Ivy, 73, and James, 75, first met while Ivy was training to be a nurse at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and James was a dashing young policemen. Back in the days when policemen wore shorts, James’ cousin would organise outings for the nursing hostel group to meet up with eligible bachelors. After spending decades together, Ivy and James have learnt how to work together as a couple – she serves as his ears and speaks for them both, as James is a little hard of hearing.

Together they volunteer in organising events and activities at Choa Chu Kang Zone 4 Residents’ Committee, such as children’s parties, community fun-walk, community singing and public education such as crime prevention. Beyond volunteering, Ivy and James love to travel; they take trips about three to four times a year, with the most recent being to Hawaii, Laos and Malaysia.

The couple also has their separate pastimes, however. Ivy loves to sing and meet up with friends to exchange ideas (or “kaypoing” as her husband jokes!). One of Ivy’s hobbies is to gather a group of friends to meet up every afternoon to go on group bargain hunts and deliberate over which shopping malls have the latest and greatest sales. Meanwhile, James meets his own mates for coffee to debate and chew over world affairs.

They are happy and grateful that Singapore is peaceful and prosperous. Their hope for the future is that not only will the next generation improve Singapore even further, but that Singapore would also be known as a gracious society.