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Shopkeeper Businessman Publisher

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    The story  of Subramanian  Rethinam Pillai   a young teenage  Shopkeeper turned Businessman and Publisher from Naval Base. If Jalan Kedai (Shop Street) was Dr Muthiar Singh’s Orchard Road of Naval Base , it was  “a one-stop-shop ‘under one roof’ for our Admin Wan Chan Peew. “Provisions and basic items were readily available, if not shopkeepers promised replenishments in their next restocking! Purchases could be on ‘credit.’   Purchases could be made on credit with all transactions detailed in iconic ‘555’ pocketbooks maintained by the shopkeeper, and sums owed were acknowledged by the customer. The buyer dutifully settled the outstanding amount on the following Friday, which coincided with the payday of the week. No cheats, no quarrels or disputes of any kind arising therefrom. This harmonious relationship fostered a relationship of unwavering trust and integrity between the shopkeeper and the customer,” added Peew. Manimegalai Kedai , a popular provision shop stood at
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Memories that Linger

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During the 1950s and 70s’, I use to live in Nee Soon Road with my parents, three brothers and three sisters . My father was a storekeeper then at the British Ordinance Depot at Alexandra Road which was subsequently re-located at Transit Road, in Nee Soon. Most of the time, our young lives were very ordinary and mundane, without any excitement. Other than school, we hardly visit places. However, all these feelings would change when my parents decide that we visit Uncle Vasu, who lived in Block 4, Naval Base, on weekends. Anticipation filled the air as my younger siblings and I eagerly awaited these weekend outings. Every visit to the Naval Base held a promise of excitement and new experiences and I always look forward to the outing.     We used to travel   in the morning and to gain entry into Naval Base, my uncle would come to the Main Gate at Sembawang to sponsor us in.   We were given specific duration to stay there, and we would leave by 10.00 p.m. The privilege of venturing b
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                             50 Years on Since the British Pull-out… Dear Navalites, Words cannot express how much your feedback means to us. We greatly appreciate it, and have compiled and reposted your insights to benefit our new members.   We hope the following comments from the above titled article posted in 2021 will be r eflective to our current members, informative to new members and for all to cherish.  We want to extend our gratitude to you for sharing your memories with us. Despite not being an affluent society, we were a community that had a big appetite for sharing. This is something that we value and cherish, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue this tradition with our current and future members.  Thank you. Yours Truly,  Chan Peew   “This year, 2021 is memorable for many Navalites, both young and old; 50 years ago, the British Armed Forces (Naval, Air and Army) withdrew its presence from Singapore after notifying the S'pore government and to the
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