ALPHONSO, Arthur George
The Public Service,
Accession Number 002522
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 9
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 04:24:23
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 9
Metadata
- 21 Jun 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:22) Family background.
(0:01:23) He went to St. John's Institution.
(0:01:11) Stayed in Kuala Lumpur.
(0:03:35) Came to Singapore in 1930.
(0:05:13) Recollection of Kuala Lumpur in 1920s.
(0:07:52) Impressions of St John's Institution and its teachers.
(0:08:56) Stayed at Bukit Timah Village after arriving in Singapore.
(0:10:13) Described Bukit Timah in the 1930s.
(0:11:35) Impressions of his parents and his house.
(0:16:39) They had a Chinese Amah.
(0:19:44) His impressions of the construction of the railway at Bukit Timah.
(0:21:32) Studied at St Anthony's Boys School from 1930 and was active in Scouts.
(0:22:56) Did his school certificate at St Joseph's.
(0:23:19) Frequent camping trips to Purdy Camp.
(0:26:33) Boon Lay became their official camp after the war.
(0:28:28) Impressions of Leslie Woodford, his Scoutmaster.
(0:29:11) Recalled his schoolmates and teachers.
Family background. Moved from Kuala Lipis to Kuala Lumpur. Father worked on new railway in Singapore in 1930. Kuala Lumpur in 1920s. Impressions of St John's Institution and its teachers. Stayed at Bukit Timah Village after arriving in Singapore. Impressions of his parents and his house. Construction of railway at Bukit Timah. Studied at St Anthony's Boys School from 1930 and was active in Scouts. Frequent camping trips to Perdy Camp. Impressions of Leslie Woodford, his Scoutmaster. Impressions of his teachers at St Anthony Boys' School.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 9
Metadata
- 21 Jun 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:25) Impressions of his teachers at St Anthony Boys' School and St Joseph's Institution (SJI).
(0:03:06) Swam at the pool at the YMCA and Mt Emily
(0:03:40) Scouts Headquarters at Race Course Road.
(0:05:03) Rose to be the First Class Scout.
(0:05:36) Went on unofficial camping trips to Labrador.
(0:09:25) Teaching methods of Christian brothers compared to lay teachers.
(0:12:14) Recalled feast celebrated in St. Joseph's Institution.
(0:12:50) Played badminton and swam when he was at St. Joseph’s Institution.
(0:13:34) Application for a scholarship by Botanic Gardens.
(0:14:22) Life as a student at the College of Agriculture at Serdang.
(0:14:34) After the war, he went off to Kew.
(0:16:47) Described the College of Agriculture at Serdang.
(0:18:37) Students’ routine involved hard work with the rubbers and oil palm plantation.
(0:20:21) Why he disliked growing vegetables after school hours.
(0:25:50) He took an interest in poultry.
(0:26:20) Impressions of his lecturers in College.
Impressions of his teachers at St Anthony Boys' School and St Joseph's Institution (SJI). Scouts Headquarters at Race Course Road. Went on unofficial camping trips to Labrador. Impressions of his teachers and activities at SJI. Application for scholarship by Botanic Gardens. Life as student in College of Agriculture at Serdang. Impressions of the course and his lecturers in College.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 9
Metadata
- 21 Jun 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:29) Impressions of teaching methods in the College of Agriculture at Serdang.
(0:03:27) Impression of staff and work of Botanic Gardens in Singapore.
(0:06:26) Responsibilities as Horticultural Assistant in 1940.
(0:06:32) His interest in ferns.
(0:10:28) Effects of the Japanese invasion of Malaya in 1941.
(0:12:50) Anecdote of an incident where he was locked in during a bombing raid.
(0:14:12) Recalled an incident when EH Corner lost his temper.
(0:18:41) Took shelter in St Anthony's School during the bombing.
(0:21:26) His family’s reactions to the news of the British surrender.
(0:22:28) First impression of the Japanese soldier.
(0:24:47) Mr Holttum and Mr Corner had been taken off the internment camp to work in Botanic Gardens.
(0:29:07) They were on food and cigarette rations.
Impressions of his lecturers in College of Agriculture at Serdang. Impression of work of Botanic Gardens in Singapore. Responsibilities as Horticultural Assistant in 1940. His interest in ferns. Effects of Japanese invasion of Malaya in 1941. Anecdote when he was locked in during bombing raid. Incident when EH Corner lost his temper. Areas bombed in Singapore. Reactions to news of British surrender. First impression of Japanese soldier. RE Holttum and EH Corner had to remain working in Botanic Gardens. Food and cigarette rations. Grew vegetables.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 9
Metadata
- 21 Jun 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:43) Allocated plots to grow vegetables opposite Botanic Gardens.
(0:01:59) Carried on with work as usual during the Japanese Occupation.
(0:03:07) Talked about Japanese staff at Botanic Gardens.
(0:04:23) Mother's reaction to the Japanese invasion of Singapore.
(0:06:50) Recalled an incident where his sister and her husband were imprisoned but eventually released.
(0:10:00) Impressions of Kwan Koriba.
(0:12:10) He used to work at the Istana.
(0:16:42) Impressions of Mr Holttum and Mr Corner.
(0:18:11) Elaborated on the research interests of Mr Holttum and Mr Corner, respectively.
(0:23:28) Recalled being slapped once for not bowing to Japanese soldiers.
(0:24:12) Impressions of Korean soldiers.
(0:27:33) Arrival of B-29s, which bombed certain areas of Singapore, indicated that the tide of the battle was turning.
(0:29:40) How he knew that the Japanese had surrendered.
Grew vegetables opposite Botanic Gardens. Japanese staff at Botanic Gardens. Mother's reaction to Japanese invasion of Singapore. Impressions of Kwan Koriba. Impressions of RE Holttum and EH Corner and their work in Botanic Gardens. Impressions of Japanese and Korean soldiers. Arrival of B-29s which bombed certain areas of Singapore. How he knew that Japanese had surrendered.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Reel/Disc 9 of 9
Metadata
- 25 Jun 2001
Recording Date
- 00:19:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:52) Helped Philip and Robert Kuok in their business.
(0:04:27) Role in committee to select Singapore's national flower in 1981.
(0:07:32) Why Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected over Arachnis Hookeriana.
(0:09:19) Why he believed that Vanda Miss Joaquim is a natural hybrid.
(0:12:40) He was very satisfied with his work at the Botanic Gardens.
(0:13:51) Future plans on conservation of orchid species.
(0:16:47) Saddened over the disappearance of orchid species.
(0:17:20) Intention to visit the foot of Gunung Tahan.
(0:18:08) Importance of organising educational trips to forests and nature reserves for children.
Helped Philip and Robert Kuok in their business. Role in committee to select Singapore's national flower in 1981. Why Vanda Miss Joaquim was selected over Arachnis Hookeriana. Why he believes that Vanda Miss Joaquim is natural hybrid. Impressions of his earlier oral history interview in March 2001. Reflections of his career. Future plans. Saddened over disappearance of orchid species. Intention to visit foot of Gunung Tahan. Feels children should visit forest.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
