Who is the Bikeman? Here I am:
I was born in Singapore, 10 May 1955, My name is Tham Chee Fai, a Singapore Chinese and my dialect is Cantonese. Most of my friends call me "Major".
In my formative years, I lived in a village in Tiong Bahru with my parents, my grandmother, 3 younger brothers and a sister in an rented attacp house. The roof was made by Nipah Palm tree leaves and the structure was maily wooden planks and timbers. I remember that very frequently, when raining, water seeped through the roof and all the pails in the family would be mobilised to fetch the dripping water. We used common toilet and kitchen and carried water in pails from distant common taps. The sanitary truck with 24 sanitary doors would come to collect the human waste. Our fuel for fire was wood and coal. That was truely community living. Life got better when we were shifted to a 3-room Housing Board Flat when I was about 11 years old. We got modern sanitary system and we got piped water and gas.
Bikeman The Youngest Photo |
An Old Family Photo |
When I was 8 years old, my parents brought along my youngest brother and sister, left for Brunei to earn a living. My 2 brothers and I were brought up by my grandmother. I got to see my parents for about 2 weeks in a year when they were having home leave. My grandmother was a great woman except for the weakness that she loved to play Mahjong. Many a time, she got too engrossed into the game and forgot to prepare dinner. She passed away when I was 17 and my parents, finally returned home for good when I was 19.
As a kid, I loved to fly kites and played with spiders. I used to catch spiders and made threads coated with razer sharp grass powder, to sell for pocket money. Sometimes as a business, always as a hobby. I have no association with bicycle until 12 years old. See my Humble Begining.
My primary school named Quan Min, a Chinese school sat on a hill top, was also a attacp structure with wooden classroom desk and chairs. The school was a few km away and walking to school was chaotic when rained. We had to brave through the slipery ankle depth red mud and by the time we reached school, we were all muddy. I remember vividly a ritual we had to do when we reached school; we knocked the chair and desk against the floor to shake the bugs out before we sat down to prevent got bitten. The school was later merged with another school and changed name to Kai Min. It was shifted to a concrete building in Jalan Membina Barat when I was in primary 5 and now relocated to Yishun. I played most of the time in school but always placed among the top students.
A Primary 5 Class Photo(In the centre of front row) |
A Primary 6 Class Photo(L2 of the front row) |
I spent 4 years in Tiong Bahru Secondary School, a mixed school with English and Chinese stream where I could interact with the English stream students and learnt much English from them. I played table tennis and volley ball. This school is no more in existence and the buildings is now become the Examination Branch of Ministry of Education.
A Secondary Photo(Right of back row) |
An A Level Class Photo(R2 of the back row) |
I did my GCE A level at Hua Yi Govertment Chinese Middle School in Margaret Drive. I was rebellous after my beloved grandmother passed away and always skipped lessons and spent my time at a nearby coffee shop called the Dragon Inn. The school was used to be a popular Chinese school in the southern Singapore and since the 80', the school reputation had dropped. Its name had changed to Hua Yi Secondary School since it is no more a chinese school and now located in Jurong West. It seemed that the schools that I had attended were either closed down or in bad shape.
Bikeman In Younger Days |
Bikeman In Younger Days |
Bikeman In Younger Days |
I am very happily married to the same women, Judy Ong Twee Kim for 29 years, a Hainanese. We met at Railway Station Lounge where I played darts for the team called Prarie Express. It was a Division 1 top team in Singapore and I was once ranked as high as 4th in Singapore. Her very cool look and big eyes attracted me and since then we started courtship and within 6 months, we got married. She worked as a stock clerk until 1987 when our second child was born.
We have 3 wonderful children: Our daughter, Ivy, born in Sep 1980, is a very talented singer and artist, She graduated from Melbourne University as an Architect and now lives and works in Melbourne. She is a permenent resident.
