Tracing Our Roots

The time: A sweltering afternoon in May 1950

The place: A dingy warehouse in Boat Quay, long before it became one of Singapore’s brightest entertainment hubs

Five friends met over coffee to discuss setting up a club to cater to the interests of a growing number of photography enthusiasts in Singapore.  They were Lee Hock Chiong (who mooted the idea), Pung Ah Leong, A Rahman bin Hj Hussein, Soh Teow Seng BBM, and Szto Sim Chuan.

Within two months, these five photography enthusiasts managed to gather more friends, numbering 20 in all. They held their first unofficial meeting in borrowed premises off Jalan Besar, and put in their votes to elect their pro-temp committee.

Yee Joon Toh was elected President, Soh Teow Seng Honorary Secretary and Chan Siew Loon Honorary Treasurer. Committee members included Lee Hock Chiong, Lee Yew Meng, Lee How Chye, A Rahman bin Hj

Hussein and Szto Sim Chuan.

So began the Singapore Camera Club, with an initial membership of just 30.