Chew Marries Yeoh –The Start Of The Generation Of Yeoh Lim Chew

The marriage of Chew Gaik Tiew and Yeoh Ghim Cheow. 1929

Chew Gaik Tiew was the third daughter of Chew Boon Juan that married Yeoh Ghim Cheow the second son of Yeoh Khuan Joo and Lim Siew Tong.

It was an arranged marriage as was the norm. The matchmaker initially arranged Chew's 4^th daughter Gaik Poh to the families.  The family of Chew Boon Juan was shocked saying that daughter no3 Gaik Tiew was not yet married. With that choice of bride straightened out the marriage proceeded.

Chew Gaik Tiew, 18 and Yeoh Ghim Cheow, 24 were married in 1929. The only photo of their marriage shows a young couple in modern 1920's wedding dress.

Ghim Cheow had on a double breasted suit and pin striped trousers while Gaik Tiew wore “a pale green silk gown embroidered with gold thread and a veil which was adorned with 12 beautiful birds".

This was described by their daughter, Yeoh Saw Kin,80 told to her by her cousins and aunties.Saw Kin took her mothers dress back to England in the 70’s in hopes of restoring it. Unfortunately the thread had become brittle and the dress could not be saved.

She added that Gaik Tiew's father Chew Boon Juan gave mum a cupboard which had a hand crafted Phoenix, which is a female dragon and a dragon on the headboard. "It was a very auspicious wedding gift but to me it sounded like 'Mr and Mrs Dragon' " laughed Saw Kin. 

The auspicious wedding gift from Chew Boon Juan ..the headboard

..the hand crafted cupboard. Pix by YLS

“Mum also had a mole above her bridge. She didn’t want her future father in law  to see it so she burnt it off before her marriage. This was told to me by my cousins Mimi and Nana Saw.

My parents almost celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1979 but unfortunately that year  my grandmother Lim Siew Tong passed away so it was postponed. 

The handsome couple on a coach up Penang Hill

Elegant. Mrs Yeoh Ghim Cheow nee Chew Gaik Tiew

Avid photographer Yeoh Ghim Cheow with his cameras (right) with his father Yeoh Khuan Joo

The couple was very handsome in all the pictures captured together or individually. Yeoh Ghim Cheow was an avid photographer and must have taken most of the photographs of Gaik Tiew.

The marriage of the couple was a significant event as it had brought three families together ie Chew, Yeoh Khuan Joo and his wife Lim Siew Tong who was the sister of Lim Seok Tan of Tapah

The marriage which brought three families together

The families had since the beginning in the 1930’s been close and engaged in business till the present time.

The bond between the families was further strengthened twenty years later when Chew Boon Juan's 5th son, Chew Choon Kok married Yeoh Suan Bee. But this marriage wasn't arranged but was a beautiful love marriage and the growth of the families had grown ever since. 

JAG

Yeoh Saw Kin’s Lunch For Tom and Julia Latham@Ipoh Padang, Old Town

From left Ignatius Chew, Tom Latham, Yeoh Saw Kin, Pauline Chew, Yeoh Chee Pui, Chew Chooi Min, Julia Latham, Mrs Yeoh Lam Seng at Ipoh Padang

 Yeoh Saw Kin’s son Tom Latham and his wife Julia were down from England and she hosted a lunch for them and invited some family members.

The Rojak&Cendol shop

Dr Tom Latham is a consultant haematologist while Julia is a family law barrister. They met each other online in 2016.

They both lived in the same city and after an exchange of photos they met at the pub several weeks later. They married in 2020 during the time of Covid and a rule that limited the number of persons at gatherings. As such their reception was postponed and is planned to be held later this year.  

The lunch was at Rojak & Cendol shop at Ipoh Padang in Old Town. Present at the lunch were Yeoh Saw Kin, Tom and Julia Latham, Yeoh Chee Pui with Yeoh Pang Yao and Chew Chooi Min, Mrs Yeoh Lam Seng with Yeoh Pang Hong and Yeoh Chooi Wen and Saw Kin’s friend from church Mr Ting.

