If I had been asked, I would have said the bus had its engine in front of the driver (like most cars), not underneath

Seletar – a great time

I will have to look up durian fruit on the internet/ or encyclopaedia – still don’t think it registers anything with me.

Bob,
yes that coil thing is what I remember well from Seletar.

Seletar may be flattened but the memories can not be wiped out so easily. It seemed like a different world when we arrived and UK was a world apart when we went back to the UK. It was so different and I assumed that it had long gone. To go back last year was extremely special. I only wish more will be saved for posterity.

More from my Seletar memory bank

Yes I remember the man with the spray meant to do nasty things to midges/mosquitoes but for children it meant a fantastic fog to run around in.
There was a large(childhood memory) field on Brompton Road (it was much smaller in 2007!) on which many games were played. The boys were the soldiers/cowboys or whatever, the girls were the nurses.
The only child’s name from Singapore is Anthony Brown, who lived at 2, Brompton. He had a younger sister. I don’t know if he was in my year at school. I do know I got into a lot of trouble for cutting off most of his sister’s hair!!!!!!!!!! He and I went for a long expedition, as far as the airfield (which is not more a few minutes walk). We saw Beverleys and Whirlwinds. I wanted to stay and watch but we didn’t. A big game of cowboys and indians was on the go.
I did not remember the humudity. I was surprised how humid Seletar was on a dull day in July.
I recall the lizards with the tail that came off, allowing the animal itself to get away.
In 1969 my parents took me to see “Battle of Britain” (brand new release) at the cinema. The next day we watched it at school!!!
I was fascinated when my Dad put some sugar on the earth in the garden and ants appeared in seconds, as if from nowhere.
I remember never wearing a shirt unless it was night/school/at a birthday party.
The girls wore green and white checked dresses at school. I don’t remember seeing them again for many years, and when I did, I recalled Seletar instantly. I recall it was the custom for the departing children to collect autographs on their clothes. Again this was something that I did not see done again for many years.
There was a vehicle (van?) that was from the local emporium. My Mother would let me take a ride in the van down to Jalan Kayu. A wild adventure!
I know I went on a school trip around Keppel Harbour. All those ships!
When we left our amah insisted we went for a meal at her home. We took a taxi to get there. It seemed to be in the jungle but may have been very close. A great spread. My mother said she felt embarrassed at the hospitality.
Durian fruit???? Means absolutely nothing to me.

Two pictures of me aged 6, in Jalan Kayu
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When I returned in 2007, nothing looked at all familiar. I don’t know if the JK of 1967 is the JK of 2007

I remember it was a different world. There were many people who were not Europeans. Not everyone spoke English. But all were friendly and I loved it.

More on Seletar

More recollections of Singapore are
1) The black and yellow taxis that we used to get around
2) The old-fashioned department store in the City, with a grand staircase to the first floor, in very dark wood.
3) No use for coats, jackets, jumpers or hats
4) Carrying a packamac but only when it was the monsoon season
5) Eating pineapple, cut by the Indian gardener and prepared by the Chinese cook – an amah(??). The fruit had been in our garden only minutes before
6) The Friday night market in Jalan Kayu
7) Calomine lotion being liberally applied when sunburn was suffered
8) Moving out of our bungalow and staying two or three nights in Changi Creek, the transit accommodation for those returning to the UK. I saw my first jellyfish whilst I was playing on the beach
9) Going to Paya Lebar airport, to see my brothers going to/from the UK
10) A UK football highlights programme, hosted by Billy Wright

On one visit to Changi, the route taking the bus right through the airfield to get to the Hospital, I saw a large and unfamiliar aircraft. I knew it was not a Beverley and it was huge. I suspect it was a C-124 Globebaster II but I cannot confirm this.

Of Seletar, I clearly recall a flypast by many Javelins. We arrived after June 1967, after 64 Sqn. had been disbanded. I assume this was the farewell flypast (late April 1968) by 60 Sqn. prior to their disbandment but it might have been the arrival of the machines for scrapping at Seletar on 1 May 1968. Does anyone know the serials of the flypast aircraft?

I do remember a formation of Belvederes. This would have been the farewell flypast of 66 Sqn., March 1969. Again, does anyone know which airframes were involved? I believe that six machines took part in the flypast. I have seen a great video on YouTube of a different flypast, in 1967, of a larger formation forming up and displaying over Seletar.

I recall a Sea Vixen flying low over Seletar, presumably going to/from the local RN facility at Changi.

Re Seletar, can anyone confirm that the flying squadrons, namely 34 (Beverleys), 52 (Andovers), 66 (Belvederes), 103 & 110 (Whirlwinds) and 209 (Pioneers and Twin Pioneers) operated from the North side of the runway (nearest Malaysia)? Photographs show few taxiways, suggesting aircraft taxied across the grass. No jets were based at Seletar, although I have seen pictures taken, when Beverleys were still active, of Javelins parked near the runway. I have seen no aerial photographs of the airfield 1960-69.

Earlier in the thread is a picture of a Sunderland near the Flying Boat hangar. I believe the swimming pool would be in the left far distance, possibly not in the photograph. Confirmation? There’s a bridge visible and on the far side are some buildings, to the left of the road. Are these where the ATC (Air Training Corps) was, with the Vampire that was certainly present during my time out there?

Lest anyone think I am living in the past, I am not. The Seletar I knew has gone because it is no longer RAF Seletar. The people and units and equipment present there have long gone from Seletar. Indeed none of the types remain in service and none of Seletar’s flying units are active, all having been disbanded in Singapore, by 1975.

I don’t have a time machine me to take me back to the late sixties. The time I lived in Singapore was the first part of the childhood that I have a lot of memories of. I was six when we arrived and not yet nine when we left. The difference in culture, language and climate also make it special. When we returned to the UK in March 1970, the UK seemed so alien, drab, cold and far less fun. The discovery that some of the buildings I knew well still survive decades later increased my desire to find out more. Forums like this are one place in which to share information and memories and ask questions. My wife and children don’t really appreciate how different Seletar was from the UK and how special it was for me to return, for probably the only time.

Do I remember the day? My fiancee wanted to buy the ring that day. I said we can do that any day. 29/04/88 will be the last chance of seeing a Lightning 9-ship ( I went to the 87 airshow at Binbrook but left thinking the 9 ship would not happen given the awful weather).
There were hundreds there, waiting for hours. Two pilots (John Carter and Ian Black) came out to chat. A Phantom, Saudi PC-9, two Canadian Hornets and some Harriers were visitors or doing overshoots.
And then….then….around 1 o’clock (?) the first characteristic whoosh of the Rolls Royce Avon starting, and then another, and another. People rushed towards the fence to get a good vantage point. Then XS903 ‘BA’, with the black spine and fin taxied past followed by the other eight. What followed was awesome. You had to be there to believe it. The video of the event does not do it justice.

I could go on, and I wish the Lightnings still flew. But their day has been. Long may we remember them, cherish our memories and enjoy the mighty Frightening.

I was looking for any info re aircraft I remember fro my time at Seletar (Aug 1967 to March 1970). When I saw the picture of several Belvederes in that line, my jaw dropped. I went with my Dad to see them. I have not pictures of them like that before.
Likewise the picture of the Beverleys awaiting breaking brought back memories.
I could look at material like this all day and all of the night. I would love a picture of the Javelins nineship, April 1968. (Anyone have the serials?) Also pictures of Andovers of 52 Sqn.

Ian