Our neighbour from across the Sungei

He used to walk about 2km to school every day — Bedok Boys — from his home at Padang Terbakar (later renamed Siak Kuan Road in the 1970s). His house was the second one next to the old Sungei Bedok bridge, looking out toward the British pillboxes guarding the river mouth. And of course, another 2km home again after school.

On those daily walks, he would have passed right by our Bedok kampong house at Kampong Laut, making his way out toward Bedok Corner before turning right. We were just babies and toddlers then, but how lovely that all these years later, we’ve connected with this neighbour from across the sungei — Daniel.

Daniel shared with us this precious family photo taken around 1960, with him at the extreme right. Behind them, you can see the Bedok beach where the river met the sea, and at the right corner, the familiar silhouette of the pillboxes. He also remembers a huge, rarely-seen butter fruit tree in his compound — bearing striking red fruits the size of big oranges, sweet and edible. Such kampong treasures you don’t see anymore.

Daniel is one of the grandchildren of Koh Sek Lim; his father was son #9, Koh Kong Thian. Many will know the name — the late Koh Sek Lim owned large stretches of land along the east coast from Bedok through Upper Changi Road, including Gulega Road, and the area around where Bedok Shopping Complex now stands. Today, he is remembered through two roads: Koh Sek Lim Road (still the original road, though shortened over the years) and Xilin Avenue, the hanyu pinyin version of “Sek Lim,” linking the ECP to Upper Changi Road. And soon, a Downtown Line MRT station will also carry his name: Xilin.

Thank you, Daniel, for sharing this colourised photo and your beautifully detailed memories with us. These little pieces of Bedok’s past mean so much — and help us remember the kampong days that shaped all our families.

Daniel is seated on extreme right

Xilin Avenue, Kok Sek Lim Road today and the future Xilin Downtown line MRT station