Sunday, March 09, 2008

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Ang Mo Kio New Town


Source:
National Archives of Singapore
Access to Archives Online
PhotoCD Number : 19980007518
Image Number : 0084



On 10 Oct 1989, a distinguished guest, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, visited Ang Mo Kio New Town.

The preparations for her visit had probably started weeks and even months before her actual visit. I remember that void decks, lifts, stairways and so forth of the vicinity that she would be visiting were cleaned with lots of pride in preparation for her visit. On the day of her visit, the walkways of the selected HDB flat that she used were laid with red carpet. Even the floor of the lift itself was carpeted, I had heard.


Source:
National Archives of Singapore
Access to Archives Online
PhotoCD Number : 19980007518
Image Number : 0082



Townsville Primary School that I was studying in, was selected to be the school that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II would visit. Her visit was a grand event for the school. I recalled that the students were asked to line ourselves up at various locations of the school so that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II would be greeted by orderly lined-up students when she tours the school compounds. I vaguely remember that there was a couple of rehearsals to prepare for this special occasion.

One of the instructions that were given to us, the students, was that our back should not face the queen when she tours the school compound. We were told to smile too. I think any children would smile if we were told that we can look forward to a treat to ice-cream after Her Majesty's visit. Of course, there wasn't such a treat for us, but we tried to be on our best behaviours that day.


Source:
National Archives of Singapore
Access to Archives Online
PhotoCD Number : 19980007518
Image Number : 0085



From the photos from the National Archives of Singapore found on this post, we can see that the residents of Ang Mo Kio were excited to welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

On the side, the photos from 1989 have made me realised that Ang Mo Kio has changed quite a far bit over the past 18 years.

Note: This post is yet another post of the series: Growing up in Ang Mo Kio. First posted on Yesterday.sg.

No comments: