Bedok Boys' School Recollections

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Mention Bedok Boys’ School and Daniel Koh’s eyes immediately brighten - as though those primary school years from 1960 to 1965 were waiting just beneath the surface. “I remember my time there like it was only yesterday,” he said, his voice lifting with unmistakable excitement.

Each day, Daniel walked from his home at Padang Terbakar (later Siak Kuan Road), passing by our Bedok kampong house on his way to school - and again on the walk home. He recalls the flag‑raising assemblies vividly: “We sang God Save the Queen from 1960 to 1963, then Negara Ku from 1963 to 1965, before Majulah Singapura finally came into being.” National milestones, yet also quiet transition markers of his own childhood.

Among the boys, it was considered a small badge of honour to be chosen to buy food from the tuckshop for teachers - a task that spared them the long walk from the staff room. And then there was the strict principal, Miss Annie Tan. Daniel remembers her clearly, though not quite fondly, describing her stern presence with a laugh: “She reminded me of Hong Kong actress Lydia Sum!”

But the figure who left the deepest imprint was Muthu, the school caretaker who lived within the compound. Daniel remembers him with genuine affection - especially the animals Muthu kept in his yard, including peacocks that strutted about like unofficial mascots of the school.

Then came the unforgettable Milk Parade - a scheme specially targeted at “undernourished and skinny boys” like Daniel. A few times a week during recess, the selected boys from Primary 3 or 4 would gather as Muthu scooped sugar‑free skimmed powdered milk from his pail into plastic mugs. Each boy had to finish his portion, no matter how unappealing it tasted.

“It did not taste nice at all,” Daniel chuckled, “and worst of all, it did nothing for my skinny frame. I didn’t put on even an extra ounce!”

Thank you, Daniel, for these delightful recollections. We will be sharing more of your Bedok Boys’ School stories in time to come.

To our readers who also studied there - do you have memories of your own about the school? Drop them into the comments section; we’d love to hear them.



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