Chuan Huta,
I have Robin Gonzalez's contact.
Pls PM me if you want it.
Robin is currently a senior ICA officer at Tuas 2nd Link checkpoint.
Hi James,
Thanks, I'm aware that Robin is with the ICA. I'm asking feedback on Kelvin to know of his whereabout and his doings now. Sent my regards to Joanne.
Chuan Cheng, the one that use to accompany Joanne to our house is not Janet. Its one of her classmate and close friend. I forgot her name but I do have a photo of Joanne, her friend,Shirley and myself giving cheers during one of the chinese new year.
Chuan Cheng, Bonita Gonzales is the third eldest in the family, after Kevin. Although she was in my class - 6B, while you were in 6A, she is one year older than us.
If you had taken Malay as second language like I do, then she, you and me were in the same class during that lesson. But as I had told you recently, I always ponteng class. This was especially the second language class. That is why today, saya boleh chakat malayu sikit sikit sehaja. :)
Today I had an incredible encounter with someone who used to lived beside the big field.
Anthony lived at the artisan quarters (the future blk 12) between the football field and the field where the PEE community centre would be later be built. The family moved away before the community centre was constructed before 1963.
His house was the last unit and was next to the children's playground. He told me that his father built and added 2 more swings to the existing 2 swings at the children's playground on his own. He built it because the original swings were too small for bigger children.
What was incredible about our encounter was that Anthony (Lee) is my brother-in-law! He is married to my wife's elder sister and yet I didn't know about him living at PEE previously tho we've been related for the past 25 years. LOL!
He was one of the original residents and he still remembers going to the Finnish Missionary 'church' beside the kopi tiam where they were given bisquits and orange squash during their play school.
Wowed this place is still going strong!
Chuan Huat
I can't really recall all those names of our classmates but I remember Kok Wah, he used to borrow some book from me and Chong Lek is Eddy Gan. We had Esther Wee who has siblings Emily Edmund n Ernest. My best friend was Su Yang. Remember her? She was the tallest girl in our class. Mokhtar was the shortest boy, he sat near you I think. The naughty boys seated at the back of the class that I remember were Khee Lian n his right hand man, Hashim. I used to quarrel with them quite often. Lol.
I'm sorry to say I am not in touch with any of our mates. Btw do you hv a younger brother Chuan Sing? He may hv been in my younger brother's class
I just came from James Tann's blog. I watched a video there, Princess Elizabeth Estate Revisited. Really pulled at my heartstrings. Carefree days with family n friends. I realize we had everything in the estate n our lives revolved n evolved around it.
Thanks James :)
James
Lowy told me abt the luminaries page u created.
I recall bumping into Johnny Ali n Chuck one evening long ago at the pub called Yesterday's. Chuck is the younger brother at Sin Wah Hin grocery shop, situated at the other end of the shop block in front of our block. The older brother was called Super by most in the estate. We were talking abt the Estate n Johnny mentioned Ruby. Do you remember her? If I recall correctly, he said that Ruby became a sportswoman and represented Singapore. I can't remember which sports or other details. I wonder if u would be able to do research on her. I can't remember her surname but somebody here may be able to :) Cheers
Hi D,
Yes, I recalled u and Su Yang were always together. My youngest bro, Chuan Seng, and your younger bro were classmates. I remember there were 2 singhs in our class: Ranjit and Mohan and both were also living at PEE.
Chuan Huat
Well you're certainly getting my memory on track. Yes now I remember Mohan n Ranjit. Mohan lived in the artisan quarters n seldom wore a cloth on his tonchet or turban until O5 or 6 n Ranjit lived on the second floor of Boon Hoo's block next to Lee Chuen's house. Lee chuen's mum was a tailor. Ranjit has many siblings n when they washed their hair they would run in the field in front of their block to dry the hair.
Well I'm quite jealous of my sis n your brother's class because now they have found more of each other. She told me it's now about 20 of them who are currently in touch, and here we are, just the two of us from our class lol.
