What a Way to Go — 1950’s Style
Finally got back to Saigon and downloaded my photos.
View of the Britannia Club from the corner of Bras Basah Road and Beach Road:
The building behind is the new JW Marriott Hotel. The structure on the right is a sunshade over an open-air space where the swimming pool used to be.
View from my hotel room:
Looking out to the coast:
The JW Marriott is on the left. The body of water behind the wheel of the Singapore Flyer is the mouth of the Singapore River, which is now a fresh-water reservoir. You can see the barrage at the top right. Beach Road (between my hotel and the Marriott) is now nearly 2 miles from the coast. Almost all of the land in the picture is reclaimed.
View of the barrage, with the Gardens on the Bay, on the right:
View down Bras Basah Road:
The back of the Britannia Club where the pool used to be:
The front of the Drill Hall:
Front of the Britannia Club:
East end of the Britannia Club, looking south:
Placard on the Britannia Club:
And on the north side of Beach Road, majestic as ever:
Kewbick's postcard of the Singapore River is interesting. There are now no boats on the river except tourist boats. The buildings on the right are now the Asian Civilizations Museum. The white buildings on the left along Boat Quay are now all high-priced restaurants and bars. S$15 a pint!
Here's an evening picture of Boat Quay:
View of the Britannia Club from the corner of Bras Basah Road and Beach Road:
The building behind is the new JW Marriott Hotel. The structure on the right is a sunshade over an open-air space where the swimming pool used to be.
View from my hotel room:
Looking out to the coast:
The JW Marriott is on the left. The body of water behind the wheel of the Singapore Flyer is the mouth of the Singapore River, which is now a fresh-water reservoir. You can see the barrage at the top right. Beach Road (between my hotel and the Marriott) is now nearly 2 miles from the coast. Almost all of the land in the picture is reclaimed.
View of the barrage, with the Gardens on the Bay, on the right:
View down Bras Basah Road:
The back of the Britannia Club where the pool used to be:
The front of the Drill Hall:
Front of the Britannia Club:
East end of the Britannia Club, looking south:
Placard on the Britannia Club:
And on the north side of Beach Road, majestic as ever:
Kewbick's postcard of the Singapore River is interesting. There are now no boats on the river except tourist boats. The buildings on the right are now the Asian Civilizations Museum. The white buildings on the left along Boat Quay are now all high-priced restaurants and bars. S$15 a pint!
Here's an evening picture of Boat Quay:
Last edited by India Four Two; 2nd May 2017 at 16:01.
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Brings back very happy memories of afternoons spent on the balcony quaffing a Tiger beer...or two!
A group of matelots performing the 'dance of the flaming a***holes' was rather entertaining one afternoon, before being escorted off the premises by the shore patrol
A group of matelots performing the 'dance of the flaming a***holes' was rather entertaining one afternoon, before being escorted off the premises by the shore patrol
WT,
Thanks. It's always nice to take photos that other people appreciate
I found the original of the black and white photo I posted. It is dated 1969:
There is a good history of the building here:
Former Singapore Armed Forces Non-Commissioned Officers Club | Infopedia
wiggy,
Not the developers - they would have bulldozed it in a heartbeat. It was the Government who had put a conservation order on it. I suspect that it has only survived because it continued to be used by the SAF, during the dark days of the 60s and 70s. Everything old was being pulled down, until the Government realized they were destroying the buildings that tourists wanted to see!
The pool survived at least into the late 80s, since the Swissôtel Stamford in the background, was built in 1986:
Thanks. It's always nice to take photos that other people appreciate
I found the original of the black and white photo I posted. It is dated 1969:
There is a good history of the building here:
Former Singapore Armed Forces Non-Commissioned Officers Club | Infopedia
As India has also said the club is now dwarfed by a high rise development - though at least it looks like somebody (presumably the developer) has decided to keep old club intact and in a very good state of repair. I suspect in some countries it would have been bulldozed flat by now. Must go and have a closer look next time I'm in "town".
Not the developers - they would have bulldozed it in a heartbeat. It was the Government who had put a conservation order on it. I suspect that it has only survived because it continued to be used by the SAF, during the dark days of the 60s and 70s. Everything old was being pulled down, until the Government realized they were destroying the buildings that tourists wanted to see!
