primary school

i remembered I studied in primary school. A relatively old school which started in 1876 as Singapore Chinese Branch School at upper cross street. It had ceased operations at its Pearl's Hill site on 31 Dec 2001.

I remembered most because we have to queue up to take the lift, it was a big lift, lke cargo lift which took us to various floor. I heard that it was one of the tallest primary school in singapore, and to have lifts installed.

It was situated at Pearl's hill and hence its name, Pearl's Hill School.

Nearby, there was a pearls' hill City Park which one of the reservoir's catchments was located at its top, guard by the police. It was a 5 minutes walk from Outram MRT

I searched through the internet but could not find images for the school.So, no pictures.

i remembered the most because i was being craned as i was once a naughty and mischevious boy. The school was strict.

Although it was strict, we still enjoyed the studies. I have a old classmates who came from the same primary school and still have contact with him.

When i went back one day recently, i was surprised that it has closed down and coverted to hostel for foreign students. Later it was closed down and left vacant till this day. Wondered what will happened next.

I could see the clothes hanging at their windows and air-con being installed each level. Students, mostly from China were seen in their rooms. They were quite young, around teenagers.

Before that, parents were seen at the exit of the school, waiting for their sons and daughters. They sat the long bench, chit-chating the lastest hot news around the town.


The Pearl's Hill City Park used to have many joggers, mostly much older mens and women in its park.(they were good, some could really jogged for an hour and the path was steep, with many steep and longstaircases). But it has changed into night-spot. One could see tissue papers aorund the benches.

well, that was then. memories are just memories. It came and gone. By the next century, I will be gone as well.