The 250th Anniversary celebration dinner in Singapore (Photo Essay)

(The Command House)

The search of an appropriate venue for a celebration of this magnitude was a difficult one. Vacheron Constantin General Manager David Heng and Asistant Manager Jenny Hui, both in charge of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia had to go through countless discussions, visits and negotiation before deciding on a uniquely historical building, The Command House at 17 Kheam Hock Road.

(Side view of the Command House)

The building houses the original British commander in Singapore and has been the government assigned resident of either the Speaker of Parliament or at least once, the then President of Singapore Ong Teng Cheong. Allegedly, the building was rented out to private individuals at a rumoured rental of S$50,000 (US$1 = S$1.6524, interbank midrate as at GMT01.43, 5th August 2005).

(area used for guests registration)

The occupant of the Command House since 1935:

1935 to 1939 - Major General W.G.S. Dobbie
1939 to 1941 - Lieutenant General A.E. Percival
1946 to 1947 - Lord Louis Mountbatten
1947 to 1949 - General Sir Neil Ritchie
1949 to 1951 - General Sir John Harding
1951 to 1953 - General Sir Charles Keightley
1953 to 1956 - General Sir Charles Loewen
1956 to 1958 - General Sir Francis Festing
1958 to 1961 - General Sir Richard Hull
1963 to 1964 - Admiral Sir David Luce
1964 to 1965 - Admiral Sir Varyl Begg
1965 to 1967 - Air Chief Marshall John Grandy
1967 to 1969 - General Sir Michael Carver
1969 to 1970 - Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton
1970 to 1971 - Air Chief Marshall John Grandy
1979 to 1989 - Dr. Yeoh Ghim Seng (the Speaker of Parliament)
1989 to 1991 - Mr. Dominic Bloodworth
1992 to 1993 - Mr Wee Cho Yaw
1993 to 1997 - Mr. Ong Teng Cheong (then President of Singapore)
29th July 2005 - rented to Vacheron Constantin for the 250th Anniversary Dinner, the first time for a private event
After 29th July 2005 - supposingly lease signed for rental to an expat working in Singapore.

(Closer view of the Command House)

The complexities of securing government approval involves many behind the scenes hard work and an agreement to meet countless conditions of use of place. The dinner layout plan was in constant contention and some important details weren't agreed and settled till the very last few days, not an enviable task for all.

(The 2 cocktail areas, before the tunnel)

Considering the nature of Jenny to take up challenges and the gradual attempt for David to continue training the already capable Jenny, Jenny worked really hard to ensure the dinner went right

(VIP waiting area, International Director Marc Gutten arrived early and waited here)

Was the dinner a success?

(The after dinner cigar and drinks area, where PuristS stayed till morning )

Lets see!

Jaw