In relation to the feature on Mon 22nd March on the old bakery chimney, having played cricket at 7 years in the Perreira’s yard – west of Bedford Methodist – 1945, at the end of WWII – let me add some comments. That baker shop was ‘Dos Santos’ – which was our lunch/tea break snack of delicious tennis roll – buns – sweet bread.
Our cricket water breaks would be mauby at Mount Eagle, Sue – at Camp and Regent (where City Mall is today) – or Mount Eagle at North & Wellington St – with De Ryck’s lemonade opposite.
Competitive baker shops then were Tang’s on Robb St and Bento’s a corner away at Alexander St. Other businesses on the premises then were a parlour and a furniture store at the Church St end.
The bakery later became Da Silva’s – a confectioner who lived in the flats above. Da Silva with his sons opened a large confectionery at East and Murray Sts by 1950 specialising in sour stick – peppermint – toffee balls and nutine. He was an avid boxing fan and trained Ivelaw Stephenson – National Light Heavyweight boxing champion.
In the late sixties the parlour became a photo studio and the furniture store did change owners from time to time.
I must record that the opposite site in 1945 (now the Indian Immigration Monument site arrival) was the Water Works – Terminal of the Lama Canal. In 1950 pipe water was introduced in Georgetown – the Water Works was demolished and later the Lama Canal – (Vlissengen to Camp St) was filled in to become the Merriman Mall.
Yours faithfully,
Godfrey Chin
