Sunday 15th March, Singapore

Huge contrast of location here, another SE Asian nation but here it is one of affluence, order, cleanliness, efficiency, style, global brands and western prices. Our accommodation is right next to Raffles Hotel, which will be most convenient when I call by on Tuesday for a very classy Afternoon Tea to celebrate my birthday and the end of our trip. And, hopefully, a friendly chat about how Raffles would not be what it is if it were not for my relation's life - and early death - here in the 1870s and 1880s. Don't you think they could perhaps offer me at least a birthday candle for the auspicious occasion of the visit of such an important personage?!! I am joking. But see February 19th. I promise to update you here after my visit.

Further to my family story: my grandfather, rubber plantation manager Walter de Bois Maclaren, had a clerk in the late 1930s of whom he was very fond, and whom he continued to be in touch with (and probably support financially) for decades. You may remember Grandpa had had to flee Malaya in 1942 when the Japanese invaded. (His colleagues who didn't manage to escape were all taken to prison camp where they were treated brutally; I believe there was then only one man who survived the terrible conditions imposed. Thank God that Grandpa just managed to escape with his life, whatever ordeals he and the family had to face in wartime conditions in England, having lost everything they owned) .
The clerk Gregory D'Silva had 16 children with his wife Girly, one of whom, Louisa, met my grandparents in the UK around 1969 when she came over to do nursing training. We have a letter from him to Grandpa with all the family information - all 16 children's names, numbers (!) and descriptions!) Thanks to my brother Phil's research and to FaceBook, we found the contact details of 'no. 14', Gerard, who lives in Taiping, and I had a lovely phone call with him several weeks ago. Gerard was very sad to have to report that their family records, including photos and documents from the 1930s and 1940s, were destroyed in a flood many years ago, and there is nothing left of the early records. He put us in touch with sister no. 8, Charlotte, who lives in Birmingham, and with whom I am exchanging photos and family news! Neither was born yet when Grandpa was in Malaya, but both remember talk of him. Louisa sadly died in the UK, just one year ago.

Tomorrow we are invited by the previously mentioned distant cousin Christine Moss (descendent of the 1838 pirate attack survivor!) to a taxi-driven guided tour of Singapore, with 'surprises'. She is really excited to meet us and show us around! And I am soooo intrigued to meet her and hear her stories. And hope to see and hear more about the whole saga.

G'night!Read more