Standing Ignatius Chew. Seated Mrs Yeoh Lam Seng, Yeoh Chooi Wen, Yeoh Pang Yao and Yeoh Pang Hong

Yeoh Pang Yao, Mrs Yeoh Lam Seng, Yeoh Chooi Wen, Yeoh Pang Hong, Tom Latham, Yeoh Saw Kin, Julia Latham. Seated Pauline and Ignatius Chew 

Chee Pui hands over a treasured photo album and Ignatius promptly tells the story about the photos

Chooi Min and Yeoh Saw Kin

Tom and Julia after a short holiday

JAG

The Marriage of Ong Siong Ngoh To Lim Cheng Keat - By Ninie Lim

The marriage of Ong Siong Ngoh to Lim Cheng Keat.
 Photo taken at the home of Lim Seok Tan, Tapah 1940

My name is Ninie Lim. My mother was Ong Siong Ngoh who married Lim Cheng Keat in 1940.

Like most marriages in the early days it was arranged. It was a very grand and elaborate
wedding. I know because my mother kept the photo album of her marriage. It portrayed the families coming together for a joyous occasion. 

Ong Siong Ngoh with
daughterNinie Lim

Unfortunately it ended quickly when my mother discovered that my father had earlier taken another wife.

My mother Ong Siong Ngoh was the daughter of   liquor   traders Ong Kim Soo and Goh Lean Sim.   They operated from a shop at No1 Hill Street,  Gopeng. 

My grandmother Goh Lean Sim had two other   sisters.     She  was the eldest then came Goh Lean Kee and the third was Goh Lean Giok.

Aunt Goh Lean Kee married wealthy tin miner Chew Boon Juan. When my grandmother was married it was Chew Boon Juan that set up the liquor business and gave it to them to operate in Gopeng.  

My father Lim Cheng Keat was the son of Lim Seok Tan of Tapah. Seok Tan operated a provision shop in Tapah located on 46 Station Road. His shop supplied provisions to Tapah as well as to Cameron Highlands which was then being developed. From there he made his fortune and eventually became a landlord owning properties around Tapah.

The marriage of Ong Seong Ngoh and Lim Cheng Keat was significant for it was the first time the families of Yeoh- Lim-Chew got together.

The Yeoh name is because Lim Seok Tan’s sister Lim Siew Tong married Yeoh Kuan Joo. On the day of the marriage his daughter Yeoh Suan Bee was the bridesmaid and his granddaughters Saw Paik Hoon and Saw Paik Sim were the flower girls.

On the day of her marriage Ong Siong Ngoh was at the spacious bunglow of Chew Boon Juan at 61 Chamberlain Hulu Road, Ipoh.

The bride was at the home of Chew Boon Juan where all the relatives had gathered

The wedding planner makes adjustments to the bridal gown 

All of the family ie my grandmother, her sisters with the Chew’s and Yeoh’s were there to send off the bride. That the family had an English wedding planner to dress the bride was just one instance of how elaborate was the wedding.

Goh Lean Sim, Ong Siong Ngoh and brother Ong Kok Hoo escort the bride.....

..to the bridal car sent by Lim Cheng Keat

Mr Lim Cheng Keat sent a car for her to take to his home in Tapah. It is estimated that there was at least thirty cars belonging to the Chews, Lim’s and Yeoh's that made up the convoy that escorted Ong Siong Ngoh to Tapah. 

At the home of Lim Seok Tan. (l-r) Lim Seok Lam, Lim Seok Tan, magistrate and wife, bestman Lim, Lim Cheng Keat, Ong Siong Ngoh, Monica Yeoh Suan Bee, Ong Kok Hoo, Teoh Eng Yu, Wedding planner, Flower girls Saw Paik Hoon  (Mimi) and  Saw Paik Sim (Nana) 

It was another grand gathering of relatives at the Lim house in Tapah. Lim Seok Tan and his brother Seok Lam with my parents gathered for a photo in front of the verandah.

