This is my story - 39

39 – An international congregation

Every Sunday we preached to an international congregation. The Corps was situated in the tourist area of Orchard Road and visitors had no difficulty in locating The Army and joining us in worship.

The Corps had a very good band comprised mainly of overseas Salvationists with a handful of local folk. The Bandmaster was Frank Hewitt from the UK territory who also founded the Crescent School Band in Singapore. We still keep in contact with Frank and Beryl now soldiers of Hillington Corps, England. After Frank and Beryl Hewitt left for England, Bandmaster Vic Griffiths a New Zealander took over the band. His wife Joy was an excellent vocal soloist and often blessed us with her singing.

The Songsters were under the direction of Songster Leader Howard Bartlett, an English Salvationist. His wife Alwyn was the songster organist. Her parents were Brigadier and Mrs. Stanley Gordon who had served many years in Malacca, Ipoh and Singapore, his last appointment as the Public Relations Secretary. After the Bartlett family left for England, Vic Coe from Peterborough took over as Songster Leader. Eventually the baton passed on to Brother Jim Webb.

Among the Australian Salvationists serving in Singapore were twin brothers - John and David Rees. They and their spouses were very active supporters. They would often be asked to sing as a quartet in the meeting and in our broadcasts over Radio Singapore. After Alwyn left for England, Christine took over as the Songster organist. Every Sunday David and Christine played the organ and piano for the meetings. I had the privilege of signing the papers backing John and Narelle into the training in Sydney. Both my wife and I sang in the Songsters. As I had to be on the platform for every meeting it was not practical for me play in the band during meetings.

John Rees was commissioned the Corps Cadet Counsellor and worked very hard in training the youth of the Corps. This responsibility was later taken over by Mrs. Major Elma Corfield who endeared herself to the young people. We had about 15 to 20 Corps Cadets very active and in uniform.

Majors Brian and Elma Corfield were totally involved in the Corps. Both of them were in the Songsters and Mrs. Corfield became the Songster organist and also Corps Pianist. Major Brian Corfield played the drum in the band. They were very much loved by the corps folk and even today, they are remembered with great affection. They were always available to conduct meetings at the Corps.

Major Norina Staples the superintendent of the Girls’ Home was the Corps Secretary and Ng Fook Kum the Corps Treasurer. We had an assistant Corps Officer, Lieutenant Saroja Kakan who later resigned her officership to get married.

We had a lot of activities during the week - the band and songsters had their practices on Wednesday evening. While the men were at band practice, their wives met for Auxiliary Home League, a ladies’ fellowship.

Every Thursday there was a United Holiness meeting conducted by the Officer Commanding or General Secretary. The officers and comrades were given opportunity to participate. The combined band of Central and Balestier Corps provided the music. Balestier and Central Corps Songsters took their turns to provide items.

We spent much time visiting homes of our people and tried to make new contacts for the Army. When I was a child attending Balestier I came to know Molly Yeo one of our teachers living at Martaban Road. She later became an officer and married Captain George Tan. They resigned from officership in the early fifties. They were attending the Bible Presbyterian Church.

Molly responded to our invitation to attend the Home League. She came, enjoyed the meeting so much she rounded up her friends to join us, among the ladies she brought to the Home League was Maggie Kang who is still very active at the Central Corps. Maggie in turn brought a number of her friends and the Home League grew and even won the banner of progress. Molly is now in Australia and still attends the Army at Chatswood. Brother George Tan came faithfully every Sunday morning to the Holiness meeting and before long got into uniform.

We did a lot of pastoral visitation; in fact an officer is required in our regulations to clock in a minimum of eighteen hours per week. Because of the family, we had to take turns to go visiting during the day and whenever possible would visit together every Wednesday evening. The General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Watson allowed us to make use of the Public Relations or her vehicle for this purpose.