Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore

Subject: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:15 AM

Just bringing to the attention of any one who was in Singapore between 1965 and 1971 that Russ Wickson has started organising Re Unions for people who performed , or were audience , at The Attic .
I know a couple of Catters are already aware , but should you know any one who might fit ,please let them know ! I am not putting Russ's contact here , but a PM to me will get the required info . Thanks All .

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Russ Wickson
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:21 AM

'Leadfingers'

Thanks for that Terry, appreciated. Can I just extend that invitation though to all the Singapore service folk clubs, that's Tengah (RAF), Seletar (RAF), Anophele (Army) as well as The Attic at RAF Changi.

Russ

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 06:18 PM

Russ, you might have some luck putting this request on the Footstompin' Forum. We know there were plenty Jocks out there, don't we?

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 06:19 PM

Oops, meant to include this!

http://www.footstompin.com/

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 07:30 PM

Going out next March (latter half) as my daughter lives out there. Will there be anything on then?

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:33 PM

Well, we're talking 35 years ago! God only knows what's happening these days.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: The DeanMeister
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 04:25 AM

My parents will have played there, Dad was stationed there 1969. (Brian and Kate Dean). I'll pass on the info.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 10:48 AM

Hi TDM, I've got a pic of your Mum & Dad on stage at Changi Jamboree, 1970. PM me if you/they would like a copy.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Rusty
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 05:37 PM

Hi TDM & Effsee

I have just signed in with Mudcat having just been told about the site thanks Terry 'Leadfingers' Silver

Effsee - Thanks info re 'footstompin' website.

TDM - I have been trying to trace your parents for some time, they are on my wanted list, I have a few Tengah folk club artists from 1969> in touch

Looking forward to hearing from your parents.

Russ 'Rusty' Wickson

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 07:21 AM

Jim Hubble , who is an American who spent time with us in Singapore has starrted a website for The Attic and associated clubs - check out

                   http://www.leftyslogos.com/attic/index.htm

Being Technically challenged I cant do the blue clicky - Really must get that together !!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: fumblefingers
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 01:26 AM

Anyone who has any old photographs from the era in Singapore, I would be pleased to add them to the website. My email address is on the website. http://www.leftyslogos.com/attic/index.htm

The current website is preliminary. We will make a new website when Russ has the time to get together with me. Presently we are gathering as much material as we can for the new website.

I've known "Leadfingers for 35 years and he still can't spell my name.
It's Hubbell.

In addition to the Changi Folk Club, there were several others on the Island at the time, RAF tengah, HMS Terror, GHQ Tanglin, and Seletar. The more the better.

Inasmuch as we are not exactly kids anymore, if your parents or grandparents were there at the time, we would be pleased to put their old photographs on the website as well.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 01:24 PM

I was living,briefly, at Loyang ( down the Calshot Road from RAF Changi ) in 1967/68. I was disembarked from HMS EAGLE ,to the Naval Aircraft Support Unit at Changi, where I had responsibility for looking after the French "SAFT " batteries used in the Buccaneer mk 2 aircraft of 800 NAS. I tried to devote as little time as possible to this activity, preferring instead to conserve my energy for playing the banjo with "The Guinness Grenadiers " -----It has been suggested to me that we were,actually,quite good,if a bit 'wild' !! Well, I certainly was !! ---Apart from the music, all I cared about was Tiger & bonking ---or was it bonking & Tiger ?? I have many happy memories of playing at the "Attic " club ( and Millie"s Bar !! ) at Changi. Then there were many performances at BMH ( The Anophel Inn ), the Nissen-hut at Seletar ( near the ASR launch slipway ) , the club at Tengah (just inside the main gate,on the right ) and I remember too that we did gigs at the residence of the C-in C- Far East Fleet, and in a bar called the "Duke of Wellington " or something, in Sembawang or Nee Soon.
I have not seen anyone from those heady days for a long time, although I very recently traced ,( in the last month !! ) one of the original "Guinness Grenadiers ", Bill Graham , who now lives near Inverness. Oddly enough, for many years,up until 2 years ago, I lived in Dorset, where I met, and became friends with, very good musician ( Bouzouki,Bhodran,Hammered Dulcimer ) called CLIVE JENNINGS,who was a schoolboy in those days at .....RAF Changi !!!!
Do I still play ?? Well, yes !! And tonight I'll be at the famous Irish session at the Herschel Arms in Slough !! I"d love to hear from anyone who remembers those days in Singapore---my name is Roger,by the way !!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 01:32 PM

I'm curious whether any of you have run across this old rowing chanty that seems associated with Singapore:

Traditional after singing of Lucy Simpson and Robin Roberts (now Robin Howard)
Recorded by the Boarding Party on 'TIS OUR SAILING TIME, © 2000 Folk Legacy Records, Inc.

