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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Mrs. Low Peck Lock nee Khoo Chit Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 30, 2026

Block 2 Division G marble

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Tekong Brickworks

January 29, 2026

Bricks Bukit Brown

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Certificate of Reservation for Kam Peng Huat (Bukit Brown)

January 28, 2026

Bukit Brown Burial Receipt certificate

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Choo Lye Huat (Bukit Brown)

January 26, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Mrs. Khoo Oon Thye nee Madam Aw Ang Kee (Bukit Brown)

January 26, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Koh Bee Huat (Bukit Brown)

January 25, 2026

Block 2 Division G Died Young marble

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Miss Tan Chai Luan (Bukit Brown)

January 25, 2026

Block 2 Division G Died Young marble Youtube Shorts

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Miss Yap Yan Chwee (Bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A Died Young

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Cho Pek Ghay (Bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Tan Kim Eng (bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Koh Ah Lock (Bukit Brown)

January 22, 2026

Block 4 Div C Died Young

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Ho Kim Swee (Bukit Brown)

January 20, 2026

Block 3 Div D unique name

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Lee Soo Keng (Bukit Brown)

January 19, 2026

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Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 4 Div C decorative tiles WWII Youtube Shorts

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Tan Eng Seng (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 4 Div C marble

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Miss Chua Ee Boi and the huge Pulai Tree (Bukit Brown)

January 17, 2026

Died Young Pauper Section 3 Section 9

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Miss Tan Tuan Eng (Bukit Brown)

January 17, 2026

Block 4 Div C Died Young

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Miss Tan Poey Joo (Bukit Brown)

January 14, 2026

Block 2 Division F Family - Tan Kheam Hock

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Labels

Bukit Brown915
Hill 3333
Hill 1188
Died Young178
Hill 4165
decorative tiles161
Block 3 Div D143
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div C107
Block 4 Div C103

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Newspaper mentions(2025)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions (2017)

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

Soh Koon Eng remembered (Bukit Brown)

On 8 December 1941 at around four in the morning, the first bombs were dropped on Singapore. 61 people died and more than 700 were injured. By late January 1942, Singapore was already under constant attack by Japanese planes and an estimated 150-200 people was said to have died each day as direct result of the constant air harassment. Soh Koon Eng, 19 years old It was 27 January 1942, the air-raid siren was already becoming a frightening yet familiar sound and the population under blitz braced itself for further devastation. A young 19 year old girl by the name of Soh Koon Eng was at a friends place in Lorong 18, off Geylang Road when the siren went off. She decided to hurry home to her house at no 28, Lorong 20, despite her friend telling her to wait for the "all-clear". Soh Koon Eng (photo courtesy of Geraldine Soh) Miss Soh Koon Eng did manage to get home and sought shelter under the altar table of their family /ancestral temple together with the rest of the fami...

Miss Tan Chai Luan (Bukit Brown)

The marble headstone reads; Tan Chai Luan Daughter of Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Born 26th July 1928 Died 30th July 1928 No. 53G Block II Baby Tan Chai Luan was only 4 days when she passed away. The marble headstone on the valley of Block 2 Division G stands reminder of their love for their baby daughter. Baby Tan Chai Luan Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene went on to have other children; Son: Tan Keng Siong Daughters: Tan Kheng Lian, Tan Kheng Choo Grandchildren: Kenneth Tan Boon Beng, Debbie Tan Siok Hean, Patti Tan Siok Tze, Chew Gek Khim, Chew Gek Hiang, Chew Kwee San, Chuan Ian Campbell, Helene Campbell Parents: Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Tan Chin Tuan was the Assistant Secretary of the Chinese Commercial Bank married Miss Wee Helene, (daughter of Mr. Wee Theam Seng ) on 18 September 1926. Wee Theam Seng was the manager of the Chinese Commercial Bank. When the Chinese Commercial Bank merged with Ho Hong and Overseas Chinese Bank in 1933, to become the Ov...

Madam Rose (Bukit Brown)

The name Madam Rose is clearly visible in the simple marble headstone of this 38 year lady who passed away on 24 May 1941. The single name or mononym for Madam Rose is very unique for Bukit Brown cemetery. I don't recall encountering any tombs where a mononymous person was buried. That prompted me to go through the burial registrar and the name Matharum Rose comes up. Her dialect was listed as Kheh. Who is Matharum Rose ? The word Matharum fortunately was help deciphered from the community in Heritage Singapore-Bukit Brown Facebook, to be Sanskrit and when translated, The word Matharum (மாதரும்) means Mother. It may be possible that Madam Matharum Rose could be of Indian descent or a lady adopted to an Indian family or of mixed Indian-Chinese heritage who married to a Chinese man of Khek dialect group. Whatever may be the case, this is still a wonderful find ! Madam Rose / Matharum Rose Burial entry for Matharum Rose Location of tomb Block 5 Di...

