Skip to main content

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.

Search This Blog

Home
Bukit Brown
Bidadari Christian Cemetery
Rojak Librarian+
Sitemap

Showing posts with the label Block 1 Division B

Posts

Funeral expense of Madam Goh Kim Neo (Bukit Brown)

February 02, 2026

Block 1 Division B Family - Chia Hood Theam funeral cost

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs Tan Keng Siew nee Sim Hong Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Lim Yew Geak and family (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Family - Chia Peck Koon marble

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Wong Lin Yeow (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Hill 1

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Siow Cheng Watt and family (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B marble

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs. Tan Jim Puan nee Madam Goh Kay Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Door Gods Hill 1 video

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs. Yeo Cheow Wai nee Madam Chia Teck Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B decorative tiles Family - Yeo Cheow Wai Hill 1

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs. Choa Kim Keat nee Tan Hoon Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Family - Tan Tock Seng

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Cheang Siok Tin nee Mrs. Tan Soo Wan (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Died Young

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Labels

Bukit Brown911
Hill 3332
Hill 1187
Died Young178
Hill 4164
decorative tiles163
Block 3 Div D148
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div C107
Block 4 Div C104

Show more Show less

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

Total Pageviews

Follow me on Facebook

Subscribe to Youtube Channel

Subscribe to Instagram

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)

Archive

2026 42
- February 5
- January 37

2025 217
- December 10
- November 23
- October 17
- September 10
- August 16
- July 21
- June 16
- May 36
- April 19
- March 21
- February 8
- January 20
2024 188
- December 18
- November 12
- October 26
- September 32
- August 21
- July 7
- June 11
- May 15
- April 14
- March 16
- February 7
- January 9
2023 168
- December 10
- November 7
- October 12
- September 20
- August 10
- July 9
- June 31
- May 18
- April 5
- March 12
- February 12
- January 22
2022 237
- December 11
- November 15
- October 20
- September 6
- August 15
- July 15
- June 12
- May 6
- April 17
- March 37
- February 54
- January 29
2021 326
- December 19
- November 47
- October 36
- September 24
- August 27
- July 31
- June 25
- May 20
- April 17
- March 28
- February 26
- January 26
2020 113
- December 13
- November 21
- October 13
- September 11
- August 8
- July 7
- June 6
- May 8
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 8
2019 52
- December 1
- October 2
- September 5
- August 4
- July 8
- June 7
- May 4
- April 4
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2018 53
- December 2
- November 4
- October 4
- September 5
- August 9
- July 9
- June 3
- April 2
- March 5
- February 5
- January 5
2017 52
- December 1
- November 1
- October 1
- September 2
- August 4
- July 7
- June 8
- May 3
- April 8
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2016 52
- December 4
- August 2
- July 8
- June 3
- May 8
- April 11
- March 10
- February 5
- January 1
2015 43
- December 4
- November 5
- October 3
- July 1
- June 5
- May 1
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 6
2014 92
- December 6
- November 5
- October 7
- September 5
- August 5
- July 11
- June 8
- May 10
- April 8
- March 8
- February 9
- January 10
2013 99
- December 8
- November 9
- October 9
- September 4
- August 4
- July 10
- June 8
- May 8
- April 9
- March 10
- February 10
- January 10
2012 78
- December 7
- November 6
- October 10
- September 5
- August 2
- July 5
- June 4
- May 8
- April 7
- March 9
- February 8
- January 7
2011 44
- December 7
- November 8
- October 2
- September 1
- July 2
- June 5
- May 6
- April 6
- March 3
- February 1
- January 3
2010 29
- December 4
- November 4
- October 8
- September 8
- August 3
- April 2
2008 2
- February 1
- January 1
2007 10
- November 1
- August 4
- June 4
- April 1
2006 11
- November 1
- August 1
- June 3
- March 1
- February 3
- January 2
2005 45
- November 3
- October 3
- May 1
- April 13
- March 25
2004 6
- September 3
- August 3

Show more Show less

Support My Efforts

Popular Post

Together to the grave - a doctor and his mother (Bukit Brown)

In one of my trips to Bukit Brown, Block 3 Division B, plot 450, i came across a cluster of family graves, with a fence and gate. The way the plaques or memorial stones were laid out got me curious and what i uncovered was a tragic story. Double tragedy A family dinner for the Tan's at a house by the sea in No 135/136 Pasir Panjang Road on 7 February 1968, ended on a sour note, when Madam Siew Lin Neo, 72 years of age suddenly collapsed after dinner. Desperately trying to revive Madam Siew Lin Neo was her eldest son Dr. Essel Tan Sin Lian, 47. He did not manage to save his mother. Grief stricken, he was heard repeating "It's no use being a medical man, if i can't even revive my own mother" . He took the death of her mother very personally, so much so that he blamed himself and he took it as a personal failure. He also subsequently collapsed and was brought to the General Hospital where he died at 3:45 am, 8 hours after the death of his mother on 8 February 196...

Khoo Kay Hian (Bukit Brown)

During the rubber boom of the 1910, Khoo Kay Hian / Khoo Kay Hean was well positioned and made money as a rubber broker based in The Arcade. He went on to be the founder of one of the best known stock broking firm in Singapore bearing his namesake, Kay Hian and Co in 1921. He was also a committee member of the Singapore Sharebrokers' Association (this was before it became the Singapore Stock Exchange). Throughout his career, he held various positions and they included: Assistant Secretary of the Ee Hoe Hean Club (1918) ; Management Committee of the Garden Club (1920) Chinese Lantern Procession (1922), Joint Honorary Secretary together with Lim Kee Cheok. (Lim Chwee Chian was the Chairman) and also Committee member of the Singapore Chinese Girls School (1925). He contributed to various causes and some of them include: Kampong Martin Relief Fund (1916), Chinese Halifax Relief Fund (1917), Sir Arthur Young's Portrait Fund (1919), St Andrew's Hospital Building (1920), Nanyang U...

