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*Born in 1938 in Gelang. Father was farmer, after war ran photographic studio. Talks about war years and how brother was seized by Japanese but father managed to get him freed. Attended St. Anthony’s School. Memories of spending time in father’s studio and brother Teo Poh seng taking over studio later on. Father’s interest in collecting stamps, coins and his involvement with Great World Amusement Park.

Talks about art classes at St. Anthony’s and making things in craft. Father recognises his son is artistic and enrols him at British Council where British service men teach art classes. Talks about art classes in school. Move to Pasir Panjang School in 1959. 1955 being taught art at British Council by Edmund Price, Roy Slade, and Jim Russell. Talks about their approach to teaching, strengths and methodologies. Talks about art teacher Chia Hearn Chek at Pasir Panjang school and how Teo became involved illustrating school writing and magazines. School art club and Ong Kim Seng (much younger) would tag along but later went off to follow Lim Cheng Ho.

Left Pasir Panjang and tried to go to Europe by running away to Malaysia but sent back, and then building cart with Anthony Lourdeshamir who ran off and left Teo with costs to pay. Explains why he wanted to go to England to train as art teacher. Begins to talk about enrolling in sea scouts.