Clifford pier will always be firmly etched in my memory.
I worked for nine years (1966 – 1974) in ship-husbandry for Harper Gilfillan Co Ltd and regularly used Clifford Pier in the course of my work. One can say that shipping gave Singapore’s economy a leg up to bring Singapore to what it is today. Before Changi Airport, Jurong Industrial Park, the Integrated Resorts etc, Singapore made its mark through the many ships that called for water (that all important liquid for one’s survival), bunker fuel, rubber bales, timber and other cargo. We must not forget the victuals, navigation charts and instruments, spare parts, repair services of all descriptions etc. That is worth remembering.
The Singapore Harbour Board that later became the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and Clifford Pier were the main landing points for anyone having to do with the shipping industry. There were other landing points like Jardine Steps where Vivo City now stands, but they were not the main ones. Apart from shipping agents, people like marine insurance surveyors, classification society surveyors, doctors, ship suppliers, sailors and their families, ship owners’ representatives and "Coca-Cola girls" (prostitutes) used Clifford Pier to get to the ships anchored in the Eastern Anchorage.
In days gone by, ships took more than 45 days to come from Europe or America. It is therefore not surprising that those on board would like to come ashore for different reasons. Ships waiting to berth in the PSA would anchor in the Eastern Anchorage and use Clifford Pier as a landing point for most of the year. During the months of the North East Monsoon they would anchor in the Western Anchorage where the waters were calmer at that time of year and the people would use Jardine Steps as a departure and landing point. At the request of Ship Masters, shipping agents would organise launch shuttle services to bring sailors ashore for their shore leave and also to bring them back to the ships.
Clifford Pier was very well built which is why it still stands firmly today. There was an Immigration and Customs checkpoint and as can be expected, there were many boat/launch operators. I recall eating from one of a few “floating hawkers” operating from sampans offering food like porridge with vegetables and some fish. The food was enjoyable. Clifford Pier had many visitors who had business on ships at the Eastern Anchorage but it was also a place where young couples met to court and to look out into the many activities in and around the pier. Together with the vendors, the launch operators, the mariners and workers like me we made up the “community” in Clifford Pier.
I recall the car park outside the pier to be one that was partially turned into a hawker centre at night offering a wide variety of food and drinks. It was very popular as you sat next to the sea with the waters lapping the side of the sea wall, the smell of the salty air from the sea was different from what you experience inland. One “Sarabat” stall holder, I remember, collected a few dozen of his coffee glasses (they were served in glass tumblers instead of cups or mugs) at any one time. He nested them very high and used his shoulder to support them. You can say that it was an early call for productivity!
One cannot talk about Clifford Pier without mentioning The Cellar Bar. There were many bars (of the “girlie” variety) along old Tanjong Pagar Road but The Cellar Bar was just across the road from Clifford Pier and that was where the ships’ deck and engine officers as well as owners’ representatives and Port Engineers met and mixed regardless the companies they worked for. It was a place to chill out and to do business or simply to relax.
I had one unhappy memory about Clifford Pier. It was on 26 December 1971, a Sunday,. I was working and had a ship to visit in the Eastern Anchorage and as the Weng Onn Launch I was taking drew towards one of the stairways landing on Clifford Pier, I noticed my colleague and some members of Weng Onn Launch management standing at the top of the steps. They looked very sombre and I immediate sensed that something tragic had happened to my father who was in hospital. They tried to soften the blow to me as they delivered the bad news to me.
Although I exited the shipping industry in 1974, I will always remembr this Grand Old Lady that served Singapore well and I am happy to celebrate its 80th Anniversary.
