Julian Tan And Family Visit YLCO Museum On The Eve Of Chinese New Year

1 Jalan Lasam decorated  when Julian and family visited on the eve of Chinese New Year 

 A descendant of Chew Boon Seong, Julian Tan and his family visited YLCO museum on the morning of 21 January 2023. It was the eve of Chinese New Year.

He wanted to visit the museum to learn more of the Chew family history for himself and his family.

Ignatius Chew was on hand to welcome them namely his wife Eunice Lua and children Joshua, Emily, Gabriel and Dominic Tan and his mother Cecelia Liew.

Granduncle Ignatius had painstakingly put together a display of their great grandfather Chew Boon Seong together with his brother Chew Boon Juan from the early days at Kampong Kepayang. Ignatius took them through the museum and spent time explaining the history to the family.

Looking back in time with photographs ....

Ignatius Chew explaining the journey of the Chews

...old photos and a glimpse of the past ...

“It was really interesting to see the old photographs that offered a glimpse on how the family came from China to Malaya and how through their resilience and courage, built up successful businesses and contributed to the community.

Over the last one year I’ve discovered so much about the Chew family history. It is amazing to see what they achieved in those day, they were such entrepreneurs.

I am not surprised my great grandfather Chew Boon Seong had 3 wives because it was the custom then. All the while I knew grandfather had only one son. However I am now interested to know who were my step siblings”.

at the Ipoh World collection 

Raymond Tan, Julian’s late father had three sons Jonathan, Justin and Julian. All three studied at St Michaels Institution and had obtained scholarships to study in Singapore. Justin and Julian were around twenty years old when they left Ipoh but Jonathan was on an ASEAN scholarship and left Ipoh at the age 13. Hence they missed a good portion of family history.

 

has artefacts of Ipoh paraphenelia

Julian suggested that it would be good if Ignatius would compile the knowledge of the family history into a book for my children and descendants. He did not have enough knowledge of the family. Over time our descendants will forget and one day the Chew family story will be lost forever. 

JAG