There was one thing particular concerning the easy sliding glass door cupboard positioned in a distinguished place within the corridor of our house, after father had retired in 1969.
The contents had been his private memorabilia collected throughout his 35 years of service with the police drive. They weren’t significantly lavish however each merchandise was price its weight in gold, worthy of show in a museum.
A significant portion was occupied by his glittering sterling silver cups of varied sizes, which he was in a position to salvage in the course of the warfare, which denoted his athletic achievement as a champion police monitor and area athlete early in his profession within the Thirties. Unfortunately, many of his massive silver trophies had been misplaced throughout this time.
Other gadgets included his common khaki working uniform and ceremonial regalia with their authentic silver buttons with the police emblem, his senior police officer’s sword with its silver metallic scabbard, amulets with the pips indicating his final rank, and his police cap.
All the medals that he was awarded for his distinguished service had been properly organised in a ornamental picket field.
There had been different memorable souvenirs: one from former US President Lyndon Johnson and the opposite from former President Ferdinand Marcos, who visited Malaysia in 1966 and 1968 respectively along with their First Ladies, Lady Bird Johnson and Imelda Marcos, of their authentic velvet containers. And a few pictures of him in uniform, together with one with the trophies he had amassed in a sports activities meet in 1937.
Rafique’s father’s collectibles have satisfaction of place in a rosewood cupboard.
The cupboard was a powerful however humble showcase representing my father’s satisfaction, honour and glory. It held each sentimental and historic connection. He took pains to shine his prized silver cups yearly, to retain their glitter as if it mirrored his integrity and popularity. An genuine manifestation of his drive and willpower within the sports activities area, they had been held near his coronary heart with nice recollections. After his passing in 1996, mom noticed to it that this apply continued as a tribute to his reminiscence.
Not as soon as did father ever puff up in anybody’s presence, be they his associates or relations. When there have been inquiries, in his self-effacing manner, his feedback had been temporary, barely offering any enter to the data sought. We had been too preoccupied with our personal lives to point out a deeper curiosity within the gadgets within the cupboard whereas father was nonetheless round. We had been happy that they had been necessary and meant a nice deal to him. So the years handed.
When we had youngsters, they might look into the cupboard inquisitively and we’d simply inform them that their grandpa was a sportsman with an illustrious police profession.
After father was gone, his cherished mementoes took on a fully totally different perspective for his household. I started to grasp then that they represented the best moments in my father’s life and that there was a story to be informed behind each single merchandise within the cupboard.
After 48 years, my consideration was drawn to President Johnson’s memento medallion at the side of his Asia-Pacific go to.
All these years, we had not taken a lot heed to this strong bronze memento within the cupboard. Suddenly it now took centre stage and I made a decision to dig deeper. At this time, father was the Deputy CPO of Selangor, primarily based in Kuala Lumpur, and he was entrusted with the safety of the US President. It was a brief 20-hour go to and, aside from a fast journey to Negri Sembilan, the President’s official itinerary was largely within the metropolis.
Reverse facet of former US President Johnson’s bronze medallion.
Being devoted and dedicated to any given difficult activity, father didn’t relaxation till all of the planning and coordination with the American facet went like clockwork.
Though the go to was brief, I can think about it should have been all techniques go months earlier than the President’s arrival. Nothing could be stated higher than the phrases of his boss within the following congratulatory message:
“Now that the visit of the American President is over, I feel I owe it to all those officers and men who worked tirelessly and relentlessly in ensuring that the events connected with the visit went smoothly. I know that in this contingent no one else was more concerned with the overall problem as yourself.
“The fact that all official functions were conducted without a hitch is a matter of satisfaction for all of us. In the planning and execution of the numerous details, your personal attention and guidance has been an inspiration to many a junior officer.
“May I take this opportunity to thank you for your splendid leadership which contributed in no small measure to the successful conclusion of the visit.”
Father had gone all out to make sure President Johnson’s go to to Malaysia was a success.
Some years after father’s demise, Mother quietly bought a distinguished rosewood cupboard and transferred father’s treasured contents into it. Lo and behold, a main transformation, befitting its spectacular assortment, occurred, as if the gathering was bestowed with particular honours. Indeed, when the time got here, an excellent higher honour was deserved, once we parted with a number of gadgets, together with his previous typewriter (a relic from his previous) by donating them to the Royal Malaysia Police Museum.