HAUL AWA'

Love is kind to the least of men,
Haul awa', haul awa',
Though he be but a drunken tar
Haul awa', awa'.

Once I had a star-eyed maid…
I was content with her to lay…

In the comfort of her bed…
Let me lay until I'm dead…

Take my body to the shore…
Star-eyed maid, I'll sail no more…

Here's my blessing (story) – let it be…
May you love as she loved me…*

Love is kind to the least of men…
Though he be but a drunken tar…*


* New verses added by Lucy Simpson

Notes:

A fragment of this song is cited in LIMEHOUSE NIGHTS, by Thomas Burke, published by Robert M. McBride & Co., New York, © 1920, p. 136, and described as an "old Malayan chanty":

Love is kind to the least of men . . .
Eee-awa! Eee-awa!

I would gretly appreciate any information you might provide, and would be especially delighted if there were an original version in some Malaysian language.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 02:50 PM

Don"t know it myself,Charley, but I hope somebody does ---it sounds like a pretty good song to me !!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 07:12 PM

Going out to Singapore soon to visit daughter. Does anything still happen there music-wise?

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Rusty
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 02:54 PM

Help....!

Where is MANDY.? Must now be in late fifties early sixties.

I would like to say this is urgent because of age...but will reduce my plea for help to desperate!! I am desperately trying to find the true identity and to find a then young lady who sang in the RAF Changi Attic folk club and other RAF folk clubs in Singapore in the mid 1960's, she sang under the name of 'Mandy'.

Over the last fifteen years or so I have located thirty two old folk artists and put many in touch with each other, for some this has been the first time since leaving Singapore in the 60's/early 70's. Some of us have since been able to enjoy a few reunions.

If there are any other old Singapore artists or old Singapore folk club footstompers, Tiger guzzling, hand clapping hangers on out there, please email me and I will bring you up to date on the circuit.

Rusty

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 10:01 AM

Rusty-

Did your group ever sing HAUL AWA' as described above? I still haven't found more than a literary reference to this old rowing song and it appears to have been an old one.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 12:18 PM

does anyone remember john thirtle john bates or lance

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 14 Nov 07 - 09:46 PM

Yes Guest 12:18, I remember Sqdn. Leader Thirtle!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Rusty
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 06:06 PM

Guest 14.11.07

I have traced a Lance Oxley connected with the Changi Attic 1967, he was a former airman stationed at Changi. He was not an artist but like me a foot stomping, hand clapping Tiger man. Is this your guy?

I have also written to a Sqdn Ldr John Thirtle via RAF Innsworth in the course of tracing Singapore folk artists but have never received a reply.

If there are any other Singapore artists out there I would like to hear from you. email - [e-mail]

Rusty

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,PGL
Date: 03 Feb 08 - 05:19 PM

Stumbled onto this and was zinged back 40 years (1967 and 68, based at Changi on RNZAF 41 Sdn) to many memorable nights at the Attic and the odd Jamboree, only getting on stage after several beers and then lowering the musical quality of the place several notchs. I think I've still got a receipt for a S$1.50 performance fee somewhere... Used to always enjoy that end of the evening all in version of "Will e go lassie go" and the amazing layers of harmony that could be brought to that song - all goose-bump stuff. Thanks for the reminisce.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Roy Negus
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 04:51 PM

I was quite supprised to come accoss this site.
I was posted to Singapore after RAF Changi closed. Our unit, air ops, was established at the old HMS Terror and re named Terror barracks,which became part of the ANZUK set up.
As a continuation, and in a rememberance of the Changi Attic Folk Club,five of us started a folk group on our new base. The club was called the Terror Folk club and we called ourselves the Woodlanders. Things were going so well that we opened up two other clubs on the island. The second was at Chip Bee families club. The third was at, with the help of another army folk group, Nee Soon barracks.
Re Leadfingers, Jim Hubble became a well known figure at the clubs and became a good friend. On occations I would accompany Jim when he performed his Johnny Cash numbers.
Sadly I have lost contact with the members of our group and all conncected with the clubs.
I would be interested in any replies to the above.
Regards Roy.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Effsee
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 09:47 PM

Hi Roy!...from an earlier post...
"I've known "Leadfingers for 35 years and he still can't spell my name.
It's Hubbell."