D
You need a little detective work or a constructive kaypoh :)
Lowy
I was thinking abt the constructive kaypo that we lack in our year ;)
Chuan Huat or Chuan Cheng.
I do hope you are still coming in here to read.
Do you guys remember a Malay guy (or maybe Javanese or Boyanese) named Buang or Buangino? He live at Jln Asas next the short cut path to the bus stop.
He was very keen in photography and we used to hang out cos I was also into photography at that time.
Do you guys know how I can contact him?
Hi James,
Yes, I remember Buang who lives in Jln Asas. He was the photographer at my wedding though. I have lost touch with him after his family moved.
Hi D,
Yes, its a pity there's only 2 of us from our class posting in this blog. Unlike your sis n my bro class, I hope there will be more of our classmates joining in and sharing. Must learn the art of constructive kaypoh from your sis. Give it a little bit more time n I'm sure there'll be more of our classmates joining in. A pity I'm not good at selling ko-yoh.
Hi James
It's been awhile since I was here last. Been in our own Group FB Page which Lowy, Kum Sung & Anne have set up exclusively for PEEPS 60-65's. We've so far managed to gather in around 20, and are still trying to get in more.Hopefully. Thanks to LCS, Chuck & yourself for having all this started. I think LCS & Chuck are in touch with my son Jervais, who is with the National Heritage Board.
Yes, James, I remember Buang, the photographer. He used to live at 51 Jln Asas. He was the photographer to a couple of my brothers' weddings. We live at 55 for a period. But, it's been a long time and we all lost touch with Buang & his brother Hashim.
As for D & my bro Chuan Huat, wish you two all the best. Honestly, it was quite a task for us, to gather our present 20. :)
Chuan Cheng.
That's great! I am sure Lam Chun See will be extremely gratified that this blog of his has brought back 2/3 of your entire class ! That's really an achievement.
Like D. and you yr bro Chuan Huat, I managed only 1 contact from my ex-classmates. sigh sigh.
Best wishes for your class reunion next year. I am very sure there'll be lots of cheers and tears!
I was trying to re-contact Buang as he and I were keen photographers those days and I know he has lots of old pictures of Fuyong, PEE and esp one that I am looking for - the Union Carbide factory !
Hi James
Yes, it's all thanks to Lam Chun See who started this blog. Oh, you having problems contacting your old classmates too? Haha! Like I said, it was quite a task. Lowy & Chan Kum Sung did a lot to lay the ground work even though they are not even in S'pore! I guess it's was the determination & good teamwork in group that did it. And, yes, can, like you mentioned, expect cheers & tears!
James, I will ask around the old Fuyong Est guys and see if they have Buang's contact and revert to you. But I am not optimistic as most of the old residents have shifted. Let you know if anything comes up. Cheers.
The Windmill at Hillview !
A while back, Chuan Huat came into this forum and mentioned that he used to play around Hume area where there was a windmill.
I guess most of you would have said ..windmill?
To back him up finally, I found an old picture of Hume Industries that shows the WINDMILL !
I have just posted up that photo (altho not so clear) into my own blog for all to see.
http://ijamestann.blogspot.sg/2012/08/hillview-seen-from-bukit-timah-hill.html
Hi James,
Yes, that's the one Singapore's windmill I was mentioning. You should view the windmill with the beautiful landscape surrounding it.
The URA should have conserve this iconic feature. What a waste.
Hi,
I am still wondering who óld timer'is... can old timer drop some hints like which block he stayed and did we played some games together etc.. very curious to know...
Old Timer, if you are still following this blog, please response. Thank you.
Chuck
Anyone interested to join celebration??
Tixs on sale at school office from Wednesday...
60th Anniversary Celebration
9th November 2012 (Friday)
Princess Elizabeth Primary School (PEPS) is turning 60 years old this year!
To commemorate this significant milestone in our school¡¯s rich history, a Diamond Anniversary Musical Concert and Dinner willbe organized.
