Geoffrey Yeoh & Family Visit YLCO

It was the turn of Geoffrey Yeoh Pang Boon to visit YLCO museum. He came together with his family Lydia Voon his wife and daughters Natasha and Alexis during early December 2022.

Ignatius welcomed him with open arms especially since he brought along with him a 100 litre plastic container of photographs. The photographs don't tell the whole story but Geoffrey was kind enough to elaborate on the background stories behind the photo . 

On the day of the visit Patrick Yeoh Lam Kheng and his family showed up. Patrick’s son Pang Liang had done a sketch of Geoffrey’s family which he then gave to Alexis.

Alexis and Pang Liang and the 'Geoffrey family' sketch 

After Ignatius’s tour of the museum Geoffrey spent some time explaining about the photos he brought with him.

Geoffrey Yeoh parents are Patrick Yeoh Lam Hoo and Jenny Mak Mui Chye. "They met at a social club in England. At the time dad Patrick was doing his articleship and mum was studying to be a nurse. She stayed at a nurses hostel while Dad stayed at the Yeoh home at Geary Road with the rest of Yeoh/ Chew students.

They were married soon after and i was born on 7 November 1973. Dad returned home to Ipoh and we lived in his father's house in 28 Tambun Road.

"The above family photo was taken circa 2001 after Datin Cheng had passed away".

"My grandfather was Dato' Yeoh Kian Teik and my grandmother was Datin Cheng Leng Fong. She was my grandfather’s first wife.

My being born was a big deal as i was the eldest 5th generation grandson after Yeoh Khuan Joo, Yeoh Ghim Khoon, Yeoh Kian Teik, Patrick Yeoh Lam Hoo and then me Geoffrey Yeoh Pang Boon. Because of this, being the 5th generation grandson, I was doted on by great grandmother Lim Siew Tong. 

Great grandmother Lim Siew Tong and my grand uncles and aunts

I recall seeing her when she was on her deathbed. I was taken in to see her. Both my grandfathers were there as were my granduncles. I then asked her 'are you going to die".  My father responded with 'don't say that' but my grandmother smiled.

Then uncles Tony and Michael took me out and told me to play for awhile on the rings when someone came in to inform that grandma Lim Siew Tong had passed away.

My mum dressed me in red at the funeral, a Spiderman top and a Jackie Chan trouser while all the grand uncles and aunts were dressed in black and sack cloths.  I never found out the significance on me wearing red though I think it was because i was the 5th generation grandson.

One of the photos in Geoffreys batch of photos was Dato Yeoh Kian Teik in his MG sportscar. 

According to Geoffrey his grandfather used to take evenings drives up to Cameron Highlands in his open top MG sportscar. On one those evening drives he saw a Tiger cross the road. Since that encounter it was the end of evening drives to Camerons in his MG.

Another photo in Geoffrey’s container was Dato Yeoh Kian Teik in the presence of Tunku Abdul Rahman and his cabinet ministers. I had seen this photo in the office of Sri Maju bus station. I learnt that Dato Yeoh was a Member of the Senate from 1959 till 1969 and a larger copy is proudly displayed  at the office. 

JAG