Pete sent across a number of photos from the 1960s, and I’ll be posting them up over the next few days. Here are two of St Andrew’s Church – does anyone know where exactly this is? When was it built? Is it still around today?
St. George’s Church, Minden Road (off Tanglin) is a beautiful Anglican Church built in 1911 for the British soldiers based around that area which was then a military barracks, and is still an active place of worship.
Could it be the vacant lot on Regent street? There is a number missing (around No 40). The picture would be taken from West Camp Road.
Could be. Hopefully someone will remember for sure. National Archives did not have any records
The St Andrews Church I knew in 1960 was situated at the corner of Piccadilly and Oxford Rd. As Boy Scouts we used to march down Piccadilly past Mornington Crescent and turn left down Oxford Road. The Seletar Theatre was next door to it. I see from Google Earth that there looks like a parking lot there now.
Ah, the mystery is solved. Thanks. Yes, unfortunately it is a parking lot now, though if JTC proceeds with its 6-lane motorway, that intersection will be gone completely.
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Does anybody know where the Medical Centre/ Sick Bay/Hospital was? I was there 1957 to 1960 – School Captain.
I was based at RAF Seletar from 1955 to 1958 and again from 1961 to 1963. I clearly remember that the medical section/hospital was situated just along the main road after Base Headquarters on the left hand side of the road after the turning which led to the West camp.
As your query was sent some time ago you may have received an answer from another source by this time. Unfortunately, I have only just found the web site with your query on it.
I have been back to Singapore about six or seven times in recent years ( I usually go on an annual basis to Singapore/Penang for about a month). I have on occasion spent up to six months at a time there over the past few years and last year went right up to Seletar. I hope this is of help.
Best wishes and regards from Ray Sangrouber
HI Ray, I have been trying all ways to find you I think that you are the Ray Sangrouber who was at Southfield Grammar School 1947 – 1952 Could you please e-mail me and let me know as I hold a reunion for our class every year at least for those who can make it. 13 have now passed on and I can update you and I will send you some of the photo’s if you would like them and you letme have your address. the last thing I have found out is that you joined the Australian Air Force but I don’t know if you are still there. I have sent you e-mails through Forces Reunited but I have no way of knowing if you have received them Ken Brown
My father was CSFC Chaplain at St Andrews between 1968 and 1970, so these photos bring back memories! It sounds as though the building is no more, but the round stained glass window (depicting St Andrew) shown in the second photograph was still in existence in June 1996 — in the CSFC church at RAF Cranwell — when I last saw it. The window had been recovered from Seletar in 1971 when St Andrews closed, and installed in a new church at RAF Finningley. (Also now closed!)
Incidentally, St Andrews Church hall was located across Oxford Road? I remember the medical centre/dentist’s being behind St Andrew’s and parallel with Piccadilly.
Kit,, nice to see your notes about St Andrews Church at RAF Seletar. For the life of me,I am unable to remember the name of your sister.I think that she weas younger than you.
One amusing thing that I remember happened on a Saturday afternoon when I was walking along Jalan Kayu. I saw that a crowd had surrounded a Hillman Minx car that had been driven across two railway sleepers bridging the monsoon drain. As I approached the crowd,I recognised your mother (Joan) sitting mesmerised at the steering wheel.
There was only an inch or so each side of the sleepers and discussions were trying to decide how to get the car back safely back on the road. One man suggested he put the car into reverse and drive back,but that was far too risky.In the end,some of the men carefully and slowly pushed the car from the precarious location. Once on safe ground, a huge cheeer went up. I spoke to your mum and asked if she ewas o.k. She replied that apart from the embarressment,she was fine. She begged me not to tell your dad,to which I agreed.
At the Church service next day,your dad let it be known to the congregation what Joan had done. Somehow your dad got wind of it but definitely not from me.
I last saw your parents during an official visit to RAF Finningly when they liverd at Beech Avenue,not far from from the camp entrance.
Kit,please come back to this site and pass on more memoirs of your stay at Seletar.There will be many ex Seletarians that will be deloghted to hear them.
Finally,wher are you located now? I seem to think thast your family emigrated to Canada.
Best regards
Ken Benge
I’ve checked with “Google Maps” as I wasn’t sure about St Andrew’s Church being on the corner of Piccadilly and Oxford Road. It was actually on the (north western) corner of Piccadilly and Old Birdcage Walk, and the Church Hall was across Old Birdcage Walk. I think the C of E/Anglican Church was located in the acute angle of Piccadilly and Oxford Road.
The medical centre would have been off Hampstead Gardens on the side facing Piccadilly.
Kit Rabson, your father (Donald) was an inspiration to those like me who arrived at Seletar wIth few friends on the camp. I recall Church outings on Thursday evenings. Among the visits were the Sultan Mosque,the Christmas Dinners at Cuscaden House Hotel (no longer there!) and many other places of interest. My wife was Guide Commisioner and I was Treasurer for the Combined Scouts and Girl Guides of which your dad was Officer in Charge.
I returned to Seletasr camp in 2007 when much of the camp had been occupied by local families. I again visited Seletar in 2009 when most of the houses and married quarters had been demolished to make way for the complete makeover required by the Singaporean government. Jalan Kayu still had some shops but
major roadworks had ended the quietness of the place.
I tried in vain to find out where the Rabsons went to after leaving the RAF.
As you say,the stained glass window is located at the rear of the CSFC Church at RAF Cranwell. I was very sad toi see that the window was hidden away from easy viewing. Inside the Church at Cranwell were items of furniture both from Seletar and Changi. Also saw some of the invitations sent out by Donald at the re-
of St Andrews at RAF Finningley. Do you remember 1 Beech Avenue,Finningley?
Regards
Ken Benge
Hello Ken Benge! Thanks for your kind recollections of life at Seletar. I have fond memories of Cuscaden House Hotel (including at least one Christmas dinner!), so I am sorry to hear that it has been another casualty of progress. My family often went there on a Saturday evening for “tea” after shopping in Singapore City. My sister still remembers the time that it was her birthday and Rev. Doug Harvey (CSFC Chaplain from Changi I think) brought her a “laughing bag” — although I suspect at the time other customers in the restaurant wished he hadn’t!
Yes, I have many good memories of life at No. 1 Beech Avenue. I would be happy to fill you in with some of the Rabson’s history since 1973, but this is obviously not the place! You can contact me on “cdrabson at googlemail dot com” if you wish. Regards,
Kit Rabson.
Thanks Christopher – your e-mail must have crossed in the atmosphere. Great to be in touch.
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Hello,
Probably of no interest to anyone but myself, but I was born in Singapore (Changi Hospital) in 1961, when my father (Flt Sgt Bryan) was stationed at RAF Seletar, and was baptised at St. Andrews Church. My father recently gave me my birth certificate, on the back is a hand written note which says “Baptised according to the Church of Scotland order of service in the Church of St. Andrew, RAF Seletar, Singapore on Sunday 31st December 1961 by me”
The Rev……………….
Unfortunately I can’t read the name, it’s Rev C.F. Dawson? or Davison?
Can anyone help me?
Thanks
Shona Trench (nee Bryan)