The pool survived at least into the late 80s, since the Swissôtel Stamford in the background, was built in 1986:
Last edited by India Four Two; 3rd May 2017 at 08:20. Reason: Added date
WT,
Thanks. It's always nice to take photos that other people appreciate
Here is the original of the black and white photo I posted:
There is a good history of the building here:
Former Singapore Armed Forces Non-Commissioned Officers Club | Infopedia
Thanks. It's always nice to take photos that other people appreciate
Here is the original of the black and white photo I posted:
There is a good history of the building here:
Former Singapore Armed Forces Non-Commissioned Officers Club | Infopedia
wub,
Let me know. When I walked past, there was no indication that it was open to anyone!
Let me know. When I walked past, there was no indication that it was open to anyone!
India42
Great photographs!
You can easily make out 'Kallang Highway" next to the sea - it was interesting that in the morning rush hour the middle lanes were one-way into the city and in the evening rush hour the direction was reversed.
When we first moved in to Crescent Flats in Katong ( the under-25 ghetto! for young RAF Officers )in 1968, the sea came right up to the padang in front of our block. They started the land reclamation while we were there, bringing the soil on a long conveyor belt from the Bedok direction.
You can easily make out 'Kallang Highway" next to the sea - it was interesting that in the morning rush hour the middle lanes were one-way into the city and in the evening rush hour the direction was reversed.
When we first moved in to Crescent Flats in Katong ( the under-25 ghetto! for young RAF Officers )in 1968, the sea came right up to the padang in front of our block. They started the land reclamation while we were there, bringing the soil on a long conveyor belt from the Bedok direction.
Brian,
The "Kallang Highway" you refer to is now the Nicoll Highway. The Art Deco terminal at Kallang airfield is still there.
Talking of "padangs", here's a nice picture, probably taken during the same flight as the aerial view of the Britannia Club.
The Padang looking west, with the Singapore Cricket Club at the far end. Billions of dollars worth of high rises now occupy the anchorage area in the distance:
The Padang picture comes from a very interesting site, with lots of nostalgic photos of Singapore:
http://www.singas.co.uk/HTML/singapore_in_the__60s.html
I was entertained to a very nice dinner on the veranda of the SCC last Friday, followed by a trip to Harry's Bar behind the infamous Orchard Towers! An English girl in our party, on her first trip to Asia, had trouble believing that the very tall, beautiful girls loitering outside, were in fact men.
The "Kallang Highway" you refer to is now the Nicoll Highway. The Art Deco terminal at Kallang airfield is still there.
Talking of "padangs", here's a nice picture, probably taken during the same flight as the aerial view of the Britannia Club.
The Padang looking west, with the Singapore Cricket Club at the far end. Billions of dollars worth of high rises now occupy the anchorage area in the distance:
The Padang picture comes from a very interesting site, with lots of nostalgic photos of Singapore:
http://www.singas.co.uk/HTML/singapore_in_the__60s.html
I was entertained to a very nice dinner on the veranda of the SCC last Friday, followed by a trip to Harry's Bar behind the infamous Orchard Towers! An English girl in our party, on her first trip to Asia, had trouble believing that the very tall, beautiful girls loitering outside, were in fact men.
Last edited by India Four Two; 3rd May 2017 at 11:38.
I42
You are absolutely correct! Nicoll Highway not Kallang Highway - the old brain cells let me down!
I think it did or does cross part of the old Kallang Airfield.
SWMBO and I managed to afford 7 holidays in Singapore and Malaysia from 1988, the last in 2002. Seeing your photos is making me think of going again, however I have to balance that against the fact that since 9/11 the whole flying thing has become a complete pain.
Back in the days of flight deck access I often presented my LHR ATC business card and asked to go up front for a chat. The most interesting crew I met was on a Malaysian flight from Sandakan to Kinabalu - both pilots were and looked Burmese.
I think it did or does cross part of the old Kallang Airfield.
SWMBO and I managed to afford 7 holidays in Singapore and Malaysia from 1988, the last in 2002. Seeing your photos is making me think of going again, however I have to balance that against the fact that since 9/11 the whole flying thing has become a complete pain.
