Ignatius Chew Celebrates 9th Day Of Chinese New Year With The Lim’s

(l-r) Mrs Veronica Lim Keng Guan, Lim Lam Pheng, Lim Keng Loy, Toh Puan Lim Keng Yaik, Datin KK Lim,Lim Kheng Hoo, Lim Si Howe. Ignatius Chew and Pauline Chew

Ignatius Chew celebrated Phai Thien Kong or the 9^th day of Chinese New Year with his cousins the Lim’s.

Ms Lim Lam Pheng had been in his museum earlier in the week and invited Ignatius to join in their family celebration held at the home of the late Dato KK Lim.

 

(left photo) Lim Keng Poon, Lim Lam Pheng, Lim Keng Loy,. Lim Keng Hoo (r) held at the Lim family home 

The table with red tablecloth and full of food

The celebration started around 11pm on the 8^th night. On a table draped in a red table cloth full of food such as roast pig, red colored buns, cakes or kueh muih and much more.

They burnt a pile gold colored paper and lit firecrackers to mark the beginning of the 9^th day.

 

..burnt a pile of gold colored paper ...

.... while the men carved the roast pork 

the ladies did their part

According to Lim Lam Pheng, Phai Thien Kong was celebrated since the time of her grandfather Lim Seok Tan where all the family members would congregate at his home.  

Later it was held in the home of her father Lim Cheng Chye and subsequently her eldest brother Dato Lim Keng Kay who built a family home called China House.

 

.... and took their supper 

To wind down the night the family then sat down and had their supper together. 

JAG

First Time At Chew Museum – Lim Lam Pheng

Ignatius Chew giving Lim Lam Pheng a tour of the museum 

A first time visitor to Ignatius Chew Museum was Lim Lam Pheng the grand-daughter of Lim Seok Tan and daughter to Lim Cheng Chye and Chiang Geok Ngor.

The visit brought back fond memories of when she was growing up through the years. 

Her grandfather Lim Seok Tan had nine sons but only one daughter her Lim Kim Keow.

Lam Pheng had not seen her aunt Lim Kim Keow although relatives had told her that she resembled her aunt. Ignatius had that photo on display hence her visit to Ignatius' family museum.

Lim Kim Keow married Chew Mah Sing and was one of two early instances of Chew- Lim marriage at the time. 

Lam Pheng's aunt Lim Kim Keow's marriage to Chew Mah Sing. The bridesmaid next to Lim Kim Keow is Monica Yeoh Suan Bee a daughter of Yeoh Khuan Joo

In later years when Lam Pheng was studying to become a nurse in London England she would stay at the home of Lim Chor Lin, the son of Aunt Kim Keow.

Another fond memory she recalled was when her mother would bring her along to visit the family of Yeoh Khuan Joo and his wife Lim Siew Tong.

"Lim Siew Tong and my grandfather Lim Seok Tan were siblings. During Chinese New Year we would pay our respects without fail at their big bungalow at Jalan Bendahara.”

(L) Pauline Chew, Lim and Ignatius (R) Lim with Annie Ho pose with photos of Lim's parents 

The tour of the museum unleashed a flood of memories ....

and surprises....'that's my mother' 

The visit to the museum had unleashed a flood of memories. It took up a second afternoon visit where Ms Lim Lam Pheng explained how the Lim’s of Tapah grew as a family. But that will be for another posting.

JAG

Chew Boon San’s Descendants Visit Chew Museum During Chinese New Year

Descendants of Chew Boon San (r-l) Chew Yuen Keat, Chew Yuen Hin and Chew Ghim Seng (Yuen Keat's son) 

It is common to have family drop by during the Chinese New Year but it was an auspicious morning when the descendants of Chew Boon San paid a visit.

Chew Yuen Keat and his brother Chew Yuen Hin visited cousin Ignatius Chew’s during the Chinese New Year period. Yuen Keat and Yuen Hin’s were the sons of  Chew Choo Beng, Chew Boon San’s eldest son.  

(Seated l-r) Dato Dr Choong Kam Fook, Datin Choong, Chang Choon Keng, Chew Yuen Hin, Chew Yuen Keat and Chew Ghim Seng. (back row) Ignatius Chew, Lau Chee Hoong, Teoh Ghim Loo, Pauline Chew.

Yuen Hin joined the armed forces but Yuen Keat was an employee of Ban Hoe Seng. 

He began his career in 1969 when the company was still at Old Town and moved to the new Ban Hoe Seng premises at Kampar Road a year later all the while working in the claims department.

He was given the nick name of ‘Claim Chew’ because there were so many Chew’s working there.

He described his time at Ban Hoe Seng as happy and memorable working with his Uncles Chew Choon Siew and Chew Choon Kok and cousins.

“I was working under Yeoh Oon Kok my cousin from the start. It was 1969 and I was 19 when I started and worked for 42 years before I retired.  

Chew Yuen Keat aka 'Claim Chew' during his early days at Ban Hoe Seng

Chew Yuen Keat takes a photograph with the staff of Ban Hoe Seng Auto. 2019

Occasionally I was a driver for Uncle Choon Siew’s wife and took his daughter Florence to school. Sometimes on weekends Uncle Choon Siew would take the staff to Penang to stay at his Batu Ferringi bungalow  by the sea.

I had one job and was treated very well. I was happy there which is why I could work very long.  

The descendants take a photo with Chew Boon San (big photograph at back of Yuen Keat) 

'Impressed with elaborate Chew Museum' .. Ignatius briefing the cousins about the museum

Chew Yuen Hin was impressed with the Chew museum saying it was and interesting and commended Ignatius for doing an elaborate family museum.

End