Some 12,000 people turn up for event that celebrates all things Singaporean
By
Alison de Souza
The ERP gantry at the entrance of yesterday's Singapore Day event in London was a tongue-in-cheek reminder of home for the overseas Singaporeans who attended. The event also saw performances by Singaporean artistes, stalls selling popular hawker foods, and informative installations on the latest developments back home. -- PHOTO: OVERSEAS SINGAPOREAN UNIT
London - Britain's busiest train station reverberated with lots of 'lahs' and 'lors' yesterday morning.
Scores of Singaporeans were there to catch trains for south-west London. They were headed for Hampton Court Palace where this year's Singapore Day was held.
Neurosurgeon Vinothini Apok, 28, who has lived in Britain for nine years, said: 'I am looking forward to being among the unique social mix that defined my childhood and early adolescence again.'
Some 12,000 Singaporeans who live and work in Britain, and even from other parts of Europe, attended the event organised by the Singapore Government at an estimated cost of S$6 million. A small army of hawkers, performers, civil servants and other support staff was flown in to pull it off.
The grounds of the palace were turned into a mini version of Singapore, with areas marked 'Clarke Quay', 'Tanglin', 'Katong', 'Dempsey Hill' and 'Lau Pa Sat'.
Filmmaker Eric Khoo, the event's creative director, had overseen every detail.
His tongue-in-cheek touches included an ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) gantry at the main entrance and, in the goodie bags distributed, packets of wet wipes labelled 'Chope!'
The space was designed around displays and interactive installations to update Singaporeans on the latest developments back home, from education to national service.
People could sign up to become volunteers at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Singapore, or join one of the Singapore associations abroad.
Singapore employers were also on hand recruiting for jobs in health care, law, finance and the public sector.
