Year 1963
First Singapore Grand Prix
Sunday, 17th September 1961
The first Singapore Grand Prix was held in the 3.023 miles long Upper Thomson Road Street Circuit. A Singapore Resident, Ian Barnwell who is also a Temerloh Planter, won the race in his Aston Martin DB3S. He took home a Gold Trophy and $1,000 cash. Second was Saw Kim Thiat in his Lotus Eleven Climax and Dick Clinkard came in third in his Austin Healey.
Bukit Ho Swee Fire
Thursday, 25th May 1961
The Bukit Ho Swee Fire kills four people and destroys 2,200 attap houses. The fire made at least 16,000 homeless. Most of the attap houses in the squatter settlement were destroyed as the fire spread quickly by the strong winds. The root cause of this disaster remains unknown.
National Library Officially Opened
Saturday, 12th November 1960
The new red-bricked building was officially opened and christened as the National Library of Singapore by the President of Singapore, Encik Yusof bin Ishak. The architecture was said to reflect the red-brick epoch of British architecture in the 1950s. The building was designed and built by the Public Works Department.
Second Go-Kart Race In Singapore
Sunday, 28th August 1960
The Singapore Motor Club and the Forces Motoring Club jointly organised the second Go-Kart race in Police Training School (Police Academy). There was be six racing events including a 25-laps race for the open category and 10-laps race for ladies category.
Big Fire At Potong Pasir
Thursday, 28th July 1960
100 villagers lose homes in morning blaze which broke out shortly after 11 a.m. The destroyed nine attap houses in a kampong at Potong Pasir. off Serangoon Road. The Minister for Labour and Law. Mr. K. M. Byrne, visited Potong Pasir and distributed $10 and rice to each of the fire victims. About $1,000 was donated by the public through the Council of Social Services. The rice was contributed by the Catholic Welfare Service.
Twelve Hours Of Rain Wreaked Havoc
Friday, 3rd June 1960
Heaviest rain was in the western half of Singapore when it started to rain since 4am and last for 12 hours. That caused widespread flooding all over the island. Hardest-hit area was at Wayang Satu along Bukit Timah Road. At one time, the flood water was at 4 feet high. Rows of stalled cars were left abandoned by the roadside. Other badly-affected areas were Queenstown, where the 2 feet high water flooded scores of homes. Even Orchard Road was turned into a muddy river with streams pouring into the flooded road. The Padang was a shallow lake.
First Go-Kart Race In Singapore
Sunday, 28th February 1960
Singapore Forces Motor Club hold its first Go-kart Race at Dover Road 40 Base Workshop carpark (off Ayer Rajah Road). A special 10-lap event om several locally constructed go-karts will compete against an American model driven by Mr. J. N. Fredrickson.
HDB was formed
Monday, 1st February 1960
The Housing & Development Board, HDB, was setup with Mr. Lim Kim San as its chairman. Over the next 4 decades, Lim Kim San went on to server as Minister for National Development, Finance, Defense, Education, Communications and the Environment.
Lightning Killed Two
Sunday, 6th December 1959
A Malay couple were killed by lightning as they sat in the doorway of their attap house in Jalan Kayu. They were resting there after lunch when they were struck by a bolt of lighting during a severe thunder storm. Their friend who is resting in an adjoining room suffered burns on his back. The rain also caused flooding in low-lying areas along Bukit Timah Road.
National Loyalty Week
Thursday, 3rd December 1959
National Loyalty Week was held between 3 - 10 December 1959 to encourage a sense of loyalty to the new state of Singapore amongst its diverse citizens. It saw the inauguration of key national symbols including the state flag, the national anthem, the state crest and the installation of the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara or Head of State. During the week people could dial 2 or 3 to listen to Majulah Singapura on the telephone. Admission to swimming pools was free, and rides at the Great World and Happy World were free or greatly reduced in price. The Legislative Assembly and the University of Malaya's Science Faculty were opened to the public in the mornings. Exhibitions with free entry included "The 'Peoples' Government at Work" at the Victoria Memorial Hall, photography and arts exhibition at the Polytechnic, and the Singapore Harbour Board exhibition at the SHB Exhibition Pavilion at Tanjong Pagar.
Major Events 4 People 4 Places 12 Politics 6
2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1942 1940 1939 1937 1936 1935 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1924 1923 1922 1920 1919 1913 1911 1910 1909 1906 1905 1901 All