A Moonlight Swim At Changi Point In 1965 Part X

*Heather and Thunderbirds 'Because I Love You'/'I'll Be Yours' (Flipside)

Singapore Memories One:

Since Allan Thompson was stationed at RAF Changi in the mid 60s, it was convenient for him to go to the Village for some recreation.  Usually it was for a beer or two with a friend but there were occasions when he needed private space and that was when he decided to meet Mr. Moon (image) instead of Mr. Sun. His anecdote is in two parts. Below is Part 1:

"Sometimes, on still evenings, I would wander down to Changi beach on my own for a moonlight swim. (Only one young lady ever accepted an invitation to join me in such activity back in early 1964, otherwise my nocturnal dips were solo affairs).

Changi Creek Bridge 1965 (Copyright)

I would cross the bridge over the creek and turn right towards the group of trees where the canoe- hire man used to operate by day. I would bury my wallet in the sand and remove my clothes which I put in a pile on top of the place where the wallet was hidden. I was wearing swimming trunks under my slacks and I would slip into the sea and have a refreshing dip. Then I would sit on the sand and have a cigarette while I dried because I never took a towel with me.


Moon Crabs at Changi Beach (Copyright)

I recall one evening sitting there and watching some phosphorescence on the surface of the sea when suddenly there was a rustling sound behind me. When I looked round, I could see a mass of something-or-other coming towards me. Thinking it might be rats, I jumped to my feet in alarm, only to dicover that it was a large group of land-crabs heading for the sea. Fascinating. 

Allan Thompson and friend at a bar in Changi (Copyright)

On another occasion, I sat for ages after my swim, listening to an instrumental group, similar to The Quests (could it even have been them?), playing in the nearby kampong, possibly for a wedding or similar occasion. Very pleasant, and one of a host of fond memories from that time. When I was reasonably dry, I would dress and go up to the village for a few Tiger beers in the Europe Bar with my friends who used to think I was crazy for swimming alone at night. Perhaps I was. If so, I didn't care, because it was a very satisfying kind of craziness."

You can read Part II in future postings.

Original article/Images: Allan Thompson Collection.
Image: Record Cover - Andy Lim Collection.
Image: Crabs - wonderfulcreation.blogspot.sg

Singapore Memories Two:

[*Vinyl record description:  At only fourteen years - in Singapore she would have needed a special licence to perform at night clubs - Heather Batchen  was signed to Philips Records with The Diamond Four a band of British servicemen from an HMS naval ship that was docked in Singapore in the mid-60s. 

After a second record was released with the same group they returned to England and she was later backed by The Thunderbirds singing 'Because I Love You'/'I'll Be Yours'   On this EP (ME-0173-HE) called Mr. Moon she had recorded Do You Care? and Hey, Mr. Moon! both Frank Thompson compositions.]