Back in the days of flight deck access I often presented my LHR ATC business card and asked to go up front for a chat. The most interesting crew I met was on a Malaysian flight from Sandakan to Kinabalu - both pilots were and looked Burmese.
Brian,
If you are thinking of coming out to the Far East again, I strongly suggest you consider visiting Vietnam. PM me if you are interested.
Pre-2001, I used to often get a jump seat ride by showing my business card and PPL. The best one was into Kai Tak, just before it closed, in a 777. The crew were two Brits. It was the Captain's leg, so the the FO gave me the safety brief at TOD. "If Bill stuffs it up and we end up in the harbour, your life jacket is under your seat." No power-gradient in that cockpit!
If you are thinking of coming out to the Far East again, I strongly suggest you consider visiting Vietnam. PM me if you are interested.
Pre-2001, I used to often get a jump seat ride by showing my business card and PPL. The best one was into Kai Tak, just before it closed, in a 777. The crew were two Brits. It was the Captain's leg, so the the FO gave me the safety brief at TOD. "If Bill stuffs it up and we end up in the harbour, your life jacket is under your seat." No power-gradient in that cockpit!
Thread Starter
India Four Two
Whatever happened to Bugis Street? Taken on a 1979 trip - faces obscured for obvious reasons!
followed by a trip to Harry's Bar behind the infamous Orchard Towers! An English girl in our party, on her first trip to Asia, had trouble believing that the very tall, beautiful girls loitering outside, were in fact men.
Whatever happened to Bugis Street? Taken on a 1979 trip - faces obscured for obvious reasons!
WT,
Sadly Bugis Street is a mere shadow of its former self:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugis,_Singapore
These days, the ladyboys are mostly to be found in and around Orchard Towers, aka "Four Floors of Wh***s"
Sadly Bugis Street is a mere shadow of its former self:
In the mid-1980s, Bugis Street underwent major urban redevelopment into a retail complex of modern shopping malls, restaurants and nightspots mixed with regulated back-alley roadside vendors. Underground digging to construct the Bugis MRT station prior to that also caused the upheaval and termination of the nightly transgender sex bazaar culture, marking the end of a colourful and unique era in Singapore's history.
Today, the original Bugis Street is now a cobblestoned, relatively wide avenue sandwiched between the buildings of the Bugis Junction shopping complex. On the other hand, the lane presently touted as "Bugis Street" by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board is actually developed from New Bugis Street, formerly Albert Street, and is billed as "the largest street-shopping location in Singapore". An attempt by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to bring back the former exotic atmosphere was unsuccessful. Although the street is now not a well-known tourist destination, it is frequented by many Singaporeans.
Today, the original Bugis Street is now a cobblestoned, relatively wide avenue sandwiched between the buildings of the Bugis Junction shopping complex. On the other hand, the lane presently touted as "Bugis Street" by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board is actually developed from New Bugis Street, formerly Albert Street, and is billed as "the largest street-shopping location in Singapore". An attempt by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to bring back the former exotic atmosphere was unsuccessful. Although the street is now not a well-known tourist destination, it is frequented by many Singaporeans.
These days, the ladyboys are mostly to be found in and around Orchard Towers, aka "Four Floors of Wh***s"
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Trade House, Singapore, 1960: (Currently, the frieze would do well with solar collector panels). A total absence of lane markings on the tarmacadam are in evidence. Oddly, it looks as though they are driving on the right-hand side..
Last edited by Kewbick; 5th May 2017 at 22:23.
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Warmtoast, India Four Two and others,
What a feast of photographs ! You can almost feel the hammer of the tropic sun ! My Far East time was limited to 3½ years in India and Burma, and as it was wartime, we were (IIRC) officially forbidden to have cameras (and even less home cine-cameras) for security reasons.
But this seems to have been "honoured in the breach more than in the observance", but even so there is not much (all b/w) still camera work, and the IAF home-camera film of the Vultee Vengeance is the only bit I've seen (but of course there may be more).
Warmtoast - only a four tier bunk ? You had it good, mate ! In the "Stirling Castle" going out to Bombay in autumn 1942, I was on the top of a wooden Seven tier bunk. Admittedly it was under the high ceiling in the former First-Class dining saloon, but even so I was able to stretch out a hand and feel the "roof" from my bunk.
