TTC CAMP REUNION..the Elderly Brothers!

That night of the reunion, I was very glad to meet up again with two of my regular "stage" buddies... Saifudin and Roger Lim. Over the years, especially from the mid 80's, the three of us plus a few others, used to be asked to provide sing a-long entertainment at many ASEAN and ASIAN Schools sports farewell dinner events. No live bands were catered for as it was too extravagant an item for the organising committee. So, invariably unk Dicko was regularly requested to organise and lead the singing and song entertainment with my regular backup partners such as Roger and Saifudin. For such occasions, I would have my accoustic guitar and my trusted Kamaka Ukulele with me. I would also provide other percussion instruments such as the tambourine, the bongo drums and castinets.

Needless to say, our services and time were provided free of charge. One possible reason that I lasted so long in this Chief role ( 2 decades) was that I was the only chap in this education/sports circle who knew many songs of the ASEAN and ASIAN countries involved...could sing the lyrics and play the song.

That always brought much joy and appreciation to the various delegations at the farewell functions....so much so that one ASEAN Delegation head once told Joe David ECAC boss, in my presence, that the ASEAN Schools Sports Council should consider appointing me as their "Singing ambassador". Although said in jest, Joe David beamed and smiled broadly.

Above the 3 Elderly Brothers reunited once again since 1999 !
See my earlier story"Have Ukulele will travel" dated Oct 21 2008 for more info about the 1999 event.

TTC CAMP REUNION ...better late than never!

Tan Buang Lim came very late for the function. But it was a case of "better late than never!"...as he too was warmly received.

TTC CAMP REUNION 31/10/08...the entertainers.

Rodney and Irene Seah showed that age does not matter when it comes to doing the "joget".

Photo:

Tan Pang Lim doing his "Speedy Gonzalez" Hainanese version!Accompanied on the guitar by Harry Tan and members of the Seletar Country club band.

Tan Tee Suan and Nataha Bava doing a duet....with great emotion and passion!

Cameraman: Dick Yip

TTC CAMP REUNION 31/10/08...more veterans!

Photo:

From left...Tang Wing Kee, Hoon Soon Kuan, Dr Lau Teng Chuan, Mr Yap Boon Chuan and Robert Tan.

From left:

Roger Lim, Robert Tan, Tang Wing

Kee and Clarence Lim.

Cameraman: Dick Yip

TTC camp reunion...Tekong 1968!

I am glad I found these old photos of our YLTC days still in reasonably good condition. Actually, there were many more such old photos which I did not then have the time to put into proper albums. Many of my old photos were simply kept in envelopes which were then placed into cardbox cartons...and remained hidden in my storeroom much like antique. My dear wifey disagreed...saying its more like junk! That was before I started blogging. The process of blogging actually creates many positive outcomes. What are some of them?
Well for one, my dear wifey does not consider my boxes of old photos "junk" anymore. What caused this change of heart? It happened a couple of times already. Out of the blue, she receives an official email asking for old photos of her early girl guiding days....of the '60's., or even further back. She goes through albums, cupboards, drawers, files and all the what not...and almost always in desperation and at the 11th hour tells me, she's in a quandary.


In no time at all, I can find what she could not as I'm more familiar with the "old boxes". Now, she thinks they might contain untold treasures!
See how quickly a situation can change ...from junk to treasure. Pure Magic!

Talking about magic, our Reunion entertainment will never be complete without "uncle Magic "himself, the one and only Roger Lim. He's a bona-fide amateur magician and has been astounding us for many years.
Rodney, as usual has been "conned" by uncle Magic, to be a guinea-pig for a trick here. Cheers Rodney! Do not worry too much about your hair. Once uncle Magic can remember where he had kept it in the past...it will come back.

TTC camp reunion...Tekong days!

These were some of the TTC instructors for the November YLTC of 1968. Photo from left: Mat Arif, Jimmy Chua, Dick Yip, Choon Bee,____?, Siem Choo, Clarence Lim, "Datuk" Lawrence Hoh, Lim Ming,Syon, Soon Kuan, Siva and Gerry.

This next picture showed our Barracuda group performing maintenance duties at TTC YLTC base camp at the school in Kg Ladang.

August 1968.

The ages of these five extraordinary PE seniors would be close to 400 years !

Unk Dicko with these 4 who are household names in the world of PE, Sports and Education...in Singapore.

From left:

Mr Tan Eng Yoon

Dr Lau Teng Chuan

Mr Yap Boon Chuan

Mr Tan Hwee Hock

TTC camp reunion...Tekong our 2nd home.

With my camera, I snapped a picture of our group taking a pause to double -check our location during the orienteering session in YLTC, August 1968. Kim Hoe was the only one looking directly into the camera.

I was invited to sing Cliff Richard's the" Young Ones". The lyrics were transposed to the screen by Rodney who was manning the laptop.

I did not know who chose this particular song for me. But it was quite a good choice in the company of so many 'young' ones!..some with little hair, at least one with no hair. Haha.
No wonder they are enjoying it.

Lam Siew Leng tended to the Bar counter. He did a very good job and because of that he was rewarded with

having to sing a song.." Thinking about the things we used to do".

TTC camp reunion...Tekong memories.

Those of our generation who had been to Tekong for the YLTC were the fortunate ones in many ways. We had practically the whole island to ourselves for land activities such as Orienteering, map reading and land expeditions.

This was our Barracuda group on an Orienteering exercise in the heart of a rubber estate...August 1968, Tekong.

Dr Lau making a few poignant observations about the present and future scope of outdoor education before handing the mike over to Goh Ek Piang...who introduced 2 members from CCAB's outdoor education unit who gave us some input through a power point presentation.

The buffet spread was the North Indian type.

Music was provided by Seletar Country Club's live band.

Mr Tan Hwee Hock was invited to sing this song although we had just started the function.

TTC CAMP REUNION 31/10/08...more Memories!

August 1968 YLTC.

This was the group that was! Barracudas they called us...what a fierce name we thought...until we heard the other names, arguably even more ferocious. Piranhas, Mantas and Sharks....etc.

Tee Suan and Hong Kit were the attached GIs, while I had my arms around Choon Bee and Kim Hoe standing behind. Yew Ghee on extreme right of picture.

That building behind us was our famous" mess hall"where all meals were served...breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper all prepared by the campers themselves under the supervision of the Camp kitchen staff.

In this photo:

From right: Goh Ek Piang holding a camera, Yew Ghee, Lock Hong Kit, Ismail Taha, Tan Tee Suan, Nata Bava, Roger Lim, Edaward Tan and a band member. In foreground is Ms Irene Seah...seated.

This photo:

Koh Boon Long and wife, C Kunalan and his wife, Mr Yap Boon Chuan in a stripe shirt can be seen.

Guess what they were all watching intently?

No...not the 4D results! That is no good at all...will mostly increase your frustration and stress levels.

We were all enjoying the singing of

"My Way" by the one and only Saifudin, our ex-Talentime Winner.

Only he has that quality voice to deliver this song in his way!