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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 benches

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Phua Oen Wee and Tan Guak Sim (Bukit Brown)

benches Block 3 Div D sikh guard

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Tan Yong Kuan (Lao Sua)

January 11, 2022

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Benches in Bukit Brown

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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

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Detective Tan Kee Chuan (Bukit Brown)

It started with Raymond Goh sharing a newspaper article about a police officer's funeral at Bukit Brown and the circumstances of his death while on active duty. Armed with the burial location, we eventually found the tomb and it was a very simple one unlike the other well-known policeman buried in Bukit Brown, Inspector Wong Chin Yoke . Soil movement has cause the headstone to dislodge from the tomb shoulder and the headstone has tilted slight with the engravings partially covered by soil. But finally at least we can now remember Detective Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748) who was killed on active duty on 30 July 1932. He was 24 years old when he died. Detective Tan Kee Chuan, (D.P.C. 748) Full Honours Accorded At Funeral The article describes the funeral service of Chinese policeman, Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748), who was murdered while on duty. The funeral was held at Bukit Brown cemetery on Monday morning with full service honors. All members of D division, along with N.C.O.'s repre...

Teo Sok Boon alias Teo Shanghai (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Low Puay Kim nee Teo Shanghai passed away at the age of 31 at her residence No. 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road on 23 April 1929. On her tomb, her name is listed as Teo Shanghai and in the burial registrar, Teo Sok Boon. 12 years before she passed away she married Low Puay Kim . On 7 July 1917, Miss. Teo Sok Boon married Mr. Low Puey Kim at No. 156-2, Middle Road, Singapore. Mr. Low Puey Kim is the son of Mr. Low Chai Soon. of Swatow. Miss Teo Sok Noon is the eldest daughter of Mr. Teo Bah Tan. A reception was held at the Garden Club, Cairnhill. Tracing her story back further, i believe that in 1911, Teo Shanghai was a student in The Convent. What is also interesting is there is another person called Teo Sochoo (maybe her sister? ). In memory of Teo Shanghai Teo Shanghai (1911) Family Husband: Low Puay Kim In 1929, Low Puay Kim of No 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road (Phone No 6936) put up and advertisement warning people that his name was missued to get o...

Wee Beow Chwee and Lim Seok See (Bukit Brown)

Wee Beow Chwee (18 May 1894- 4 January 1968) Madam Lim Seok See (18 October 1898 - 23 August 1934) Sons: Wee Yam Tong, Wee Yam Lam, Wee Mui Pok, Wee Yam Khoon, Wee Sek Kay Daughters: Wee Kim Chye Wife: Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Madam Lim Seok See Neo Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Lim Seok See Neo passed away at the age of 37 at her residence, No 81, Wilkie Road on 23 August 1934. She leaves behind her her husband, 5 sons, 1 daughter, 1 brother, 3 sisters, her mother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. Madam Lim Seok See Neo is a daughter of Mr. Lim Kwee Eng and Madam Cheang Cheow Lian Neo (daughter of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim ). Tomb of Lim Seok See and Wee Beow Chwee Family Mother: Madam Tan Swee Neo nee Mrs. Wee Chong Bee Mrs. Wee Chong Beng nee Tan Swee Neo passed away on 8th November 1937 at the age of 77. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children: Sons: Wee Peow Yong, Wee Beow Chwee Daughters-in-laws: Lim Peck See, Lim Seok See Grandsons: Wee Y...

Kho Keng Chuan (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Kho Keng Chuan was born in Malacca and later educated in Raffles Institution. He first worked in Adams, Gilfillan and Co. Ltd. Then he became a salesman in the early 1890's to Mr. Arthur Barker before eventually becoming his partner in Messrs. Barker and Keng Chuan for 23 years. The office was located in Change Alley. Kho Keng Chuan is also a member of the Straits Chinese British Association. Kho Keng Chuan and Tan Yew Neo (photo courtesy of Trent Lai) Death Kho Keng Chuan retired in April 1929, due to ill-health. On April 17, 1930 at 1:45 am, he passed away at the age of 60. His tomb lists his 5 sons: Kho Lian Ann (deceased), Kho Lian Cheng (alias Charlie Kho), Kho Lian Guan, Kho Lian Hock, Kho Lian Swee and 6 daughters; Kho Lian Neo, Kho Ann Neo, Kho Joo Neo, Kho Teck Neo, Kho Siam Neo, Kho Bong Neo. Listed are also 2 grandsons, Cary Kho and Jimmy Kho and 1 daughter, Polly Kho. Tomb of Kho Keng Chuan Madam Tan Yew Neo (wife of late Kho Keng Chuan and daughter o...