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife (Wee Pek Hay) and two of his son's ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang ) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown, Block 4 Division A. Mr. Lim Nee Soon is not buried there but in Nanking, China. It is however difficult to write a story about Lim Nee Soon family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first introducing Mr. Lim Nee Soon first. Pineapple King and Patriot Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when Lim Nee Soon was only 8 years old and was left in the care of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father). Lim Nee Soon received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School and therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. A Teochew, he started from scratch, working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18 and from there he climbed the rungs by next working for timber merchant Tan Tye a...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Tekong Brickworks

While exploring Bukit Brown Block 4 Section C recently, i came across a tomb with headstone that has fallen and bricks in disarray. It caught my eye because one as the word Tekong etched on it. I have seen bricks with Alexandra or A.B.W etched on it, but i actually came across only very few with Tekong in Bukit Brown. Tekong Brick Some information about the Pulo Tekong Bricks A report of the Government Commission that i read on 30 August 1918 mentioned that the important brick fields which supply Singapore are; Alexandra Brickworks (output of 7.5 million per annum) Tekong Brickwords (output of 3 million per annum) Batam Brickworks (output of 3.5 million per annum) The Johore Government is a large buyer of bricks in Singapore. In 1918, it purchase from Alexandra Brickwork 2.5 million of its bricks amounting to 1/3 of its output. With plans for the new railway station and public housing, it was reported that the current output is insufficient to meet future demand. ...

Funeral of Tay Koh Yat at Bukit Brown

I am fortunate to get a glimpse of rare photos, this time of a gentlemen who was well loved by the people during his lifetime - Mr. Tay Koh Yat (鄭古悅) (1880-1957) , recipient of the Certificate of Honor, Order of the British Empire. This rare photos that i selected for this article were of his funeral procession at Bukit Brown and the photos came to light because it was donated by the family of Tay Soo Choon (one of Tay Koh Yat's son) and made available online via National Library Board (NLB) . For those who are not familiar with Tay Koh Yat, his story is one of rags to riches, eventually becoming the Proprietor of Tay Koh Yat Bus Company. He was also a war hero, a community leader and staunch anti-communist. He was conferred the Order of the British Empire in 1952 for his courage in keeping the bus service in operation despite Communist threats and repeated arsons. Tay Koh Yat passed away at midnight, 29 January 1957 (Chinese New Year eve) at his home at No. 58 Tras Stre...

Miss Yap Yan Chwee (Bukit Brown)

Miss Yap Yan Chwee passed away at the age of 23 on 27 June 1941. In the burial registrar, her dialect is Hokkien. Her tomb is a simple mound but a marble slab provides more information; No 116 Ms Yap Yan Chwee (Boyan) Daughter of Mr & Mrs Yap Kim Peow 1918 to 1941 Dearly missed and loved Miss Yap Yan Chwee alias Boyan Possible connection: Yap Kim Peow / Yap Kim Peow . Mrs. Teo Yeong Ghee nee Tan Bee Neo died at her residence, No. 44 Cheng Cheok Street on 14 May 1930 leaving beside her husband, an only daughter, 3 brother, Tan Kim Tye, Tan Kim Chuan, Tan Techk Cheng, 2 sisters-in-law, 7 sisters, 3 brothers-in-law, Yap Kim Peow, Lim Cheng Seng, Chan Giam, 14 nephews and nieces. If i follow this connection, Mrs. Yap Kim Peow is Madam Tan Hee Neo. Location of tomb Block 5 Division A, plot 116

Choo Lye Huat (Bukit Brown)

Choo Lye Huat of the East Asiatic Co., Ltd. Saigon passed away at 52 Chitty Road, Singapore at the age of 38 on 9 May 1941. He leaves behind his wife, 1 son, 1 daughter, 2 brothers, Choo Seng Huat, Choo Leong Huat, several nephews and nieces and father. Saigon papers please copy. The names of her children are; Son: Choo Chian Eng Daughter: Choo Bee Gno Choo Lye Huat Location of tomb Block 5 Division A, plot 26

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown . Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Paha...

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