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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. There are many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the people buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and Birdwatching in some of my articles.

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Showing posts from July, 2024

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Bukit Brown Memorial - July 2024

Bukit Brown newspaper mentions

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Song Kim Swee and Wee Guan Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division B Bukit Brown Hill 2

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Tan Tion Kim (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Hill 3

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Tan Boon Aik (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Hill 3

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Chew Yeow Tin (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Bukit Brown Hill 3 Japanese Koki Calender

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Gan Chye Kiew (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Hill 3

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Chua Boon Tiong (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div B Hill 3

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Bukit Brown956
Hill 3307
Hill 1181
Hill 4156
decorative tiles132
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Died Young128
Block 4 Div A108
Hill 295
birdwatching83

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Rojak Librarian: Nature has a lot to teach us, if only we stop to pay attention.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

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

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

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

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

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

Tien Seng Photographer (Images from the Past)

I came across this photograph (the back of the photo seen below) thanks to a descendant who is researching and mapping her family tree. She share with me a rare photograph of one of her descendants but what made it special was on the back of the photograph is the calling card of the photograph shop that did the portrait photo. It was called - Tien Seng Photographer , No. 81 North Bridge Road Singapore. It was in a beautiful font type but unfortunately the bottom part is no longer visible so other then the flowers, i can't really make the rest of the details below. Tien Seng Photographer (photo courtesy of Shirin Chua) Tien Seng Photographer - No. 81 North Bridge Road. For some of us, the most famous Asiatic photographer or photo studio often seen and cited is the Lee Studios (set-up in 1910 at 58-4 Hill Street), but Tien Seng Photographer actually predates this. I do not know when exactly it was first set-up but the first advertisement evidence i could find of it in the newspap

A kidnap bid foiled in the Shaw family - Bukit Brown connection

This week's news was abuzz with first, the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw (CBE, GBM), the legendary movie mogul. He died on January 7, 2014, aged 107. He is survived by 2 sons ( Shaw Vee Meng, Shaw Vee Chung, Harold ), 2 daughters (Dorothy Shaw, Violet Shaw ) , 2 daughter-in-laws ( Josephine Kho, Diana Wee) and many grand and great grandchildren. His wife was Lady Lily Shaw (deceased ) and years after his first wife passing married Madam Mona Fong. The second news that captivated many Singaporean's was the kidnap attempt of a 79 year old woman, Madam Eng Lai Poh. She is the mother of Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive of public listed company Sheng Siong, a supermarket chain. The ransom sought by the kidnappers was $20 million. Mr. Lim Hock Chee called the police who helped tracked down the kidnappers and caught the suspects. Bukit Brown connection to Shaw and kidnapping You may be wondering how this week's two story is related to Bukit Brown? Rewind back to October

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 Pah

Bukit Brown Burial Receipt (Syonan Tokubetu Si)

The Syonan Tokubetu Si Cemetery Certification for Registration burial receipt caught my eye in a facebook group post recently. It was a Certification for Registration receipt issue for payment for burial under the Syonan Tokubetsu Si (Municipal Administration for Singapore as it was known during Japanese Occupation). The receipt has the word Bukit Brown written on it and the other important thing was the date - 2nd December 1945 . We know that the Japanese occupiers surrendered on 14 September 1945 and yet this receipt post-dates that significant date. Was there a mistake in the year ? Unlikely as 1945 is written twice in this receipt. It is more likely that post war, office supplies were still rare to come by, so the Municipal Administrators continued using the old receipts. But to be very certain, we looked at 2 things - the burial registrar of Bukit Brown and of another the actual tomb itself ! Burial receipt (photo courtesy of William Teo) The Bukit Brown burial registrar confir

Tan Jiak Kam (former Alexandra Cemetery)

Tan Jiak Kam (1865-1889) passed away at the age of 23 on 10 June 1889. When he passed away at 24, his wife Song Guat Neo was on 17. Song Guat Neo came from an old Straits Chinese family. Her father was Song Kee Lian and brother, Song Chin Eng. Tan Jiak Kam is the brother of Tan Jiak Kim , Tan Jiak Kim is the son of Tan Beng Swee and grandson of Tan Kim Seng. Tan Jiak Kam Song Guat Neo passed away on 20 September 1938 at the age of 66 Song Guat Neo References https://shgis.nus.edu.sg/shgis_webapps/SSA1208_2016/Reports1/229_Chek%20Sian%20Tng.pdf https://tombs.bukitbrown.org/2020/03/story-behind-photo-of-tan-soo-bins.html Location of tomb The photo of this cluster of tombs related to Tan Kim Seng descendants was taken when it was located at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. However in 18 July 2017, a jointly issued statement by MND, NEA and SLA required the exhumation of 45,500 Chinese and 35,000 Muslim graves for the Tengah Air Base expansion. This cluster of tombs no longer exist. The r

