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Synopsis :

Robert Alfred Waddle
BIRTH 21 MARCH 1904 • Oldham, Greater Manchester Lancashire
DEATH 6 MAY 1969 • Woolston, Bicknoller, Exmoor, Somerset, England

Robert (Bobbie) Waddle arrived in Singapore 1928 and retired in 1958, holding the position of Electrical Engineer.

Mr. Robert Alfred Waddle was an Electrical Engineer of the Singapore Municipality, and wellknown church organist who played for the Singapore Musical Society. His parents were Mr and Mrs R. W. Waddle of Ponteland, Northumberland. Mr. Waddle was the organist for the commissioning concert of the St Clair organ in Victoria Hall in September 1931.

His first marriage took place on 14 February 1931, where he wed Miss Kathleen Elise Berry on a Saturday at St. Andrew's Cathedral. Miss Kathleen Berry was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Berry of Enfield, Middlesex. Miss Berry was a teacher at Raffles Girls' School then. She later became RGS's last principal before WWll. She was also a member of the cathedral choir Mr Waddle played the role of organist at. When World War Two broke out, Principal Mrs K Waddle (1939 – 1942) chose to remain in Singapore out of dedication to her job. When she left on the “SS Vyner Brooke”, one of the last evacuation boats just before the Japanese occupied Singapore, the boat was attacked and she lost her life on her wedding anniversary 14 February 1942.

Years after the loss of Mrs. K. Waddle, Mr. Waddle later married Miss Joan Mary Lloyds, formerly announcer of the British Far Eastern Broadcasting Service, at St. Andrew's Cathedral on 29 November 1947.

Mr Waddle passed on while in Britain, in 1969. A memorial service was held at St. Andrew's Cathedral where Mr Waddle had been an organist for 30 years since 1929.

The film reels survived WWll invasion due to Mr. Waddle cleverly hiding them in the St Andrews Cathedral church organ. After the war, he went back to retrieve them.

Bobbie Waddle was interned on 27 December 1942 in Changi and later Sime Road during WW2. As an engineer, he was arrested in the “Double Tenth” episode on 11 October 1943, and released back to the camp on 25 March 1944.
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/3224d8f8-5c80-47a9-b144-a63dafe692b8 explains more.

The Singapore Archives newspapers contain many references to Mr Waddle in his musical capacity, giving concerts once a month in Victoria Hall, and in the 1950’s in his professional capacity as the City Electrical Engineer explaining various power cuts. One of the post war films is the building of the Pasir Panjang power station in 1952.

Mr Waddle retired in 1958 and passed on while in Britain, in 1969. A memorial service was held at St. Andrew's Cathedral where Mr Waddle had been an organist for 30 years since 1929.


Sources and References:
An article about a concert Mr Waddle was participating as a solo organist:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19390312-1.2.54.4?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

An article on Mr Waddle and Ms. Kathleen Berry's wedding in 1931:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitsbudget19310219-1.2.51?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

Another coverage of Mr Waddle and Ms. Kathleen Berry's wedding:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19310216-1.2.54?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

Mr Waddle's first appearance as conductor of the Singapore Musical Society:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19400729-1.2.20?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

A concert Mr Waddle organed at in October/November 1934, at the Victoria Memorial Hall:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19341030-1.2.81?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

A write up on the newspaper complimenting Mr Waddle's Organ Playing:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19390312-1.2.92?ST=1&AT=search&k=robert%20waddle&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

St. Andrew's Memorial Service for Mr Waddle in 1969:
https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19690516-1.2.22?ST=1&AT=search&K=robert+waddle&P=2&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=robert,waddle&oref=article

Mrs Kathleen Waddle's history with RGS:
https://www.rgs.edu.sg/backup/about/historical-milestones