THIS IS MY LIFE - 19

19 – HAPPY FAMILY IN PENANG BOYS’ HOME

In 1965 The Army built a small two-storey house as quarters for the officers in charge of the Penang Boys’ Home in Sungai Pinang Road. It was situated on the left side of the driveway from the front gate into the compound of the Home. The office was a room on the right and the door on the left led to our lounge and dining area. Behind was the kitchen beside which was a flight of stairs to the second level. There were three bedrooms upstairs.

There were about 50 boys of ages six to late teens in the Home. Madam Low Ah Kew was a live-in cook who also did the big laundry. A former resident, Meng Cheong, worked as a general helper and driver. He was really good, with a great sense of ownership of the place. The Home ran a chicken farm as a means of income. One of my husband’s duties was to deliver eggs and poultry!

In conjunction with the Home was a primary school for over-aged children. About half of our boys were able to attend the government schools, but quite a number had to stay in. In addition to these boys residing in our Home, some children from elsewhere were also enrolled with us. To cut costs, Brother (now Lt-Colonel) Tan Thean Seng taught primary one and two; I took 3 and 4, while a Mrs. Lee was the teacher for 5 and 6.

Gladys started attending the Methodist Kindergarten in Logan Road. Initially I felt as if I had lost my daughter! I kept on wondering how she was getting along. It is not easy to let go of one’s child, especially for the first time. I guess she must have felt a little lost at first but she soon got over it. Children do adjust better than adults. Stephen seemed happy enough to play by himself at home, as long as he had his toy cars.

Major Ivy Wilson was the Corps Officer of Penang Corps. My husband supported the corps by taking responsibility for the band and songster brigade. I sang with the treble section. She used to direct the traffic with her right hand whilst carrying Stephen in her left arm as the corps band marched to and from the Open-air meeting every Sunday evening.

Home League Secretary was my position in the corps. Every week my husband would alight me and our children at the corps on his delivery round. Then he would pick us up later, and also give lifts to some of the ladies, like the mothers of Lt-Colonels Tan and Loo, Madam Ah Chee and Sundari on the way home.

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Preston, a young Scot and his Penang-born wife, Wee Si Lin, with their little daughter, had moved to Ipoh where he found a job. She had also been a Home League member in Penang. One day Major Wilson decided to visit the family in Ipoh. She drove an old car, taking Stephen and me for a day’s outing. On the way we stopped by a shady spot where we had a picnic lunch which I had prepared. We also stopped by the Ipoh Boys’ Home to see Captain and Mrs. Ken Spikin and their family, Karen and Brenda.

A few months later Esther JOHN was appointed as the Assistant Corps Officer to Penang Corps. At the end of her training as a cadet in New Zealand she was commissioned in January 1966. After some time a young man called Stephen Rengasamy started attending the corps. He became a soldier, went into the Training College in Singapore and they got married.