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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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Showing posts with the label Reconnecting

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Tan Hoo Chwee - founder of Kian Seng Huat (Kopi Sua)

October 04, 2025

kheam hock road village kopi sua Reconnecting tomb mason

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Miracles do happen - restoration of the tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo (2025)

October 04, 2025

Block 4 Div C Reconnecting Youtube Shorts

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Serendipity encounter with Chia Hian Neo (daughter of Chia Seng Quee and Chua Kim Neo) at Bukit Brown

August 23, 2025

Block 4 Div A Reconnecting

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A visit of rediscovery and closure (Bukit Brown)

August 17, 2025

Block 4 Div B Block 4 Div C Block 4 Division 3 Plus Codes Reconnecting

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Bukit Brown950
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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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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)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

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

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Miracles do happen - restoration of the tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo (2025)

It was just on 27 July 2025, i shared on the condition of the tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo who passed away at the age of 71 on 3 July 1939. It was a tomb i passed by over the years and happen to wrote about her before and took a number of photos over the years. In my recent visit in July 2025, i was shocked by the intensive damaged cause by a fig tree that grew out of the altar table and commented that in another 3-5 years if nothing is done, this tomb will likely no longer be visible. A wonderful thing happened because on 30 September 2025, the great granddaughter of Madam Lim Keok Neo reached out to me and the long story short, she helped to restore the tomb. It was today i manage to visit the tomb again and i am so happy to see the efforts put to maintain it. I applaud her in honoring her great grandmother's memory. Below is what it looks like now. Tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo (photo taken on 4 October 202...

Tan Chian and family (Kopi Sua)

The tomb of Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian 陳貴賤 was identified by Raymond Goh while we were exploring an area of the Hokkien Cemetery near Mount Pleasant colloquially known as Kopi Sua. While searching through the newspapers archives, we can slowly piece together the story of Tan Chian (1876-1944) and his family. Tan Chian passed away at his residence at No. 19 Scotts Road at the age of 68 on 3 November 2604 (the Japanese koki calender for 1944). He is survived by 7 sons, ( Messrs. Tan Beng Kee, Tan Beng Thong, Tan Beng Wah, Tan Beng Teck, Tan Beng Guan, Tan Beng Ghee and Tan Beng Hui), 4 daughters, 1 son-in-law and 14 grandchildren. Tan Kwee Chian Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian Tan Chian (alias Tan Kwee Chian) was a timber merchant and sawmill propertier with company under the name of Chop Chye Hin, 368 Beach Road. He was also a shareholder in the Chinese Commercial Bank. Mr. Tan Chian was granted a certificate of naturalization by the British Colonial Gove...

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...

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 Hoo Chwee - founder of Kian Seng Huat (Kopi Sua)

Today was an interesting day as i was fortunate to join Raymond Goh as he brought the granddaughter of Tan Hoo Chwee to help her find her grandfather's tomb. Elsie Tan use to visit in the past together with her father, Tan Tee Seng and later on her relatives to visit the tomb of her grandfather. We were joined by 3 students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) were also present as they were doing a documentary project as part of their degree and i must say the topic is very interesting and challenging at the same time focusing on Elsie Tan and her links to the tomb mason business in Kheam Hock Road and more specifically on Kian Seng Huat whose founder's tomb - Tan Hoo Chwee we were trying to find at Kopi Sua (Whitley Road Hokkien Cemetery). Finding Tan Hoo Chwee's tomb Back to the story at hand, Elsie Tan remembered parking at Onraet Road (nearer to Whitley Detention Centre) and after a brief walk along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) arrived at the tomb of her gran...

