13. 👻 When the Lights Went Out at Watson Bungalow

Watsons Bungalow at Maxwells Hill

It was November 1969 when a group of about 35 of us - Georgians together with friends from the Convent and TMGS - made our way up to Maxwell Hill for a three-day, two-night adventure at Watson Bungalow. No teachers were involved; this was a trip organised entirely by students, which made it all the more exciting.

Looking back, I still wonder how the girls managed to convince their parents to let them stay overnight with a bunch of boys. Perhaps it was the trust we had built up in our schooldays. Many of the parents already knew some of us, and that familiarity helped ease their worries. Whatever the reason, the girls came along - and that made the trip unforgettable.

The hill’s cool air wrapped around us as evening fell. Mist rolled in, jackets were pulled tighter, and the chatter of 35 young voices filled the bungalow. After dinner, we gathered in the living room with tea and laughter, the kind that warms you against the chill. By midnight, as expected, the electricity supply was cut. A warning flicker gave us five minutes to prepare before the lights went out, and suddenly the whole bungalow glowed with torchlights and gas lamps.

That was when ghost stories began. Tales of haunted corners, shadowy sightings, and the “scariest rooms” of Watson Bungalow filled the night. Nervous but unwilling to be left out, the girls dragged their mattresses into the hall to sleep beside the boys, turning the living room into one big sleepover.

By two or three in the morning, most were asleep. A few of us were still yakking away when strange noises came from the storeroom at the back. Three or four of us gathered our courage to investigate - and discovered not a ghost, but the caretaker rummaging for ingredients to cook our breakfast!

The relief was priceless, the laughter unforgettable. We spoke of that trip many times afterward and even had a few more outings before I left for the UK in 1971. Today, those cold, fun-filled Maxwell Hill nights - with friends like Alban, Kim Seng, Chong Yu, Say Chin, Ching Chong, Tee Leong, maybe Ngee Fei, and others - remain a treasured memory of youth and friendship.

Dave Khoo Hock Chye (Davion Khoo)

7th September 2025

(If you were part of that Maxwell Hill trip - or remember other adventures from our schooldays - we’d love to hear your stories too. Drop me a note or share in the comments, so we can keep these memories alive for our reunion.)