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: romany man
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 05:18 PM

glad to see some thing good from changi, my late father was p.o.w. there , different era, but i never heard anything good about changi from him, so i didnt know much about the place, sorry to spin off the thread but thought id post a comment.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 06:19 PM

I travel through Singapore just about every month so if there is a session or club running I would love to get along there.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 06:56 PM

Changi Attic was the nearest thing to a Trad Folk Club in Singapore !
ALL the clubs had their own Character , though Seletar had closed when I arrived at the end of '69 ! And Changi is now Singapore's International Airport !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: fumblefingers
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 10:34 PM

Roy: Email me at the Attic website and we'll have a nice chin wag.

Attic Folk Club website

-- Jim Hubbell

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 10 Oct 08 - 04:28 AM

I am off to Banbury Folk Festival this afternoon,where I very much hope to see and have a chat with TOM LEWIS,one of the stars of the festival--he will certainly remember the Attic, and BMH (Anophel Inn) as well ; possibly Seletar and Tengah clubs too ! He was a submariner at the time,I believe,although they didn't allow anchor-shaped gold earrings in those days (sadly ! ).

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Les Allen
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 09:53 AM

Hi Roy.

It's been a long time now but we used to reside in adjacent rooms in Terror Barracks way back when and I played my first ever (very nervous) live performance at the Chip Bee folk club.
Came across this site purely by chance and an amazing coincidence as just recently an old friend of yours has been trying to get in touch with you. His name is Ernest Ness.
He contacted me via the Forces Reunited website and although we have never met, took the chance that I may know your whereabouts, which obviously I don't.
Anyway, if you want to pursue it you can find him there or I can pass a message on. I dont know his email but should you want to you can contact me at [e-mail]
Cheers and hope all is well and good in your life.

Subject: RE: Tengah Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Malcolm Wallace
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 07:07 AM

When I was posted to RAF Tengah in 1967 the Tengah Folk Club was virtually dead. Hardly any members and no organisation. My friend John Hirschfield & I rebuilt the bar and decorated the club house with parachutes and anything else we could find. We had a grand opening day with new membership cards (I still have card number 1) and invited artists and members from the other clubs who supported us really well from the start. Over the next 2 years we built the club up with help from Des & Chris Denny, Tom Millard, Ken Curl and a few others.

The Tengah Folk Club regularly featured artists such as John Collins, Bernie Fairlambe, The Island Folk ( Bob, Ted & Vie Clarke), Tony Newing, Linda Lees, The Sundowners, Ben Camble, Cass, Olwen, Des & Chris Denny & Paddy Gray. We also had visits from artists from the other services. The club was still going well when I left in 1969.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: fumblefingers
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 01:18 PM

Would you have any pictures that you might share with the rest of us old coots that make up the remnants of the various Singapore Folkies of the era?

http://www.leftyslogos.com/attic/index.htm

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 02:39 PM

Revived this old thread as I have just heard that Jim Hubbell (Catter Fumblefingers) who set up the Attic Website (See Above) is Crook and in Hospital - Texoma Medical Center is all I have . Any Healing thoughts would be appreciated . He has Celluitis , and is NOT a happy bunny !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 01:31 PM

Hi Malcolm Wallace !
             I remember your club at RAF Tengah well ! I visited (1967-68) several times with Bill Dordoy ,from Loyang, who seemed to have a finger in every pie involving "folk" on the island ! We also visited RAF Changi (the Attic) , RAF Seletar (the Rugby Club hut) and BMH .I was in a group called "The Guinness Grenadiers" from the carrier HMS Eagle in those days ; also serving aboard were GEORGE WILSON (although he didn't play then !) and Duncan Ballantyne ( Dragon's Den),who later thumped an officer while we were anchored off Lossiemouth & ended his Naval career ; happy days !!

