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The man who gave millions to ACS
MR TAN CHIN TUAN:
Had a strong belief in the
importance of education.
-- Methodist Church Archives picture.
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MR TAN CHIN TUAN, an Old Boy
of Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) who had become almost iconic for
his generosity to his alma mater, died on Nov 13, 2005.
In his time, he made a series
of donations amounting to more than $10 million for buildings
and facilities in the ACS campuses. The more recent include two
successive sports complexes at both the old Secondary School and
the new campus at Barker Road and a well-appointed school auditorium
at Dover Road.
A performing arts centre at Anglo-Chinese
Junior College, and an auditorium at the proposed new campus of
the ACS (Junior) are in the pipeline. All named after him, they
are a public affirmation of his belief in the importance of education
and a memorial to his formative years in the ACS.
At his funeral on Nov 17, music
was provided by the ACJC Choir and orchestras from the other ACS
units.
His father, Tan Cheng Siong, a
Chinese immigrant who became a successful businessman and banker,
was a supporter of the Rev J. S. Nagle's Anglo-Chinese College
project, and transferred the young Chin Tuan to ACS at the age
of 11. Even at that tender age, he showed exceptional resourcefulness
and maturity beyond his years.
However, his education was interrupted
by his father's untimely death, and after an extended period of
upper secondary work, transferred to the ACS Commercial Department
and completed his Commercial Certificate in 1925.
Offered a position as junior clerk
at the age of 17 by his father's friend, See Boo Ih, Managing
Director of the Chinese Commercial Bank (CCB), he rose rapidly,
his ability catching the eye of his superiors. Rapid promotion
developed into a lifelong association with the CCB and the Oversea-Chinese
Banking Corporation (OCBC) formed when CCB merged with the Ho
Hong and Oversea Chinese Banks in 1932, eventually rising to the
position of Chairman, as well as of 14 other public listed companies.
He entered the world of public
service in 1939 when he was appointed Municipal Commissioner,
besides being involved in various fund-raising campaigns for the
Chinese and British war effort. After the war, he returned to
Singapore to become a member of the British Military Administration
Advisory Council, and subsequently the Governor's Advisory Council.
He was then appointed a member of the Singapore Legislative and
Executive Council, capping his public service when he was appointed
Deputy President.
His association with ACS, however,
had continued even as he was rapidly rising the corporate ladder
and engaging in public service. In 1938, he was elected President
of the Old Boys' Association, serving until 1941.
After the war, he served as a
member of the OBA Building and General Committee that played an
important role in the construction of the 1950 Barker Road buildings
and gave generously to the project, a habit which continued until
the present. In return for his staunch support of ACS, he is said
to have hoped that the school would produce good students with
moral fibre.