Tan Jiak Yong (former Alexandra Cemetery)

Tan Jiak Yong passed away on 14 July 1911 at 10 pm Ong Ann Neo passed away on 12 June 1942 at 9:30 am Tan Jiak Yong (29 September 1873 - 3 July 1911) is the son of Tan Beng Swee and Thum Hoe Chee (2nd concubine, born 28 September 1853). Tan Jiak Yong and Ong Ann Neo Tan Jiak Yong and Ong Ann Neo Reference https://www.geni.com/people/TAN-Jiak-Yong/6000000025128161808 Location of tomb The photo of this cluster of tombs related to Tan Kim Seng descendants was taken when it was located at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. However in 18 July 2017, a jointly issued statement by MND, NEA and SLA required the exhumation of 45,500 Chinese and 35,000 Muslim graves for the Tengah Air Base expansion. This cluster of tombs no longer exist. The remains are likely now at Choa Chu Kang Columbarium. Choa Chu Kang Cemetery where the cluster of relocated tombs was once located before being exhumed yet again due to Tengah Airbase expansion

Tan Jiak Chong and Neo Chwee Neo (former Alexandra Cemetery)

Tan Jiak Chong passed away at the age of 75 (on his tomb his age was listed as 72) at his residence, No. 147 Haig Road on 16 May 1950 leaving behind his wife, 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, Mr. Ang Peng Tin and many grand and great grandchildren. The funeral on 20 May 1950 at Alexandra Road. Tan Jiak Chong passed away on 16 May 1950 at the age of 72. His wife is Madam Neo Chwee Neo. Tan Jiak Chong ( 24 Nov 1879 - 16 May 1950) is the son of Tan Beng Swee and his 2nd concubine (Tham Hoe Chee) Tan Jiak Chong Wife: Neo Chwee Neo Madam Neo Chwee Neo passed away at the age of 81 (78 on her tomb) at No. 42 Ceylon Road on 30 October 1959. She leaves behind her son-in-law, Mr. Ang Peng Tin, 2 daughters, many grand and great grandchildren. Funeral at Alexandra Cemetery. Neo Chwee Neo Daughter: Tan Puay Neo Chia Tiang Choo (only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chia Keng Lam and grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chia Ann Lim) to Miss Tan Puay Neo (second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Jiak Chong and gr

Funeral of Wee Teck Seng (Images from the Past)

I found this rare photo titled Funeral of Wee Teck Seng at 32 Balmoral Road and the description details are as follows; This is a group photograph of the family, relatives and household of Wee Teck Seng taken in front of the deceased's bungalow on his funeral. They are in their mourning clothes and gathering around a decorated Chinese funeral hearse, where a portrait of Wee Teck Seng is mounted at the front. Harry Lee Wee is part of the front row on the far right of the picture, standing third from right. Funeral of Wee Teck Seng (photo by NLB) Unfortunately the portrait picture of Wee Teck Seng on the is to blur for me to make out his picture and the one from this tomb is the only one i have for now. However this photo gives good information on who donated the photo, Harry Lee Wee and his wife Ann Wee (who are the son and daughter-in-law) of Dr. H.T. Wee (Dr. Wee Hiap Tock) and Rachel Hunter Hoahing (Ruth Rachel Wee). You can from the picture also make out 31 Balmoral Road also

Philip Julian Low Gek Seng and family (former Bidadari Cemetery )

A series of pictures on PictureSG on tombstones at the former Bidadari Cemetery got me curious and interested to research further. It was a series of pictures which included the tomb of Philip Julian Low Gek Seng and his family. Philip Julian Low Gek Seng / P.J. Low Gek Seng /Low Gek Seng was the managing director of the old established firm Messrs. Kiam Hoa Heng & Co of Bangkok.. Born in Singapore on 1st May 1870, he was the son of Mr. Low Kiok Chiang, Manager of Messrs. Kiam Hoa Heng and Co. Ltd . Philip Julian Low Gek Seng was labelled as one of the pioneers of the rubber industry in Malaya. Reading further, both father and son were prominent Roman Catholic church philanthropists. Philip Julian Low Gek Seng passed away on 7th February 1945 at Valreas, France at the age of 75. His body was sealed in oaken lead-lined coffin in a French mausoleum until 1948 when he shipped back via a passenger ship from Marseilles to Singapore. His coffin was placed at his residence at No. 54 Wat

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