                        Roger Mills

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 07:25 PM

Update !! Had an E Mail from his daughter -

         Jim is out of ICU and starting recovery "

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Daughter of Bob and Vie of the Island Folk
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 11:28 AM

Hi I did not know this existed, my parents have always talked about there time in Singapore fondly. Now that i know it is here i shall let Dad know (Bob) and hopefully he will know some of you guys on here!

Shonagh

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,bob clarke the island folk
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 12:03 PM

hullo folks ; unfortunately ted &nancy passsed away 10 years ago and my dear wife Vie passed 19/6/2010 since we left s/pore we did carry on as the island folk for a short time then Vie and i went intopop and country playing clubs and venues all over scotland went briefly back to folk for 5 yearswith the waverleys we were then back to pop and joined by our daughters shonagh and samantha sammy and i are just about to start doing gigs again at kinkell caravan site st andrews on 26/3 i would be delighted to hear again from our old friends and would love to have a reunion

so please keep me informed       cheers bob

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,bob clarke the island folk
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 04:47 PM

hi bubblyrat if you werea member of the guinness grenadiers then you will remember the day we had your band at our house for a party    i would also like to get intouch with berni fairlamb who wrote aberfan love to hear from berni and all from those days

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 06:39 PM

Hi Bob !
    I can't say that I do remember your party ; there were so many, unless yours was in the Submariners' Married Quarters in Johore Bahru ( Jalan Wijaya , aka "flip-flop hill ") ?? Or was it somewhere else ? And did I have more than one pint of Tiger ? (ha!ha! ) ---and was Tom Lewis there ? ( I set fire to his wife's jumper with a firework, while she was sitting on the loo in the Ladies at BMH !!) -as I said, happy days, or at least they were for me !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 07:57 PM

St Andrews is a bit too far to just wander in to ! Good to know some of the Old Mob are still active though !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,bob clarke
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 04:32 AM

hi again bubblyrat
                   the party i ref to was at my house on east coast rd afew miles from changi there were app 10/14 from the eagle and i recall 7 members were guinness gs im expecting to viit s/pore again at the end of this year hoping to meet up agai n with prod/dir/musicians and contestants of the 1969 talent show on t.v.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 04:49 AM

Hi again Bob,
               I seem to vaguely remember two guys (civilians) who invited a bunch of us to a party ,which turned out to be pretty memorable ,for reasons I couldn't possibly mention here ! Were you one of those two gentlemen ??

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,bob clarke
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 05:57 AM

no we were air force no civilians

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,bob clarke the island folk
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:25 AM

attn of leadfingers

                   nice to hear jim,s out of icu i knew jim in the attic please give him my regards and hope hes fully fit again soon

                                             cheers bob

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 05:39 AM

Hi again, Bob ! Glad to hear you were Crabs and not civvies ! The aforementioned party was quite something ; we had,tagging along, a very young (and pretty !) lad from 800 Squadron .In fact, I think he was the youngest member of Eagle's crew , out of 2,750 !
          The two Civvies, who were obviously a bit suspect,invited The Guinness Grenadiers and followers back to their place for a party.Sometime in the evening , they intimated that they liked our lad, so we "sold" him to them for a crate of Tiger, and buggered (as it were ) off . He (the boy) was livid, but he got his own back ; when we got to Hong Kong, one of the "Civvies" was waiting for him with a chaufeur-driven Limo, and whisked him off to The Hilton . As they drove off, he put two fingers up at us !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 05:58 AM

Jim is now home and well on the mend ! His E Mail is n5copATverizonDOTnet and I am sure he would appreciate any messages from Old Attic Hands !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,David "Ginge" Seaton
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 04:03 AM

I was at Tengah with 64 Sqn from 1964 until 1967 and was an ardent member of the Tengah Folk Club. I still keep in touch with a couple of Singapore troubadours - "Dev" Deverill and Mike "Speedy" Davis" but often wonder about the wherebouts of others who played at the club during my time. Chuck Comben, Dave Lee (or Leigh), Dave Stanley, Alan Hutchinson, etc. Does anyone have any information? I would also like to hear more about Dave Buck who was killed in an accident not long after returning to the UK. His brother, Roger, was also in Singapore at the same time as us.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GRex
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 04:30 AM

David

If Chuck Comben was Ted Comben, then I'm afraid Ted died last year after a long illness. Ted often spoke of Changi and of Tom Lewis and Johnny Collins who were members. Ted remained on the Folk Scene until his illness, was a very competent singer/guitarist and a member of my shanty crew.
He is still missed on the local Folk Scene.

