27 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore.

We always transited at this address, Elen Beauty Salon when we went abroad. This photo, 1974, when Father and Mother took Joseph, Henry, Helen and Grace on their Singapore, West Malaysia and Thai;and Tour.

In 1947, Father announced he was going to Singapore for further studies. He would go alone. It was customary then as it was forty years ago, when Great-Grand Father left for Borneo to leave Great-Grand Mother behind for a man to leave his wife to pursue a business or educational venture. Mother could hardly believe her ears, she barely knew the man she was forced to marry. In less than two years, he was leaving her.  Mother shed a river of tears; she had a twinge of regret to agreeing to marry him. Now she was convinced of the proverb, “Marry in haste, repent at leisure.” Ah Tai came and kicked a big fuss. There was something very sinister. There were dark secrets in the Chan family.

This Grandma, Mrs Chan Mou Ping provided him with a home away from home.This address is a very important address. One of the sons was involved in Politics

Our Singapore Uncle Chan Siew Wen/San Wing accompanied Lee Kuan Yew to Sarawak. Uncle Siew Wen was Lee Kwan Yew’s press secretary. Lee came to persuade the Chinese that it was the best thing to do. We were very proud to be related to an important politician from Singapore. We invited him to a big party we threw for the Chan Clan at our Padang Road house. Father was weary that the Government would suspect he was a communist because we entertained Uncle Siew Wen. Perhaps the usual cautious Grandfather Chan was full of euphoria. He said, “They can lock me up for entertaining my own nephew.”