It’s About Time

Growing up in C’wealth Crescent meant you are familiar with Queenstown Lutheran Church – at least you know where it is, and what are some of the activities that go on there regularly. One of them was having Boys’ Brigade activity on Saturday afternoon normally. The other would be Sunday worship services as well as special services like Christmas and Easter.

As a much younger kid growing up, I could see the Boys’ Brigade band practicing in the church parking lot. I would stay at the kitchen looking out for the entire sessions. I could also see that when the band isn’t practicing, some of the boys would be playing basketball or other games. However, one aspect of the BB is marching. Being a boy mean I admire these older kids from a distance, imagining myself to do those things one of these days.

Well, when I was 11 (primary 5), an older boy from blk 107 approached me. In those days, you know who lives where and how many siblings they have even if you have never spoken to them (No kidding!). Anyway, this Indian boy, Peter, also had a brother – Paul, are both in the BB. They were having some kind of recruitment drive that time. Peter invited me to join their BB activity and so I did one Saturday. My mother didn’t want me to do that but my eldest sister, Kathy, persuaded her to allow me to join the activities on a regular basis. I guess she being an ex-girl scout meant that she appreciates the many benefits of such groups bring.

Being a primary school kid meant I would join the Junior Section of the BB. The senior section is reserved for those secondary one and above. I enjoyed the singing sessions, and bible lessons. Life was much simpler and fun. Kids there are all from the neighborhood in C’wealth crescent and some from C’wealth Close. There was Said (Malay) and others whose name I had long forgotten but faces are still fresh in my mind, and I was able to get along well with them. People weren’t that religiously sensitive in those days. Imagine today a Malay boy joining BB and attending church function!!! I personally Singapore has gone backwards much (that’s another topic for another day).

I also began to attend Sunday school and morning worship services though I must admit that apart from Sunday school, I was not able to understand the sermon during the services. Fault does not lie with the pastor but my cognitive level wasn’t up to par then too, in fairness.

We often played football in the church premises. Sometimes the Chinese pastor who stayed in the parish upstairs would scold us for making too much noise. I think his name is Rev/Pastor Tong. Anyway, his eldest daughter is Mary whom I tease lots because we were of the same age and class in Sunday school. One of the mischief was running away when the plastic ball broke the window panes of the class rooms. One day we got caught by the pastor intern who reprimanded and exhorted us not to run away but to be bold and honorable to own up to our misdeeds. That was severe mercy! Consequently we have to apologize and made to sweep up the broken glasses. That was a precious lesson learned.

One of the memorable events in BB years was my first camping trip! My brother Fred brought me to Sungei Road (I still remember the hustle and bustle that goes on there that day!) to buy my first haversack. I was all ready to go for the camp at Mandai forest area when news broke that a black panther had escaped from the Mandai Zoo! Bummer! The activity was canceled and we had to stay in Church instead. It was still fun for me to be out on my own for the first time in life!

The following year, I got to stay at a campsite which is next to a river/stream. It was fascinating for me but I never know where we were up till this day. all I know and remember is that I enjoyed my first 5 days away from home and just playing games and attending some lessons.

Then there was a national Junior section tournament held at ACS Baker Road. All the BB companies would send their Juniors for this tournament. We were excited naturally and we were almost unbeatable that day (what do you expect from a bunch of kids who played together most of the time – during BB hours and outside hours?!). Our camaraderie was evident. There was unspoken understanding in the way we played – whatever the game. We beat the crap out of the 12^th Coy (ACS) who had the finest sports kits while we were comfortable with barefoot running and some china-made hockey boots that double-up as football boots. You can also imagine a scenario of snooty-falooty kids versus street urchins! So we were champs in the inaugural tournament. That day was capped by a campfire with lots of singing and us hoisting the trophy at the end of it. Sigh…. Such memories.

When secondary one came, I stop attending BB because of variety of reasons – 1) my school didn’t recognize BB and so would not issue ECA points (though BB was recognized by MOE). It probably has repented of its sin. Perhaps the principal or discipline master in charge had an axe to grind against BB. 2) Football fever was gripping the nation – I attend almost every M’sia Cup matches at the Kallang Stadium. The Quah brothers were household names alongside Dollah Kassim for Singaporeans. Fandi Ahmad was a ‘Johnny come lately” then. I was busy playing for neighborhood teams besides training with the school team. 3) BB just doesn’t appeal to me anymore because changes were taking place which I didn’t understand then. Anyway when I was in secondary two, I resigned from the BB.

Having said that, I enjoyed my few short years at the BB immensely. Life then was mostly having fun. This much I would say, whether BB, GB, Scouts or NPCC, it is always good for kids to participate because life’s skills and psychomotor skills are developed through these activities. Kids like us became more resilient even when undergoing tough NS stint.

Time flies. Must sign off…