The last time I was in Singapore was in the early part of 1946. We called in to pick up some RAF personnel and their aircraft and take them to Iwokuni on the island of Honshu. Two things were in my mind when my mate and I went ashore. The first was that we had a meal at the world famous Raffles Hotel, named after the founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles. At this time the hotel was being used as a Forces canteen, but I always vowed that one day if I was ever out that way again, I would take tea at Raffles.
The second thing that stood out also occurred on the same evening. We were sitting on the sea wall when two little Chinese urchins came up to us and asked us: "Hey Jack, you buy Japanese money? No f****** good!" For their cheek, we bought about ten million straits dollars and gave them the negotiable currency prevailing at that time - a packet of ciggys!
Back to the present, my wife Martha and I did have tea at Raffles, and what a tea! We started off with a buffet consisting of all kinds of savouries, followed by sandwiches, cake, desserts and beautiful pots of tea served by waiters in gleaming white uniforms. The cost? Around £15 pounds a head. Try and get that at the Ritz!
The second thing I had hoped to find on my return was not possible. So much land had been reclaimed from the sea that the wall had gone, but I did wonder what became of those kids. Incidentally, those brand new planes we were supposedly taking to Japan were ditched once we were on the open sea, one of my first experiences with taxpayer's money being wasted by the-then government!
Our lovely hostess, telling us many interesting details about the place, gave us an excellent guided tour of the Island. Singapore at one time was part of Malaya and when independence was granted, it became Malaysia, which included Singapore. However, Singapore broke away from the federation of Malaysia in the 60's and became a country in its own right. It then needed its
own army and they turned to Israel for assistance in training etc. That is the reason why a good relationship exists between the two countries - according to our charming guide.
Sam Harris Goes to Australia for Remembrance Sunday
Sam and Martina taking tea at Raffles
The main reason however for the break-up of the federation was because
whilst Malaysia was more or less a Moslem state and other religions were
treated more or less as inferiors. Singapore treated all its citizens on
an equal footing, despite the majority being Malays, followed by Chinese,
Indians and two percent Jews. Everyone seems to live in complete harmony.
I noticed, as we all did, the cleanliness of the place, not a
bit of rubbish anywhere, not even a cigarette end. There was a fine of
about £50 if you threw anything away on the streets! Martha and I were
impressed with the beautiful parks, gardens and very modern avenues with
their fine shopping malls. I took the opportunity of riding in a cab on a
few occasions, they do not normally pick up in the streets except at cab
ranks, outside hotels and the malls. They are all modern saloons with
fares slightly cheaper than ours.
Here again was an example of races living together in
complete harmony. I asked one driver if there was any bar against a
particular race or religion driving a cab. He must have thought I was
crazy: "No sir, certainly not, we are all the same -
Singaporeans." We were also taken to the wonderful Botanical
Gardens where we saw orchids, thousands of them, all fantastic colours, a
number of them named after famous people, the only one we didn't seem to
appreciate was dedicated to the lady with the handbag - not her in 'The
Importance Of Being Earnest'...!
We would like to have gone across to the Island of Santosa
where the signing of the Japanese surrender in September 1945 took place,
but it was time to move on...
More next month...
Sam Harris (S95J)
Shooting Classic
The event will be held at Lakenheath Country Club in Suffolk, with a 100-bird skeet shooting competition for all members of the ESC including Dial-a-Cab's Donna Merry, the silver medal winner from the recent World Championships in Texas. The gold medal winner at those championships will also be taking part as will DaC dispatcher John Wells.
There will be a total of 5 competitions ending in a special challenge for a large cash prize
DaC's Donna Merry will be hoping to win the DaC Shooting Classic
between the two high guns - the top man and top woman - of
the day.
If you fancy a day out with a difference, don't forget June
29 / 30 at Lakenheath. All are welcome...
