Author Archives: Remember Singapore

Grand Mansions, Bungalows and Villas of the Past

The grand mansions and villas of yesteryear might not match the likes of the modern houses owned by the rich and famous today at Nassim Road, Ridley Park, Bukit Timah or Sentosa Cove, but they certainly had their charms in … Continue reading

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Tribute to Dr Toh Chin Chye (1921-2012)

Early Days One of the founding pioneers of modern Singapore, Dr Toh Chin Chye 杜进才 was born in Taiping, Malaysia in 1921 to the son of a bicycle shop owner. After early education in Ipoh, Dr Toh came to study … Continue reading

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The Disappearing Chee Pow Kai and Hum Chim Peng

It takes years of effort and determination to build a reputable brand. But sometimes, luck plays an important part too. There are many decades-old local famous and popular names that, for certain reasons, find it difficult to carry on their … Continue reading

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A Pictorial Gallery of Bronze Sculptures in Singapore

Many people have the perception that Singapore lacks arts and history, but in reality there are many beautiful bronze sculptures on our island. Some are pure artistic creations, a couple of them are rich in their historical values, while others … Continue reading

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Our Favourite Playgrounds of Yesteryears

How many of you have spent hours of your childhood playing in these sand-based playgrounds with local-styled designs? Many of them, built in the late seventies, are the works of Khor Ean Ghee (born 1935), Maria Boey, Lee Kwee Wah … Continue reading

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Tribute to Singapore’s Mother Teresa (1898-2011)

Teresa Hsu Chih (许哲) was born in Swatow in 1898, during the Qing Dynasty, in an extremely poor family where her father abandoned the family. At aged 16, her family moved to Penang, Malaysia, where they found jobs as cleaners … Continue reading

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A Walk Through The Old Neighbourhood – Redhill Close

Redhill Close is a small estate of 21 blocks of flats numbered 1 to 3 and 5 to 22. There is no block 4 found. Many would think this is due to the number being considered inauspicious for the Chinese, … Continue reading

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4D, Mahjong and Chap Ji Kee.. History of Gambling in Singapore

With the completion of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) and its casinos in 2010, some said that Singapore had truly become a sin city. While they might be right, the fact is gambling has never been a stranger on this island. … Continue reading

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A Forgotten Past – The Days When Singapore Mafia Ruled Europe

Mention underworld triads and Japan’s Yakuza or Italian Mafia comes to mind. But there was an era when the Singapore gangsters ruled Europe with a vast drug empire that struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. Kampung Kid turned … Continue reading

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A Walk Through The Old Neighbourhood – Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is the first public housing estate to be built in Singapore (Queenstown is the first satellite new town). It was a project undertaken by Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) in the thirties, where SIT was a government body set … Continue reading

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