    GRex

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,David "Ginge" Seaton
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 12:10 PM

Thanks GRex. The Chuck I knew was in the army in Singapore and was married to Anne, the daughter of an RAF officer at Tengah. The last time I saw them they were living in Marlow/Medmenham area and I believe that he was then working for AEG/Telefunken. Then the trial went cold. If it's the same chap I'm so sorry to hear that he has passed away and that I didn't manage to find him again. I have happy memories of all-night parties sitting in front of a record player trying in vain to work out how Davy Graham managed to make make the sounds he did. Chuck was the only one who got anywhere near.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GRex
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 04:59 AM

David

I'm don't know if Chuck and Ted was the same chap. Ted was a six foot plus, fair haired marine.

            GRex

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 05:51 AM

Dave "Stan" Stanley was in the Army , if memory serves me correctly ; he used to drive a "Maigret" Citroen saloon, in which we could all fit( about seven of us ) en route to whatever folk club ( Changi, Tengah,Seletar or BMH ) was on on whichever night ( never a dull moment).Stan stayed with us all at Loyang at Bill Dordoy's bungalow over Christmas 1967 ; great fun !!
               I saw him a few years ago at Miskin in Wales ; we got in contact on the internet , and I believe that he lives (and is musically involved ) in Totnes.

                Roger , Air Engineering Dept., HMS Eagle 1966-69

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 11 - 08:34 AM

Here's another sailor's drinking song based on an old poem about a Singapore spree:


By William McFee, 1909
From Songs of the Sea and Sailors' Chanteys, edited by Robert Frothingham, published by Houghton Mifflin Co., Cambridge, US, © 1924, p. 208; first published in The New York Evening Post.
Verses by Charles Ipcar, 8/14/2011
Tune: Charles Ipcar, © 2011

Drink to the Men Who've Gone Ashore

Dm--C--Dm-------C---F-----Dm--C---- Dm
Now the Skipper and Chief have gone ashore
-----------------F----C-Dm
They're off to Sail-or-town,
--------Gm--------------------Dm---F-Dm
So I'll tell you a tale of Old Sing-a-pore,
-------------C---Dm-C-----Dm
While we pass the bottle round.
---Gm----------------------Dm-F-Dm
I'll tell you a tale of Old Sing-a-pore,
----Gm-------------Dm
Of famous Malay Street,
------Gm---------------Dm-F--Dm
With its samshu dives by the score,
-----------C---Dm-C------Dm
And the rick-sha girls so sweet.

Chorus:

Dm-------C------F----Dm--- C-----Dm
So drink to the men who've gone ashore,
--------------------F-------C----Dm
With a one-two-three – rum-tum!
Gm--------------------------Dm--F------Dm
Half a dozen men on the mess room floor,
C-----------------------------F----C-Dm
Drink to the men who've gone a-shore,
Gm-------------------------Dm-----F--Dm
Six good men with their throats all sore –
----C--Dm-C---------Dm
Yo ho for a bottle o' rum!

As I was cruising down the Street,
After a drop or twa,
I spied a girl just like a pearl,
Alone in a Jin-rick-sha.
So pretty and neat with long black hair,
Dressed in silks so fine,
She smiled at me and waved her hand,
And her jade green eyes did shine. (CHO)

So I climbed aboard and off we rolled,
Through the shadows of the night;
Till we fetched up to her compound gate,
Gleaming in the pale moonlight.
She pulled the cord and a gong did sound,
The dragon gate swung wide;
She took my hand and led me on
To her chamber deep inside. (CHO)

She brought me a glass of samshu wine,
And smiled at me again;
She knelt beside me on the mat
And my head began to spin;
Now when I awoke, late next morn,
My head was still aflame;
I was lying naked on the quay,
Bruised and in great pain. (CHO)

So heed my warning, one and all,
If you cruise Old Singapore,
Don't cha spend your nights with the rick-sha girls,
They'll rock and roll you sure;
Don't cha spend your nights with the rick-sha girls,
Don't cruise Old Singapore,
But get married, lads, and settle down,
And go to sea no more,
And go to sea no more!

