HPB Voices Reloaded

By Dr Veronica Tay

The class of Pre-U 2 Science E (1972) of Raffles Institution was organising its 35th year post graduation gathering. Our well-known classmate, Dennis Foo offered his place for after dinner drinks. Many of us were excited as we had not gone for the opening and were keen to see why this ‘night spot’ was attracting our children.

Dennis Foo, CEO giving us a tour of St James

We were there early at 8 pm and were given a tour of the whole place including most of the rooms and where performers and staff were housed.

After 35 years, a lot to catch up with

We were in a private room to catch up with classmates whom we have not met for 35 years. Later on, we moved to Bellini Room where performance and music current to our generation was on.

Bellini Room

Subsequently, we went to the fame ‘Dragon Fly’ room where the ‘Generation Y’ people of my son’s generation usually go to. It was packed. The music was loud but……. the notable thing was the absence of cigarette smoke which made the visit by our group of non-smoking ‘baby-boomers’ so much more pleasant.

From 1 July 2007, restrictions on smoking was extended to 900 entertainment outlets which included 900 pubs, bars, KTV outlets, lounges, nightclubs and discotheques.

Uncontaminated smokeless air!

Certainly, the restriction on smoking had not affected attendances at St James Power Station judging from the long queues. I for one am glad for the cleaner air!