I sure left my heart in Naval Base by Theresa Chua 


My only wish if only Naval Base is still around and we’re still living in our paradise aka Shangri-La! A highly protected place at the northern tip of Singapore. No outsiders could enter unless sponsored by a resident with proof of identification. It was truly 'exclusive living' - a la Shangri-La Life was simply carefree, our parents needed only to feed us, there were no bills to pay up, nor fines to pay. We lived with modern sanitation. Neighbours lived so close to each other like skin-to-skin contact but we got along amicably, racial harmony was spontaneous. I would walk into my neighbour's kitchen and ask "What’s cooking?" and I'll be given their day’s curry to savour. The population ratio among the three main races was almost equal, each family having 6 to 7 kids the norm but hey, we did not feel crowded. We had food hawkers plying various blocks from whom we could get our breakfast. We had very good medical care from our own hospital. We lived a very privileged life in Naval Base. Besides the high degree of security, our houses were solidly built and everywhere was kept clean and brightly lit with sufficient street lights, police posts at every entry gate to keep watch of all movements. I sure left my heart in Naval Base when we had to leave. The opinions in this article are the author’s and may not be reproduced without her prior permission.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE BASE SOCCER 'NUTS'

Image
THE BASE SOCCER 'NUTS' The Straits Times 23 April 1978 by Bernard Pereria who  lived in Block 23 Madras Road .   Soccer to the local kids living in Singapore’s former British Naval Base at Sembawang was not just a sport to be played on proper marked out pitches. The kids living in the uninhabited world of their own used to spend hours on end in the open spaces that offered an ideal sanctuary to their sporting needs. Boots were alien to them nor did they have any formal training by competent coaches . Observes, national soccer and hockey star Bernard Norbert, ‘The warm and friendly “Peyton Place” like atmosphere and the landscape where everyone knows everyone also contributes to our success. From the Naval Base came the great veteran Vivian Roberts and the famed Quah brothers Kim Tuan, Kim Beng, Kim Choon, Kim Swee, Kim Saik, Kim Lye, Kim Song who ruled soccer for nearly three decades since 1948. Patrons of sports The British knew that sports was a social event inte
Read more

MADE in HM NAVAL BASE

Image
My brother Mr Dharam Singh celebrated his 96 th birthday in his home in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada with his two sons and their families; his two younger brothers and their families; relatives, close friends, including former residents of HM Naval Base who emigrated to Canada.                But his story starts from Singapore on 9 th January 1927 where he was born and witnessed the trials and tribulations of the Second World War. Dharam Singh studied in Admiralty Asian School until Standard III. When he was 12 years old, he left school to accompany our parents to their birthplace Punjab, India, for a visit and to bring his elder brother who had been staying with his grandparents, back to Singapore. Unfortunately, the Second World War broke out and Dharam was forced to remain in Punjab.  However, my teenage brother was not going to idle his time and moved to Karachi- now Pakistan- to study tailoring under the tutelage of our uncle. After successfully completing a prolonged appre
Read more

Shopkeeper Businessman Publisher

Image
    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
Read more