So, I understand that infamous Mallay Street is now considerably more upscale. Are there still "Samshu dives by the score" and "ricksha girls"?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 04:51 AM

Well, I couldn't really say exactly, Charley ! But there was , back in the 1960s , the famous (or infamous) Bugis Street , home of "girls" who were not necessarily what they seemed (!) , and "Change Alley" , where you could buy back a piece of your own "kit" if it been stolen , and "Nee Soon Virgins " who were the closest thing to your "Rick-sha Girls", and who would take you back to some remote hut in the jungle and , yes , there were instances of Jolly Jack getting mugged, rolled, etc,even stabbed ( but I was lucky !)
                         The worst thing about Singapore was that ,once you got "into" it , you didn't want to go home again ; I wanted to stay there forever ! It was worse than any woman ! I remember my brief time there ( with the Naval Aircraft Support Unit at Changi ) with affectionate nostalgia nearly every day !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 08:52 AM

bubblyrat-

I'm reminded of how Cicely Fox Smith mused about such sailortowns, years later as in "Port o' Dreams":

"The ports I knew grown strange..."

If you did go back to Singapore (or Liverpool) you'd most likely find something familiar, a remnant or two of buildings and at least the tastes and smells, but a whole lot of the waterfront has been totally redeveloped.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 10:31 AM

Oh no !! I shall never go back there ; I doubt very much if it would appeal anywhere near as much as it did all those years ago ! I gather that much the same would apply to Capetown,Hong Kong,and Fremantle (Perth ) , even Plymouth and Edinburgh too , although I would hope that the little harbour at Lossiemouth in Scotland had remained uncontaminated by progress !!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 10:35 AM

bubblyrat-

That's why we treasure the songs, the vintage photos, and a few dissipated memories.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Sep 11 - 10:41 AM

A Friend of mine who knew Singapore in the sixties staged through on his way to Oz - Told me the 'seafront' is now about a mile into the harbour with all the building on reclaimed land

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 29 Sep 11 - 09:40 AM

Good Heavens , Terry ; you'll be telling me next that there's no Armahs' Market at Upper Thompson Road roundabout , or that Millie's Bar is now an infants' school !!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 11 - 11:22 AM

Gosh, this brings back some memories. The first time I ever got up on stage was at the Attic. It was back in 1965 while I was on detachment to Tengha with a Vulcan squadron. Good start, I'm still singing whenever and wherever I get the opportunity.

Danny Dove.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 30 Sep 11 - 10:24 AM

We used to get a pair of Vulcans (sorry to digress) in regularly at Yeovilton around that time ,and I have enough happy memories of engine spool-up noises and thundering take-offs to last a lifetime !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Guest - Pam
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 09:13 AM

I was a member of the Attic Folk Club from 1967-69, and remember a few of the singers from that time. I think one of your messages from Feb 08 may be Pat Leggatt who I sang with occasionally. I also remember Dave Lee, or Leigh - terrific guitarist. Bernie Lamb, Stan Coghill and I took part in a variety show on Singapore Radio, and I still have the very faded press cutting. My husband Tony Baxter was also a member - didn't sing but compered occasionally. I recently found a couple of old photos which I think were taken at Seletar.
Pam

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Ssd
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 05:44 PM

Hi GRex,
         Do you know where Ted was laid to rest as I was a friend of Ted, Thanks

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GRex
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 06:22 AM

Hi GUEST.Ssd

    Ted Comben was cremated and we have no idea what happened to his ashes.
    His only relative, his son, went overseas after the funeral and left no contact information..

                  GRex

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Ssd
Date: 16 Feb 12 - 05:55 PM

Thanks GRex, much appreciated

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Rusty
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 03:10 AM

Hi Pam Baxter

Can you contact me on [e-mail] please.

