Lim Su Min's Ancestry Trail, Bukit Brown Saturday 21st April 2012 Version 6.0 2012-04-16

TAN- SEOW- LIM Family Connection scattered over various blocks in Bukit Brown. The tomb stops include :Tan Kim Ching, GGGGF (Great Great Great Great Grand Father) (neighbour to Cheang Hong Lim )Yeo Buay Neo (Mrs Seow Watt Chye) GGMTan Boo Liat GGFMr & Mrs Lim Mah Peng GGGGF/MMr & Mrs Lim Thean Geow GGGF/M

Highlights:Tan Kim Ching (陳金鐘) (1829 -1892. ) Tan Tock Seng’s eldest son. Recommended Anna Leonowens, as teacher for children of King Mongkut of Siam ( King Rama IV).

Buried in Changi, transferred to Bukit Brown (1940). One of Singapore’s earliest “diplomats” and much respected in the Siam court.

Tan Boo Liat, (1875-1934) built his home Golden Bell Mansion, 10 Pender Road on Mount Faber, naming it after his grandfather. He was a strong supporter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and member of the Singapore T'ung Meng Hui along with Lim Boon Keng. In 1920 he was awarded the title Phra Anukul Sayamkich by the Siam court. Note “Kuo-Ming-Tan” rays on his tomb.Tan Boo Liat’s daughter Polly was the template for Emily of Emerald Hill, written by my sister Stella Kon ( ee Lim). To know that Polly was the niece who eventually married her aunt’s husband 12 years her senior, when the aunt passed away is to understand the complex forces at play in creating “Emily”

Polly Tan (my Grandmother) is pictured here, aged 10 years. Lady with right arm on armrest is Mdm Yeo Buay Neo, my Great Grand Mother (Mrs Seow Chye Watt), mother of Seow Poh Leng.

Polly at the piano while her husband Seow Poh Leng serenades. An alumnus of the Anglo Chinese School, he instituted a medal Seow Poh Leng Gold Medal in 1936 to be awarded to the top ACS boy at the Senior Cambridge/GCE “O” Level Examinations.

Lim Boon Keng (GGF) with Stella (my sister) on knee and Mrs Lim, Grace Yin Pek Ha (GGM) with me on knee.

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Impetus for studying medicine was death of father Lim Thean Gow from blood poisoning after razor cut: Eleven doctors resulting from this fatal cut!Dr Lim Boon KengDr Robert Kho Seng Lim, Dr Lim Peng ThiamDr Lim Kok Ann, Dr Lim Kok Kian, Dr Lim Kok LianDr Suzanne Low, Dr Lim Su Min, Dr Lim Su ChongDr Lim Min Yu, Dr Mark Kon

THE SAGE OF SINGAPORE The Straits Times 22 October 1948 Page 4 Straits Times interview by Roy Ferroa.Of his 80 years of living, Dr.Lim says that his “happiest memories” are those of his school days, in particular of his old headmaster Mr Hullet.“The thing that makes me ever -mindful of dear Mr. Hullett is his word of advice given to me when I left school and was on my way to study in England.Mr Hullett said: You are a Chinese going to the West. Remember to respect yourself and do right. Never mind what other people, the rich and influential, may think of you. As long as you do right and remain right you will always be happy.Mr. Hullet also told me “I advise you to keep a Bible by your side and read it whenever you have the time. The Bible is the basis of the English language.This, Dr. Lim explained was the advice given him when he was still making headway with English literature and grammar.Today 65 years after those words were uttered by his teacher, the pupil follows their precept. His Bible, slightly tattered and well worn, is in his hands when he walks about in his garden.

The Bible has 66 books and one of them is written by a doctor. It is from the book written by Dr. Luke that I have chosen a passage to be read at my funeral. All of you are invited to my funereal. I don't have the date yet and I hope it doesn't happen soon. 

But just as a preview, let me give you glimpse. In Chapter 16 verse 19-31 of Luke's book, we read of a parable told by Jesus of an unnamed rich man who was enjoying a life of luxury and a poor man named Lazarus who was longing to eat the scraps of food that fell from the rich man's table.Lazarus dies and is bought by angels up to heaven.Lazarus has a relationship with God that began while on earth, and this continues  on in heaven.The rich man, however, failed to share of his abundance while on earth thus demonstrating his lack of relationship with God The Rich man dies and is brought to a place of eternal torment:

For the rest of the story you will have to attend my funeral, but one take home message is this: We need to be accountable for the gifts that we are given from above, and we need an ongoing relationship with the Giver

Lim Su Min Today, 9:21 AM