Kwa Siew Tee and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Kwa Siew Tee, a Semarang born Chinese was a Municipal Commissioner (an appointment he held till 1949). He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour in 1951. Kwa Siew Tee passed away at the age of 89 on 20 March 1977. Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: National Archives of Singapore) Family Kwa Siew Tee and family (source: National Archives of Singapore) Wife: Madam Wee Yew Neo Madam Wee Yew Neo is the daughter of Wee Theam Seng . She passed away on 14 May1980. She is survived by; 3 sons: Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee 4 daughters: Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng. Son: Kwa Soon Hock Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a sta...

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...

Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve

Was at the Sungai Buloh Nature Reserve (Sg Buloh means Bamboo River in Malay) on the 26/2/05 with my girlfriend. It was a lovely day (not too hot) and because it was a Sat, the bus does not go all the way in to the nature reserve, but stops outside at the Kranji Reservoir. So we took a nice stroll along the Kranji Nature Trail that ends at entrance of the Buloh Wetland and when we step into the visitor's /info counter , we were greeted with the lovely sight of an iguana sun bathing (yup iguana -not monitor lizard ok). We saw it thru a spotting scope of a Sg. Buloh volunteer at the cafe beside the pond. The iguana was huge !!!-i think about 2-3 foot long. The bridge leading to the reserve was going thru maintenance so did not linger there for long but went straight into the reserve proper with healthy mangrove trees everywhere. we managed to see many birds (the natives and also migratory ones on their way home). It was sight to behold and some of the positive id's include 3 Sto...

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...

Teo Kim Eng (Bukit Brown)

The large tomb and jovial picture of Mr Teo Kim Eng got me curious about him. His story is an interesting one. Teo Kim Eng (张金荣), a Hokkien businessman from Lam Ann, first came to Singapore at age of 12 and started working as a labourer and eventually earned enough to start in his own stall at the age of 17. By 20, he was the owner of a thriving business and is the owner of Chop Guan Choon (源春号), a big tobacco wholesaler firm. He is the owner of a chain of rubber estates and houses. Mr and Mrs Teo Kim Eng Philanthropist and "Kepala" Prior to war, Teo Kim Eng contributed to the Malayan Patriotic Fund, London Air Raid Relief Fund and China Relief Fund. He is a millionaire but prefers to be known as a "kepala" of his 100-acre holiday resort in Tampenis (now spelled as Tampines). Mr. Teo Kim Eng was observed to be working with his labourers in his estate and was seen during weekends spending hours working under the hot sun, shirtless and armed with a changko...

Ong Boon Tat (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Ong Boon Tat (1888-8 July 1941) is the son of Mr. Ong Sam Leong ). Born in Singapore in 1888, he studied in Raffles Institution and won a Guthrie Scholarship. Ong Boon Tat was a Justice of Peace and Municipal Commissioner for 5 years. He was the managing director of of New World Limited (New World Park) and a Director at Overseas Assurance Corporation (during the time where the Chairman was Mr. Lim Nee Soon ). In the early 1900's, a young Ong Boon Tat stepped into the offices of the Straits Times to apply for the position of shorthand reporter and did a good job of it during a time where the entire editorial team is made of Europeans. However his family business activities came calling and he had to leave. He however never lost interest and later in life became the director of the Malayan Tribune Press Ltd. As the head of the firm Ong Sam Leong and Co, who were the contractors for Christmas Island, he had to travel to Christmas Island to deal with workers unrest / riot the...

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