The details are as follows:
Date: 9 November 2012, Friday
Time: 6:00 pm
Guest of Honour: Dr Tony Tan, President of Singapore
Venue: School Hall
Dress code: Smart casual
Ticket: $60 each (choice of Chinese/Muslim/Vegetarian food) For ticketing details, please contact our General Office duringoffice hours at 65655111.
Chun See did recall seeing oil drums at Hillview while visiting his friend Churck I believe.
Here's a write up on the oil drums he saw....
http://ijamestann.blogspot.sg/2012/10/factories-around-pee-6-castrol.html
Hi D & Chuan Huat,
My name is Eddie Tan but I don't think you guys remember me cos' I was a quiet boy in our class. I only remember names like Chong Lek, Esther Wee, Hashim & Deborah Phua - that's you right D? sorry Chuan Huat I couldn't remember you. I used to live at 113B which is blk. 19 based on James map. We moved out after completing our PSLE in 1968.
I believe I have a class photo somewhere. Need to look for it & will try to post here if I can.
Actually it was my sister who send me James Tann link that I started reading all the post & familiar names began to jolt my memories of my childhood days in Princess Elizabeth Estate.
So wonderful to be able to reconnect with friends from more than 40 years ago.
Cheers to everyone here.
Eddie Tan
Hi D & Chuan Huat,
It's me again, Eddie Tan. I managed to find our Primary 3A class photo taken in 1965. I've requested James Tann to have our class photo to be posted on his blog. D you were in the photo standing behind our teacher. Chuan Huat I hope you're in the photo too. I'm sitting on the right in the front row & I believe the guy sitting on the left is Eddie Gan Chong Lek.
Cheers,
Eddie Tan
Hi Eddie,
If I'm correct, were you the one student that assist our Primary 6A form teacher Mr. Jimmy Tan to mark the class maths workbook. In the photo, I think I'm the one standing at the back row 3rd from the right. Beside me is Ong Ee Tong. Those standing at the rear are Sim Khee Lian, Loh Kim Chong, Mohan Singh etc. I can remember the girls like Debbie Phua, Chua Sok Wee, Esther Wee, Lee Yu Mei etc. Yes, its been 48 years ago and welcome onboard. Really nice to hear from you.
D, That makes 3 of us from the same class. Wonderful! Really great. Hoping that more would come join us.
Hey Chuan Huat, so nice to hear from you. I must say your memory is so much better than mine. I can't really remember helping our teacher mark our Maths workbook but it does sound vaguely familiar. Oh well I hope I didn't make anyone unhappy :-) Wow! Some of the names suddenly looks so familiar. Thanks for remembering their names. BTW, are you on Facebook? Maybe we can reconnect from there too?
Cheers,
Eddie
Hmm I posted but I dont see it. If this goes through I'll repost
Ok it worked. Using the phone so couldn't see the code lol
Hi all, Chuan Huat and big hello to Eddie Tan! Well there's three of us now. I remember you well Eddie, the neatest boy in class, the very opposite of Eddie Gan who always had one side of his shirt hanging out.
I tried posting on James's blog but couldn't type there…just wouldn't work so here I am :) You know since PEES is a school of siblings we can use our older brothers n sisters hard work in finding each other n make contact with classmates like Esther Wee, Ernest's sis, Sok Wee who is Sok Yong's sis. And who else? Do either of you know?
I was looking at that wonderful photo from you Eddie and trying hard to remember our classmates. Next to you Eddie, the girl on your right with the hair band I think is Yang Chee. On Eddie Gan's right is Li Choo.
First row standing from the right, as we view the pic, Kok Wah, Nyuk Foong whose younger brother was in my brother Gregory's class (he may lead us to her). Then Yu Mei, can't recall the girl next to her, then Sok Wee, girl I can't remember, then me, Su Yang. I don't recall the names of the rest but the Malay girl is Azizah, girl, the boy is Foo something, his sister was a year or two older, Foo Jee Lan.