But alas all the grandness of the union was not to last. It ended quickly, probably less than twenty four months, after my mother discovered that my father had taken a wife earlier. 

She was carrying me when she left him and returned to her mother’s house in Gopeng. You could say that I was conceived in Tapah and born in Gopeng in 1942 at a time of the Japanese occupation of Malaya.

My mum had to hide in the jungles of Gopeng. She told me that I was deprived of milk. Till today I always felt weak.

After the war mum with me, her sister Saw Ngoh and brother Ong Kok Lay moved to Ipoh to stay at the 3rd floor of Ban Hoe Seng building in Old Town.

I studied at Anglo Chinese Girls School now the Methodist Girls School from primary 1 till the 5th form.

Occasionally my cousin Yeoh Poh See would take me to Chew Boon Juan’s banglo. It was there I met Chew Boon Juan’s wife and another cousin Teoh Ghim Loo. Sometimes I would join my cousins when they went to Penang during the school holidays.

Upon completing my schooling I took commercial classes and started working to support my mother and uncle. 

Some years later after my father died his third wife, a Shanghainese called Ah Nui (by Yeoh Saw Kin) met with me. That was the last we met as a family.

When Ignatius started the Chew museum in 2012 Ninie brought over her mother’s album of photos for duplication.

In 2017 Ignatius Chew received the Lim’s from Tapah at his museum. Datuk Lim Si Boon brought the descendants of Lim Cheng Chuan, the son of Lim Seok Tan.   

They knew the story of their uncle Lim Cheng Keat but they had never seen the wedding photographs. 

They were fascinated and requested to take a photograph with a poster of the wedding photos. Two brothers, Lim Keng Yue and Lim Keng Seong held the poster of photos and together with the descendants took a photograph.

This was a revelation to them. The poster was a graphic detail of the connection to the past and how the Chew family connection came about.  

JAG

Ching Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day) On My Mind

The tombstone of Yeoh Chin Kee at Batu Gantong cemetery

When the Australian authorities opened its borders in February of 2022 the first thing that crossed the mind of Yeoh Oon Cheng, a resident of Australia, was to visit the grave of his grandfather Yeoh Chin Kee for Ching Ming.

Oon Cheng

 Like most countries around the world Australia had closed its borders   for the last two years because of Covid 19. This was the first time that   Oon Cheng was returning home since the closure.

 His trip home would take 6 days. His itinerary included his return to   his hometown Penang and the place where his grandfather is interred,   pay his respects and then partake of the great Malaysian food   including Ipoh Kai See Hor Fun before returning to Australia.  

Yeoh Seng Yau and uncle Yeoh Oon Cheng at the cemetery 

He visited the graves accompanied by Yeoh Oon Kok (who related this story to me) and Oon Kok's son Yeoh Seng Yau.

Sharing a meal together (from left) Yeoh Seng Yau, Oon Kok, Oon Cheng,
Mrs Yeoh Oon Soon and Dr Yeoh Oon Soon

It was a short, simple and very fulfilling trip.

JAG

April’s Birthday Cousins

Yeoh Saw Kin celebrated with orchids from Ian and her prayer group sang her the birthday song 

This April month saw three cousins celebrate their birthdays. They are Frances Yeoh Saw Kin, Lim Lam Peng and Lim Siew Ean. They were all born in the nineteen forties.

Saw Kin’s prayer group brought a cake to her house and sang her birthday wishes. Several days later her son, Ian Latham who lives is England sent her a beautiful basket of orchids.

Lim Lam Peng (in green and black blouse) with her dancing friends on her birthday 

Lim Lam Peng celebrated her birthday together with her dancing group of friends. 

Lim Siew Ean at home 

They met for a meal and returned to Lam Peng’s home for a group photo. Incidentally Lam Peng goes dancing several times a week.

 Lim Siew Ean lives in Ipoh. Earlier in the month her daughter came home to celebrate with Mum.

 Whatever the situation it is the thought that really counts.

Happy belated birthday wishes ladies.