Tks

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,David "Ginge" Seaton
Date: 05 Mar 12 - 03:03 AM

In response to GRex's measge of 27 Sep 11, the Chuck I knew was certainly about 6 feet tall and wore spectacles. I thought he was in the army and was a friend of Dave Stanley. I seem to recall that he left the Army shortly after returning from Singapore and may have spent some time before that at Houndstone, near Yeovil in Somerset.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Anophel Inn
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 09:06 AM

See the recent Singapore Dawnwatchers website which gives a big mention to some of the people mentioned in your threads, in the archives section.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Mar 12 - 08:55 PM

Sang at Anophel a few times , but didnt meet J C till WELL after Singapore - We were good mates as he was just up the road at Herga when I was running Uxbridge Folk Club! Heres a clicky for S D W S and Tom Lewis is going to be at Maidenhead F C on the 22nd of this month

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Mike JACKO Jackson
Date: 28 Dec 12 - 08:21 AM

Hi,
I used to play in the Attic 67-70. Finished up with a trio with Pam Harker (WRAF) and Barry Hemmings.
Used to think I could play the Mandolin but got second thoughts now ;)

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Dec 12 - 09:30 AM

Anybody on this thread have any idea what folk stuff there may be currently in KL?

I'll be there for a wedding late in April next year.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Dec 12 - 05:35 AM

Dont imagine there is much 'Folk' in K L now Jack - The scene was pretty much British Service based , and as we pulled out a LONG time back , I would think the Folk Scene pulled out with us . Be nice to be proved wrong though >

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Chris Denney Miller
Date: 05 Aug 14 - 06:59 PM

Hi -I'm Chris from the Inne Folke. Still got my membership card for the Tengah Folk Inn! Sorry and so sad to tell you that Des passed away amost 2 years ago.
What wonderful nights we had there. Still have some recordings of folk nights.( Sadly ancient & spliced with sellotape)! Nice Chinese Steve, at the bar. I've even got a picture of him. Still in contact with Don & Jan (Folk Unlimited) and John Boyd Hyland ("Sunshine,sunshine, happy days, off to the cricket match I'm away"). Club night over - make for the makan stalls then off home in a taxi. What I'd give to do it again!!

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: bubblyrat
Date: 06 Aug 14 - 04:48 AM

I remember Tengah ; we ( me,Dave Stanley ,Bill Dordoy, etc.) used to play there in one of the huts opposite the Main Gate Guardroom , on the right as you drove in ,if my memory serves me correctly ?? I must admit I remember Seletar ,Changi,and BMH better !

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Ted Clarke,s son John
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 02:54 PM

Hi
Could someone get in touch about Bob and Vie Clarke Ted died a few years ago now and I have been going through all the old photographs lately
Thanks in advance
John Clarke

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,spudmurphy
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 07:57 AM

what a happy accident finding this seem to recall some wrens

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,David Stanley
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 02:55 PM

I've just come across this site. I was looking for Ted Comben. Just a note to confirm that Chuck & Ted (Old Father Ted) are the same person. Sorry, that should have been were. I met him a few times after leaving Singapore. For a while he lived in Medmenham then after a few adventures, he ended up in the Southampton area. His son had a chandlers shop in Majorca (I think that was the island) but was doing so well he was considering retiring for the second time.
I'm very sad to learn that he has died. Johnny Collins also dead. That just leaves me & (Big) Mac (John McAuslen) from the 'Folk Four' of the Anopheles Inn. We must be getting old ;-)
All the best to one and all
Stan

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,John Bates
Date: 15 Mar 17 - 11:09 AM

I had many happy nights at Tengah Folk club and the Attic (which was the first place ever foolish enough to allow me to sing in public)I remember most of the people mentioned on these pages, Chuck Comben, one of the nicest men I ever met, John Collins, Bernie Lamb, living in America last time I tracked him down, John Hyland, Ken Curl. I used to duet with him on the Jews Harp.

So many good people and so many great times. I can be contacted at [e-mail] if any old friends read this.

Subject: RE: Changi Attic Folk Club Singapore
From: GUEST,Bob Clarke
Date: 16 Jul 18 - 07:19 AM

Hi,

This is a message for John Clarke, Ted Clarke's son. I have only just seen your message John, would love to hear from you. Here is my email address [e-mail].