Back row I only remember 6th boy from the left. I was asking abt him in one of my posts. He's the great dancer Tian Seng. Then two boys down is Khee Lian, boy, Ranjit? Hashim, boy, boy, Chuan Huat, boy then Mokhtar. Wondering now if the boy behind Foo is Boon Hwa?
Teacher is Ms Tan ? ? She was one if my favourite teachers. She was good in folk dancing :)
Girl next to Yu Mei is Esther Wee. Girl standing behind, between Li Choo n Eddie Gan is Poh something? She may be Esther's neighbour n daughter of yong tau foo lady in the tuck shop
James thanks for the email alert n posting Eddie Tan's photo :)
Oh hi D. I got yr msg.
Ok I'll try and add those names to the photo caption.
This is a most unusual posting 'cos the photo is in one blog and the comments are on another! LOL. (LCS must be so amused but thanks for being so patient with us!)
Hope your class will gather all your former mates. The challenge is now 19 rounded up from Ms Pat Ortega's 1961 class!
Yes I recognise Thia Boon Hwa at the end and also the boy in front as you said is Foo Jek xxx. His sister is Daisy Foo Jee Lan who went to RGS and elder brother Jek Luan.
Hi D, so good to hear from you after all these years. Hope you're doing well.
Man! your memory is fantastic, I can hardly remember most of our classmates names let alone their faces.
Yes we must thanks James for putting up our class photos on his blog & hopefully more will join in.
I was thinking would it be alright with you D if I copy & paste your comments to James blog 'cos our class photo is there & maybe also Chuan Huat's comments?
Thanks.
Hi Eddie
Not sure about that copy paste. Perhaps check with blog master Lam n James.
I saw your photo. I would never have been able to recognise you if you were seated right in front of me. We've all changed lol. I don't know what Chuan Huat looks like. If we can get a handful of us, we can plan a coffee meet. I hope Chuan Huat knows more of our classmates through our older or younger siblings. No choice, we have to tumpang on their contacts lol Hello older/younger PEES mates who are reading…do you have any siblings in our year?
The codes for posting messages are getting trickier n more difficult. Reminds me if horrendous algebra. This is my sixth try. Hope its posted :)
Hi D,
Yes I've blessings from James to copy & paste your earlier comments on his blog.
You're right I'm sure we wouldn't be able to recognise each other now as it's been like 44 years since we last saw each other. Well at least it's for me since I've moved to the East after our PSLE.
Anyway, Chuan Huat just send me his Facebook contact & he & James are now my friends in Facebook. Are you on Facebook too? you can search for me at eddie@shiokman.net.
Hopefully we can gather more people & arrange a get-together ya?
Until then stay in touch.
Eddie
Hi D;Eddie,
The names of our classmates as I can recall are:
Front sitting L to R:
Kwok Li Choo;Gan Chong Lek;Goh Peng Sum;Mrs Tan;girl;Eddie Tan;
Song??.
Standing middle row L to R:
Foo??;?;?;?;?;?;?;Su Yang;Deborah Phua;?;Chua Sok Wee;Esther Wee;Lee Yu Mei;Nyuk Fong;Ho Kok Wah.
Standing Back Row L to R:
??Boon;Tay Boon Kok;
Leong??;?;Leong Weng Soon;Chong Tian Seng;?;?;Sim Khee Lian;Loh Kim Chong;Ranjit Singh;Hashim;?;Ong
Ee Tong;Choo Chuan Huat;?;Mokhtar.
Thanks Ricky,
I think it would be better if you could post your comments on James Tann's blog as our class photo is over there. But if you have the same problem as D in login to James blog, I can copy & paste them for you.
Hi Eddie,
I'm unable to post on James's blog. Maybe u give it a try.
D & Chuan Huat,
What 'codes' are you referring to having to key in comments to my blog? Are you referring to the security passwords that you need enter to submit? I think if you use the iphone it might not show.