JAG

Chew Choo Peng - Chew Boon San's third born child.

Chew Choo Peng married Chang Poh Yoke in 1939. Photo (left) was taken at 255 Kampar Road

Chew Choo Peng was the third born child of Chew Boon San and Toh Bok Wai. Like Gaik Khim and Choo Beng he was born in China before coming to Malaya.

He completed his education at Chung Ling High School Penang before returning to Gopeng to help in the family business Ban Hoe Bee Tin Ore shop.

Choo Peng was active in the Hokkkien association and treasurer for the local Chinese school SJK (C) Man Ming.

In 1939 Choo Peng married Chang Poh Yoke the daughter of Chang Onn from Ipoh. The wedding photograph of Choo Peng and Poh Yoke was taken at 255 Kampar Road the second bungalow of Chew Boon San. 

The couple were blessed with 7 children, six girls and a boy. They were 1st daughter Chew Soak Foong, 2nd daughter Chew Soak Leng (Adeline), 3rd daughter Chew Soak Sim, 4th daughter Chew Soak Heng (Sally), 5th daughter- Chew Soak Nee, 6th daughter Chew Woon Teng and 7^th son Chew Loon Wan.

Incidentally the birth certificate of their first born Soak Foong showed that she was born in 1941 at the Kampar Road address. The house is currently the Salvation Army Children’s Home.

After the war the family had moved back to Gopeng.

Chew Choo Peng passed away on the first day of Chinese New Year in 1980. His wife Chang Poh Yoke died in 2011. She was 93 years old.

Choo Peng sent 3 of his children, Soak Leng, Soak Heng and Loon Wan to England for further their education.

Soak Leng did  her primary schooling at the Government English School in Gopeng and completed her Senior Cambridge at Sekolah Sultan Yussuf in Batu Gajah. Thereafter she enrolled for a course in nursing at St Albans City Hospital, England.

She left for England  taking the P&O liner from Singapore. The journey took three weeks.

Before her journey her aunt Chew Gaik Kuan, daughter of Chew Boon Hong told her it was compulsory to dress formally for dinner aboard the liner.

Chew Soak Leng with her mum. She is wearing some of the clothes made by Aunt Chew Gaik Kuan

“ Kuan Ku made me the national costume Sarong Kebaya and gave me a few Cheong Sam which were altered from Kuan Ku's relatives. I was a small build then and they all fit quite nicely"

Her course began in 1963 at St Albans City Hospital. Leng completed the course in 1968 and took a vacation in Hong Kong before returning home.

Nurse Chew Soak Leng (left). Graduates receiving certificates at St Albans City Hospital

The prizewinning midwives of St Mary's Hospital ...
.

... made the news in the local newspaper

Back home she accepted a post at the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur and worked in the operation theatre.

Her career enabled her to work in Saudi Arabia first in Jeddah and later in Riyadh, a short stint in Penang and her final posting was at Singapore all the while working in the operation theatre. When she returned home to Gopeng she worked at a nursing home in Ipoh.

Sally Chew Soak Heng too took up nursing in England. One summer on a visit to Austria she met her husband Geisler Franz. They were married the following year. 

From left. Sally Chew Soak Heng and Geisler Franz, Chew Soak Sim and Ng Toong Seng, Chew Soak Nee and Chan Siew Loong, Chew Loon Wan and Maria

Loon Wan enrolled at Leeds University for an automobile engineering course. There he met his wife Maria.

The family shifted to Taman Gopeng from 6 Sungai Raia road  

From left Loon Wan, Soak Heng, Soak Sim, Mum Chang Poh Yoke, Soak Leng and Maria

Chang Poh Yoke through the years. Right photo: on her 80th birthday. She died in 2011 age 93. 

Gopeng CNY 2021. Seated from left..Chew Woon Teng, Chew Soak Leng and Chew Soak Sim with the family.

Austria. New Year 2022 . From left daughter Marisa, Franz Geisler and Soak Heng, son Thomas (5th from left) and George (extreme right) their spouses and grandchildren. 

JAG