The trip took eight weeks, as we had to go round the Cape, and went via Bahia, Brazil, (to keep out of the way of operations in North Africa). At Bahia we stayed for a couple of days, to take on fresh water, and stretched our legs ashore on a "Lap of Honour" style march round the city centre and back. This was not quite as impressive "showing of the Flag" as the Admiralty describes, as our KD had been "washed" in sea-water non-soap and not pressed !
They didn't take the risk of letting us loose in Bahia, but we had a day ashore in Durban, and I was able to celebrate my 21st birthday in some style .
Memories, memories ! Thank you, chaps !
Danny.
What a feast of photographs ! You can almost feel the hammer of the tropic sun ! My Far East time was limited to 3½ years in India and Burma, and as it was wartime, we were (IIRC) officially forbidden to have cameras (and even less home cine-cameras) for security reasons.
But this seems to have been "honoured in the breach more than in the observance", but even so there is not much (all b/w) still camera work, and the IAF home-camera film of the Vultee Vengeance is the only bit I've seen (but of course there may be more).
Warmtoast - only a four tier bunk ? You had it good, mate ! In the "Stirling Castle" going out to Bombay in autumn 1942, I was on the top of a wooden Seven tier bunk. Admittedly it was under the high ceiling in the former First-Class dining saloon, but even so I was able to stretch out a hand and feel the "roof" from my bunk.
The trip took eight weeks, as we had to go round the Cape, and went via Bahia, Brazil, (to keep out of the way of operations in North Africa). At Bahia we stayed for a couple of days, to take on fresh water, and stretched our legs ashore on a "Lap of Honour" style march round the city centre and back. This was not quite as impressive "showing of the Flag" as the Admiralty describes, as our KD had been "washed" in sea-water non-soap and not pressed !
They didn't take the risk of letting us loose in Bahia, but we had a day ashore in Durban, and I was able to celebrate my 21st birthday in some style .
Memories, memories ! Thank you, chaps !
Danny.
You can almost feel the hammer of the tropic sun !
You can say that because you've experienced it.
I try to explain the heat and humidity to people who've never been in the Tropics as follows:
"Imagine you are in a bathroom, where a hot shower has been running for some time and there are multiple heat lamps in the ceiling."
These days, I find myself unconsciously walking on the shady side of the street!
India Four Two,
thank you for the very evocative pics a walk down memory lane for me. I did a tour on 48 at Changi and came home when it all folded. Back to Harold Wilson, VAT and decimal currency.! Heat and humidity notwithstanding it was the best tour of my almost 40 years in the RAF. The flying was great and so was the social life.
Only pics I have are of my family, and aircraft.
Fast forward about 25 years and my stepson is out there with his company so we go back. What a shock in that I could hardly recognise anything, especially Changi. Been back several times since as a stopover on the way to family in Perth. Always a pleasure.
thank you for the very evocative pics a walk down memory lane for me. I did a tour on 48 at Changi and came home when it all folded. Back to Harold Wilson, VAT and decimal currency.! Heat and humidity notwithstanding it was the best tour of my almost 40 years in the RAF. The flying was great and so was the social life.
Only pics I have are of my family, and aircraft.
Fast forward about 25 years and my stepson is out there with his company so we go back. What a shock in that I could hardly recognise anything, especially Changi. Been back several times since as a stopover on the way to family in Perth. Always a pleasure.
It looks like there is a cable duct along to top of the DC-4's fuselage. Anyone know what that's for?
AA62
Your post about what you came back to from Changi got me thinking. I remember that 48 came to Lyneham in late '71 so Ted Heath was PM, a post he held until early '74.
I couldn't remember when VAT was introduced although I knew it was around when SWMBO was self-employed in the late 70s - Wiki gives the date as 1st April 1973, the day we joined the EEC. It replaced Purchase Tax. IIRC it was only 8% in the early days!
I couldn't remember when VAT was introduced although I knew it was around when SWMBO was self-employed in the late 70s - Wiki gives the date as 1st April 1973, the day we joined the EEC. It replaced Purchase Tax. IIRC it was only 8% in the early days!