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...

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...

Ng Boo Bee (Taiping)

Ng Boo Bee (1853-1921) 黄务美, was born and educated in Fujian, China before making his way to Malaya, first in Penang before eventually making a name for himself in the State of Perak. His father is Ng Koh Sung and mother, U Choot Kwah. He started out as a brick manufacturer and timber merchant under the name of Chop Swee Bee in Taiping, Ipoh and Teluk Anson. In Taiping, he acquired the tender contract as a railway contractor under Mr. C.R. Hanson, Resident Engineer for Perak Railways and was probably responsible for the building of the first railway in Malaya which connected Taiping to Port Weld. It was during this time he shrewdly acquired land around Kamunting. Ng Boo Bee Millionaire tin miner The land purchases around Kamunting made Ng Boo Bee a millionaire and with that he acquired also various houses in Taiping and also Penang. The Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir John Anderson visited Ng Boo Bee tin mine in 1908 which had at that time, employed 4,500...

The story behind the iconic fig tree in Bukit Brown- Teo Chye Neo found

Madam Teo Chye Neo who lived in 40-A Onan Road was stab in the face and neck after a quarrel with a 16 year old Hylam Boy by the name of Yeo Tin Keng alias Ah Neok (Little Boy) who was employed as a cook in the deceased 's house at 10am in the morning of 23 June 1933. She died as result of extensive hemorrhage. It was also understood that Teo Chye Neo (who was married to Tan Siang Hee) had been pregnant for 7 months. Teo Chye Neo passed away at the age of 27 and was buried in Bukit Brown on 25 June 1933. Her burial entry is at Block 3 Section D, plot 373. Today we tried to find Teo Chye Neo and her unborn child. We found that a huge fig tree, a landmark in Bukit Brown hill 3 as taken over. Tombkeeper Queenie confirmed that there used to be a tomb there when she was young but even back as young lady, the fig tree with it aerial roots hanging down its branches has slowly enveloped the headstone. The fig tree that has engulfed the tomb of Madam Teo Chye Neo The fig tree w...

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...

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...

Tay Koh Yat (Bukit Brown)

Tay Koh Yat (1880-29 January 1957) C.H., O.B.E, was born in Kinmen in 1880 and came down to Singapore in 1902 at the age of 22 as a poor immigrant and got a job as a $2-a-month clerk in a Chinese shop were his duties include sweeping floors. He then joined Chop Guan Seng Hin as a partner.At the age of 32, he established Guan Soon (branches in Indonesia and Penang), followed by Aik Seng Hin and finally Chin Joo Seng and Co. His name (to a much older generation of Singaporeans) is linked to his namesake bus company called Tay Koh Yat Bus Company. Starting from just 2 buses in 1921, it went on to become one of the largest in the colony. He was also a director of the Chung Shin Jit Poh, a Chinese newspaper and committee member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Hokkien Huay Kuan. Tay Koh Yat was also a chairman of the Thong Chai Hospital at Eu Tong Sen Street. Tay Koh Yat (source: NLB ) Tay Koh Yat Bus - 1951 advertisement (source: NewspaperSG) War Hero A l...

Lim Teck Kim and family (Bukit Brown)

Lim Teck Kim was born in Kinmen. He passed away on 28 June 1938 at the age of 55, leaving behind 11 sons and 13 daughters. Lim Teck Kim established the Lim Hoe Chiang Co. , a General Store which marketed the "Global Brand" coffee and W.D & H.O Wills of Bristol and London "Flag Brand" cigarettes at 250 Tanjong Pagar Road. Lim Teck Kim also pioneered Singapore's first amusement park, "Old World (1921) which was later renamed "Happy Valley". Lim Teck Kim's brother-in-law, Ong Boon Tat subsequently opened "New World" (1923). Lim Teck Kim Lim Hoe Chiang Co promoting "Flag Brand" cigarettes The Happy Valley The amusement park was open on 1 February 1924 afternoon by Mrs. Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E . who performed the cord cutting ceremony with a golden scissors at the main gates of Happy Valley just before the Chinese New Year. The main attraction includes a boxing stadium that can be adapted to use for theatrical ...

Rojak Librarian +

Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Bukit Brown Trails
Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
Singapore Heritage Society
Bukit Brown Tomb
Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
Our Bedok Kampong House
Good morning yesterday
Oceanskies
Remember Singapore
Yesterday.sg
Bits & Pieces
Overseas Chinese in the British Empire

Nature Groups in S'pore and M'sia

Bird Ecology Study Group(Singapore)
Nature Society Singapore
Malaysian Nature Society
Singapore Environment Council
S'pore Bird Group
S'pore Butterfly Interest Group
Wild Singapore
Raffles Museum of Bio-Diversity's Habitatnews-
Nature Photographic Society (Singapore)
Oriental Bird Club
Butterfly Circle Checklist

Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
National Parks(Singapore)
Mangrove Flora and fauna of Sg Buloh
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-Wildlife Singapore
Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

Daily Moon Phase

Powered by Blogger

2005-2026, All Rights Reserved, Rojak Librarian