Goodbye, Police Academy
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The Police Academy at Thomson Road, a Singapore institution for 76 years, will close its doors at the end of this year.
It will be relocated to new premises at the Home Team Academy in Choa Chu Kang early next year.
On Saturday, retired police officers were back at their old stomping ground to mark the closing of the Academy.
For retired police officers Muthu Veran and Madavy Nair, it's not just a walk down memory lane.
It's also a walk down lover's lane because it was at the Police Academy that they met and fell in love.
After a year's courtship, the two instructors got married in 1976.
They hold the distinction of being the first and only couple in Singapore to have held their wedding at the Police Academy at Thomson Road.
Madavy Nair said: "We were not earning much, and our director of Police Academy, Eugene Wong, was very nice. He told us not to worry about the money, saying 'we can provide you the chairs, tables, the hall is free, everything is free, but you pay for the food and the cleaners, which was $20'."
Since then the Academy has become a second home for Muthu and Madavy, whose daughter also grew up on the grounds as well and who later became an officer herself.
Madavy Nair said: "My daughter actually grew up here at the academy. When she was in Primary 1, we didn't have a maid. During lunch hour, I'd bring her to PA and I put her here and she would do her home work, eat at the canteen and she'll run around here and after work I will fetch her back."
Built in 1929, the Academy has seen generations of Police recruits going through their training.
Old photos are the only reminders of a time long forgotten.
From the days when policemen wore shorts until the present day, the grounds at the Academy have also gone through many upgrades.
Ong Boon Chye, retired chief drill instructor, said the 'most significant' upgrade was the swimming pool.
He recalled that before the swimming pool was built in the 1970s, training was conducted elsewhere, at Mount Emily.
After the pool was built, trainees could train within the Academy grounds. - CNA/ir -
So what are they going to do with this place after the PA closed down? Built condo?
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Apparently, it has been slated for property development....Originally posted by Manager433:So what are they going to do with this place after the PA closed down? Built condo? -
Originally posted by sbst275:Apparently, it has been slated for property development....
Early early know liao. -
But dun think plan will go aheadOriginally posted by Manager433:
Early early know liao.
See ex SCDF Hq, have been rotting for 6 yrs -
Because its a lousy location mah.Originally posted by sbst275:But dun think plan will go ahead
See ex SCDF Hq, have been rotting for 6 yrs -
To be frank, many govt offices moved out, the ex premise are rotting...Originally posted by Manager433:Because its a lousy location mah.
It is not abt the location, but rather the rent that the govt is asking for