Mrs. Tan Siew Kuah nee Quek Lim Neo (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Tan Siew Kuah nee Quek Lim Neo passed away at 8:30 am on 2 January 1933. Madam Quek Lim Neo was born on 15 March 1907 and passed away on 2 January 1933. She was 26 years old when she passed away. The cortege left from 9 Lorong B, St. George's Road at 10 am on 3 January 1933. T.M.A Music House was closed for the day.  

It was from the death notice i found out that her husband, Tan Siew Kuah was the owner of T.M.A Music House and also associated with the United Chinese Musical Association, Mayflower Musical and Dramatic Association and an avid orchid collector.   

Mrs. Tan Siew Kuah nee Quek Lim Neo 

Husband: Tan Siew Kuah

Tan Siew Kuah passed away at the age of 88 on 13 October 1987. He leaves behind;

Wife: Neo Guat Cheng 

Sisters: Tan Han Neo, Tan Song Neo

Sons: Tan Peck Soo, Tan Peck San

Daughters-in-law: Goon Kwan Thye, Chong Bee Lay

Grandchildren; Tan Leong Lock, Tan Leong Hoh, Tan Leong Toon, Tan Lay Tuan, Tan Teck Tuan.

The cortege left from 776, Mountbatten Road. 

Tan Siew Kuah

T.M.A Music House

T.M.A. Music House of No. 61 and 63 High Street, Singapore is owned by Tan Siew Kuah. The company was still located up to the 1970's when i found an article mentioning; Tan Siew Kuan (Pte) Ltd. / T.M.A (Pte) Ltd from 61/63 High Street. 

In a dawn blaze that cause $30,000 worth of damage on the dawn of 6 April 1937, 55 firemen and 45 officers fought the outbreak at Collyer Quay and Change Alley. The principal damaged at the town branch office of the T.M.A. Music House were stock valued at over $5,000 were gutted. This stocks in his music house included hundreds of records, music books a a few radio gramophones were  destroyed. Fortunately, according to Tan Siew Kuah, he said they were fully insured. 

Below are some advertisements for T.M.A Music from the 1930s - 1947. On 1 July 1947, T.M.A Ltd with a registered capital of $1 million was incorporated. Even until 1972 i see the company in existence. 

T.M.A Music House (source: NewspaperSG) 

T.M.A. Music House and T.M.A. Limited (source: NewspaperSG)

1972

United Chinese Musical Association 

There was another article mentioning that members of the United Chinese Musical Association have learn with deep regret of the death of Mr. Tan Siew Kuan's wife who passed away. Tan Siew Kuan was one of the vice-presidents of the United Chinese Musical Association. The Chinese Musical Association was formed in 1920. For the 10th Anniversary, the committee and members took a photo at the bungalow of the Patron of the Association, Mr. Aw Boon Haw at Pasir Panjang on 23 February 1930.

Tan Siew Kuah was also the President of the Mayflower Musical and Dramatic Association (1930). 

Location of tomb 

Block 3 Section C, plot 652

Mrs. Tan Siew Kuah nee Quek Lim Neo

References

Untitled. (1930, November 15). Malayan Saturday Post, page 30

Page 17. (1930. March 15). Malayan Saturday Post, page 17

Untitled. (1931, January 12). The Straits Times, page 6

$30,000 Damage in Dawn Blaze On Collyer Quay. (1937, April 6). The Straits Times, page 12

Advertisements. (1946, September 170. Malayan Tribune, page 2

Orchid Story. (1957, March 29). The Singapore Free Press, page 3

Deaths. (1987, October 14). The Straits Times, page 30