Clubhouse's diamond

Who rolled up to The Old Frees' Association at 4.30pm on 17th June 1963? None other than Tuanku Syed Putra, the Raja of Perlis who was also the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong at that time. Uniquely, he was the last King of Malaya, the first King of Malaysia and the only King that Singapore had ever had.

On this date in history 60 years ago, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong officially opened the Northam Road clubhouse. He was met on arrival by Saw Choo Theng, the President, and then introduced to the Management Committee before adjourning to a private tea reception in his honour at the lawn on the other side of the building.

The clubhouse in 1963. The exterior has changed little over the decades except for a different porch as well as the restaurant or kitchen to the main building's left. But the interior has changed considerably from the original design.

Ignoring a brief four-month temporary sojourn in rented premises in Perak Road, the Northam Road clubhouse is the fourth since The Old Frees' Association was founded in 1923. At first, the club had its home at 10 Leith Street but it then shifted to 156 Hutton Lane in 1932 and 2 Mandalay Road in 1939 before finding a permanent home here in Northam Road. Will it relocate again? That will be left to the future....