Block2Blog

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 int...

  Naval Base, my home, my work place (By Vincent  P.C.Yick, edited by Peew) Royal Sailor Rest was built in the early 60’s during the Vietnam war. The British support the US. Allow them to anchor their warship in HMS Dockyard. Their Marines or Sailors need to have quarters to rest. This was what I heard. HMS Dockyard had a canteen for workers run by Leong. He managed to tender running the cafeteria of RSRest. I joined in 1966 to help him in taking care foods provisions. There were resting rooms for the Sailors managed by Anthony Heng (Canberra School Pri. Teacher Peter Heng’s Brother.) together with a lady Miss Foo. When the US warships come we have to serve breakfast, lunch & supper. Business was very good that period of times. There 2 shifts work, 6-4/3-11 . Susan’s brother See Yong left before I joined in. From this Royal Sailors' Restaurant, Leong expanded to S’pore Conference Hall as well as Queenstown Golden Crown. Francis’s brother, Jos.Wong helped Leong to run...