Bikeman With Ivy and Judy |
My 3 Wonderful Children |
Our elder son, Yirun, born in 1987, is in the first year of university. A gifted athelete who was the vice captain of the College Track and Field Team. He had won many races since primary school at school, combined schools and National School Meet. During his college days, he won 3 golds for 110M hurdles, 400M hurdles and 400M, and overall, the Boy Individual Champion at the College Track and Field Meet 2005. At 2005 Natinal Track & Field meet, his team won a bronze medal for 4x100M and he was one of the runner. He plays guitar since 12 and a forming member of a rock band named Crystal Wax Dolls and the band had changed its name to Ephyra, after the vocalist had changed.
Our younger son, Yichun, born in 1988, is a good cyclist and was placed 4th at the Singapore Amature Cycling Association Road Race 0n 30 Jan 05 for the under 18 category. He is also one of the top beat box performer. During his secondary school days, he was a NCO of National Police Cadet Corps. He is in his final year as a polytechnic student.
After married, I lived with my father in law in a village and a zinc house at Jalan Fajar, off Bukit Panjang. It was built on a hill and drawing water from the deep well required some effort. My father in law was a farmer with a big sugar cane farm. I got my flat in end 1982 and first home that I could called my own home. It was 4-room flat in a nice estate with only 15 blocks, Bukit Purmei. Our family, live in Pasir Ris since in 1992, a suburb in North East of Singapore.
My father, was robbed and murdered on 28 Jan 2004 at Batam island. My mother is a dedicated christian and she still enjoys living on her own. My sister passed away in Sep 2004 at 44 and left behind a son and a daughter, we deeply miss her. My 3 younger brothers are all happily married and have formed their own families. We remained closely knitted and always get together.
Career: I was fully employed continuously for 35 years and I had 2 careers. What had I been doing for a living?
I was enlisted into the Army on 26 Dec 1973, shortly after my GCE Advance Level examination. After went through Basic Military Training and Section Leader training at Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute, I was posted to 5 Singapore regiment as a section leader, 3 months later, I was posted back to Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute, to advance my training at Officer Cadet School and trained as an infantry officer. I was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 29 Mar 1975. I became a regular officer on the same year.
A Recuit In A Section Photo(R3 front row) |
A Recruit In A Platoon Photo(L5 front row) |
A Corporal In A Section Photo(L1 back row) |
A Corporal With The Platoon Commander And Mates |
A Corporal In A Platoon Photo(L7 front row) |
Corporal |
Officer Cadet |
Some of my military career highlights includes:
During my military career, I had attended numerous courses to prepare me for the jobs. I was trained and specialised in personnel and finance functions. I had obtained a Diploma in Personnel Management in 1987 and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management in 1998.
Immediately after my retirement from the Army, I worked at Tampines Junior College as the Operations Manager until 31 Jan 2009. I decleared retirement on 1 Feb 2009 at 53 years and 9 months old. I would not work for a living and enjoy things that I like to do.
Other than cycling and cycling tours, music formed a big part of my life. I listen mostly Jazz music and female vocalists, though I also enjoy heavy metal rock. I like to read Japanese novels, watching TV and surf the nets on subjects related to bicycle, travel, people, adventure and watches.
I have a weakness for fine wristwatches especially Rolex sports watches. In my collection; I have one each of Daytona (M seris 116520), Explorer II(M series 16570), GMT Master II(Y series 16713), Green Submariner (Z series 16610LV), Blue Submariner(Z series 16613), SeaDweller(Z series 16600), Explorer(Y series 114270), Yacth Master(Z series 16622).
Rolex Collection |
Watches previously owned: Breitling Chronomat Evolution, IWC Classic Pilot UTC, Sinn U2, Ball Engineer Master II Chronometer LE, Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Reveil, Omega Seamaster 007 Limited edition, Omega Speedmaster Professional and Heuer Monza(Both given to my son).
Ball Engineer Master II Chronometer LE |
Sinn U2 |
Breitling Chronomat Evolution |
IWC Classic Pilot UTC |
Heuer Monza(Given to my son) |
Omega Speedmaster Professional(Given to my son) |
Omega Seamaster 007 Limited Edition |
I am also into Unit Trusts investment for retirement planning.
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