I Survived the Heat, the Humidity
A Memoir of a British Schoolgirl in 1969 Singapore (The final chapter)
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened”. (Dr. Seuss)
The above quote is perfect for what was to be my last year in Singapore. We all cried when we left this teenage haven, most of us returning to the autumn of England or Germany, leaving behind friends many of whom we would never see again. We signed school year books, uniform skirts and shirts. Remember these were the days prior to mobile phone, internet and FaceBook. Staying in touch was by snail mail.
Christmas eve of 1968 is the last Christmas in Singapore though we didn’t know it. Christmas eve was when Mum & I prepped and cooked ready for Christmas Day. That year we again hosted sailors from one of the naval ships in base.
Earlier in the week we had a party at the youth club
Mum and I stuffed the turkey, ready to go in the oven at midnight. We started after dinner making sausage rolls and mince pies. The heat and humidity wasn’t going to stop our family enjoying our usual Christmas lunch.
Then came a knock on the door, Steve, from school was there asking if I could go to the Dockyard dance. The dockyard was the in place to be, always fabulous. Quick shower and a new dress and off we went on his motorbike.
My favourite tunes & artists of the late sixties were: Sitting on the dock of the bay, House of the rising sun, any Motown, Beetles, TRex, Fleetwood Mac, Procal Harum, Righteous Brothers, Small Faces and so many more. I won’t bore you, especially if you weren’t born in this era.
As always the school holidays were spent mostly at the pool, all fun and no school work. December was the rainy season so whether in the pool or walking we would be wet. The most mesmerising sight was the flooded monsoon drains
Visits to Chip Bee Estate to stay with my bestie Jane, with big glasses of coke in the Beehive cafe and hanging out. Jane had fabulous parents especially her Mum who was always so good to me. Then there was the rest of the family, Anne and twins David and Sally. Funnily enough I don’t remember them being annoying.
After the holidays Jane was full of excitement she had seen Stuart, the first boy to make my heart burst. Stu had left school and returned to Terendak in Malaysia after appearing in the movie The Virgin Soldiers as stand in for Hywell Bennett. Many of our students appeared as extras. Have you seen it?
Stu was back and staying in the city so we spent many days after school together, he broke my heart all over again when he left and returned to England. Though I don’t remember how many letters I wrote, he kept every one of them.
Back at school we were cramming for our “O” levels or should have been. To be honest I couldn’t be bothered much. I did enough to keep my parents off my back. I did impress my house teacher and was awarded the tutor group book prize. No one was more surprised than me.
In my history class my eyes would wander constantly to Paul who sat in front of me. Dark hair and a stunning smile we started to see each other, mostly on Saturdays in the city, pictures and a snack.
One of the fondest memories of our school St Johns was the library and the spiral staircase up to the mezzanine floor. The boys would unashamedly look up our skirts and us girls enjoyed flirting and teasing.
There so many more events we had the privilege to attend with Mum and Dad entertaining and socialising. It was always a joy to see them dressed up.
Dad was in the colour party accepting the new colours for 42 Commando from The Queen and Prince Phillip.
1969 was a year of immense social change, our world change forever. I remember sitting on the couch with Dad in July watching the landing on the moon on a black and white tv. In August 350,000 people went to Woodstock. There were many protest marches against the war in Vietnam, with many young American men crossing the border into Canada to escape conscription. The first jumbo jet a Boeing 747 took to the skies and the Concorde took its first flight in France. The Beatles played their last live performance on the rooftop of their recording studio and recorded their last studio album Abbey Road. Midnight Cowboy was the first x-rated film to win an Academy Award for best picture.
The race riots in Malaysia spilled over into Singapore resulting in extra security on base and locking down on the weekend with no one allowed off base.
I’ve covered most of my food memories (that I remember). There is one disgusting habit in Singapore that I will never forget. The chewing of the betel nut and the unsanitary hoiking of the red juice, mainly amongst the Indian, Malay and Peranakan communities. The betel nut was highly addictive and said to give energy, even an aphrodisiac. Walking next to a betel chewer you had to be ready to jump in a hurry or have spit all over your feet.
The dreaded letter arrived with Dad’s posting back to England. It was also goodbye to my Dad’s football team and Pete, my all time favourite Royal.
There were last trips to Change Alley for bargains, new clothes made.
I needed a new passport.
D day arrived in September, with heavy hearts we packed up the house, said goodbyes at school. On 17th September we boarded the plane at Payar Leba (now Changi) airport for Brize Norton in England.
Our final family photo prior to departing Singapore.
Unless you come from a service family, a civilian cannot fathom the life we led, the ups and downs and the many, many friends we accumulated and lost along the way.
Next stop - the bright lights of London.