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PENANG HERITAGE TRUST TALK & SITE VISIT

(Circular May 2009)

We apologize for not being to organize a site visit on this 1st Sunday of June, mainly due to the delay in confirming these proposed sites by the hosts, Northam Lodge (Soonstead) and Balik Pulau Heritage Walk/Durian Feast. Now that we have received our confirmation, we would like you to take note of the following:

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Lecture 2009
"Education & Excellence - Adapting To A Changing World"
Speaker:                      Mr Marcus Langdon
Time:                            10.00am, Saturday 20th June 2009
Venue:                          Penang Free School Hall
                                       Jalan Masjid Negeri (Greenlane), 11600 Pulau Pinang

Marcus Langdon is an Australian-based private researcher who specializes in the early history of Penang, in particular the Presidency period 1805-1830. He has traveled extensively throughout South-East Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe, and has a wide interest and appreciation of history and culture.

Over the past decade an interest in genealogy led to discovering that an ancestor played a part in Penang's history between 1822 and 1834. This person was George Porter, who, at various times was Master of the Free School, Superintendent of the Botanical Garden, Parish Clerk at St Georges Church, and finally a Merchant and Auctioneer. This has led to what Marcus describes as an obsession with bringing to light acurate historical details on a range of subjects prior to and during the Presidency, and is currently preparing his extensive research for publication.

Marcus is also a Trustee to the John Villiers Trust, a philanthropic trust catering to the needs of Queensland based charities. John Villiers too was a descendent of George Porter.
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July Site Visit
Northam Lodge (Soonstead)
48-B, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
Sunday, 5th July 2009 at 3.30pm

Heah Swee Lee, a wealthy planter and Perak State Councillor, built Northam Lodge in the 1910s. Is was later sold to his in-laws and renamed Sonnsteed.

The Penang Polo Ground was donated by Swee Lee, who became the first non-European member of the Polo Club. His son Heah Seng Hye did one better by becoming the first non-European Captain and playing with HRH The Prince of Wales at the Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur in 1922. Swee Lee's sons indulged in adventurous hobbies-one was a game hunter and taxidermist, another pioneered Penang's fist wireless station. Heah Seng Hong, an amateur pilot and photographer, took many excellent pictures of his family and the mansion, including interior shots and aerial views. (Text from Streets of George Town)

The late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew bought over Soonstead from the Soon family. The building has great architectural and historical value.