Tan Jiak Kim (former Alexandra Cemetery)

Tan Jiak Kim, J.P. C.M.G. / 陈若锦 was born in Singapore on 29 April 1859 and came from an old and respected family. His grandfather was Tan Kim Seng, the founder of Kim Seng and Co, and a well known public benefactor. When he passed away in 1863, his son, Tan Beng Swee (Tan Jiak Kim's father) succeeded as head of the firm and was also a well known public figure in Singapore and Malacca. Educated privately, he entered the firm of Kim Seng and Co, as apprentice at the age of 18 where he gain business experience. After the death of his father, Mr. Tan Beng Swee in 1884, he was taken into partnership by his uncle, Mr. Tan Beng Gum . Tan Jiak Kim was also one of the founders of the Straits Steamships Company Ltd, a Director of the United Singapore Rubber Estates Ltd. In 1886, Tan Jiak Kim was elected a Municipal Commissioner and 1889 appointed as a member of the Legislative Council until he resigned in May 1915 when he resigned due to health reasons. On 1st January 1912 he was presented ...

Joseph William Cashin and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Joseph William Cashin / J.W. Cashin (1842-1907) was born in Singapore and is the second son of the late Mr. Cashin, a Maltese Inspector of Police. The Cashin family originally from Ireland, came down to Singapore many years ago. Joseph William Cashin was educated at the Christian Brother's Schoo and became a lawyer's clerk after going into work at the legal firm of Mr. F.E. Pereira, followed by Mr. Edwin Koek and finally Mr. J.P. Joaquim. Joseph William Cashin also joined the Opium and Liquor Farms of Singapore, rising the ranks to Managing Director before passing away. With the money, he invested and also made a fortune in land speculation and at one time own many properties, including about 400 shophouses. Joseph William Cashin passed away on 7th August 1907 at his country house at Pongol (Punggol) and the body was brought to his town residence at No 3 Gaylang (Geylang) at the end of the tramway terminus. He is survived by his widow, 3 daughters and an only son. Probate of h...

Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers (former Bidadari Cemetery)

George Edward Noel Oehlers / George E N Oehlers / Geno Oehlers (1 April 1908- 27 October 1968) was educated at St. Andrew's School and Raffles Institution, George Edward Noel Oehlers was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1931 and to the Singapore Bar in March 1932. He practiced as advocate and solicitor in Singapore until he was appointed Speaker designate of Singapore Legislative Assembly in December 1954. He was appointed First Speaker of the Singapore Legislative Assembly in 1 June 1960. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers was knighted in 1958 making him the first Eurasian in Singapore to be knighted. Other positions he held throughout his career included being the President of the Industrial Arbitration Court (1965) and Chairman of the Public Utilities Board, Singapore. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers passed away due at his residence in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur at the age of 60 on 27 October 1968 in Kuala Lumpur age 60 and was cremated on 28 Oc...

Tan Teck Yam (Kopi Sua)

The ceramic image has faded but still can faintly make out that Tan Teck Yam was not an elderly person when he passed away on 28 February 1961. His tombstone in English did not indicate his age but provided information of his children; Sons: Tan Chye Huat, Tan Kim Huat, Tan Cheng Huat, Tan Kim Wah, Tan Bee Wah Tan Teck Yam tomb at Kopi Sua I found an article that closely match the death date of Tan Teck Yam - 28 February 1961. Tan Teck Yam 34 years of age of Margate Road was knocked down and killed in an accident by a van at Kim Seng Road. Location of tomb 8RHH+MJH Singapore

Dr. Hubert James Lawson (Choa Chu Kang Columbarium)

This niche caught my eye; Dr. Hubert James Lawson, MB BCH Malayan Medical Service Died in Sime Road Civilian Internment Camp Singapore 2nd December 1944 Age 46 In Loving Memory From what little i can gather about Dr. Hubert James Lawson or Dr. H.J. Lawson (reported on December 1927) was his appointment by the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the Federated Malay States (F.M.S.) as a Medical Officer. In 1930, i see this article: At the European Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, on 4 April 1930, to Majorie, wife of Dr. H.J. Lawson, of Klang a son. In the 1930's i see various article of Dr. H.J Lawson, Medical Officer being transferred to various States in Malaya. In 1940, Dr. H.J. Lawson, Malaya Medical Service has been appointed to officiate as Medical Officer, Lower Perak. That was the only information i could find about him. Niche of Dr. Hubert James Lawson, MB BCH Malayan Medical Service - Died in Sime Road Civilian Internment Camp Singapore...

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