If you have difficulties, just email direct to me and I'll post it up for you.
O guess its there to prevent unwanted spam but it does hinder some genuine users as well.
James
Posting at ur blog has the same procedure as this blog but I just can't type in the comments, or the security password before publishing. If I manage to type or troed copy paste into comments I can't type in the password to publish. I just tried again so I emailed u.
James
Have u created a PEEPS montage with this song yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWHL_4_ia_Y
James
However I think this is more appropriate for our age group but if I'm not mistaken you've already used this song for one of your videos
THOSE WERE THE DAYS MARY HOPKINS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KODZtjOIPg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Ha ha. That's Lam Chun See's theme song ! The namesake of this blog. I can't touch it, it's sacred here.
Nice video rendition I must say.
No. 'My' theme song is Times of Your Life by Paul Anka. :)
James, may i suggest u use 'Yesterday Once More' by the Carpenters. Ha!Ha!
Chun See, the 1st link from D. is Times of your life.. Nice video go see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KODZtjOIPg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Oops copy paste wrong link.
This is the 1st link from D. above
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWHL_4_ia_Y
Lam Chun See Theme.
Hello everyone
Happy to join the site. My name is Shanmugaratnam. I was in PEEPS from 1966 to 1970. I lived at blk 18 #108A Prince Charles Rise. Yes I was called Ratnam in school and known as Shan when I played football for Singapore in the late 70s
My neighbuors were George Thomas family , Murie n Malcolm Christian who all lived on the 3rd storey. And of Chan Kum Sung n family on ground floor. Most of you would remember my father who was blind n deaf and my neighbours all will help out in bringing him to and back from the car park next to blk 17
I still keep in touch with some of my pri school mates as well as with my neighbours.
Really brings back fond memories when viewing all the photos. Thank you
I really have great memories of the primary school. I visited Mrs Catherasoo wife of our principal Mr Catherasoo. She is in 90s. I meet up with Mrs Pancharatnam when opportunity arises and she still lives in Chestnut Drive. Mr Tirlok Singh lives now in Woodlands
Please continue to update n will try n get our old neighbours n school mates to this website
Cheers
Hello Shan,
So glad you are now aboard this forum to add to our collective memories.
I was asking around all the ex-PEE residents if anyone had a picture of you during your Singapore football days!
I want to include it in my blog that has all the 'luminaries' out from our small estate.
You can see the others here at this address:
http://ijamestann.blogspot.sg/2012/02/luminaries-from-princess-elizabeth.html
I used to live in Blk 21 Princess Anne Hill since I was born in 1979.Though it was a rented house, it was very spacious. My balcony was connected to my neighbour's and whenever I wanted to play in my neighbour's house, I just climbed over the balcony to go into her place..lol... it was so much fun.. nowadays we wont find such building structure lest u wanna outsiders into ur home easily.
Hello Anna,
Glad to know you have great fun living in our lovely estate we fondly call 'Princess'
I still pass by the estate on my way to visit my mum in Bt. Batok. Sometimes I would just stopped by at the old school gate to recall the happy times. They sure bring back great memories.
Chuck
Hello Anna Liana
I used to live at Blk 21 as well. The corner unit on the ground floor #01-126 but I moved out in 1984 when you were just a toddler. But my parents continued to live there till they were all evicted out to Bukit Batok.
Would you have some old photos of the estate and your time there to share?
Through this blog, I got to meet an old friend - Chan Kum Sung after 27 years. I hope to meet more of estate guys through this or FB to recall the happy times of our wonderful estate.
Cheers
Chuck
hi all. wow, i never went to Princess elizabeth but my brothers, Jeffry and Norawan Abu Bakar did till 1975. I think my mum used to also teach there then, Pn Noraini Ismail (she taught in a few schools in Singapore b4 she moved to Malaysia), and because they were all there, I used to hang about the tuck shop and it was my favourite outing then. hahaha simple pleasures for little minds
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