Brunei's Churchill Museum and Stamps
But what I do have are three Brunei first day covers depicting Churchill. The authorities clearly adored him in those days - the first first day cover was issued in 1966 to commemorate his death in 1965,
the second first day cover issued in 1973 was to commemorate the museum and
the third first day cover issued in 1974 was to commemorate his 100th birthday anniversary.
The Churchill Museum was an interesting anachronism in Brunei in those days. Churchill if you remember was the British Prime Minister during the Second World War and was remembered for leading Britain during the war. His famous sign was the two finger v shaped signifying V for victory. But later on that gesture became known as the peace symbol - I think it must have been brought on by the 1960s peace movement using that gesture.
The Churchill Museum in Brunei, now the Royal Regalia Building, had that statute of Churchill in the middle of the courtyard with the statute having that sign. It was the most famous of all Brunei's tourist symbol in those days. That Churchill Museum was at that time the only Churchill Museum in the world I was told. In fact in 2005 when the British opened their GBP6 million Churchill Museum, it was called the first major Churchill Museum in the world! I guess they didn't consider Brunei's a major Churchill Museum.
The Museum then housed the Churchill memorabilia and the one that I liked the most was the one where Churchill was a young boy and he had all these toy soldiers around him in formation. That was the display. Another one was the display where when you pressed the button it showed London being bombed during the London blitz by the Germans Lutwaffe. This was in the 1970s, those were the most modern techniques then. The Museum also housed the Brunei Aquarium. That was another fantastic display of the various fishes in Brunei. A number of people also said that there was another display on Brunei's reptile. I honestly cannot remember this display.
The museum was converted to become the Royal Regalia Building in 1992.
Comments
And I also have all three Churchill first day covers you've lister. I have my father to thank for that.
And what about the aquarium? Could the authority bring it back?
I just hope that Gov't should not let other buildings with historical values to renovated back to its original looks and not to be demolished.
Talking about aquarium, why don't the relevant authorities here open up a marine center and a proper modern zoo? I think we've learned from our neighboring countries that those attractions can be a boost to promote tourism in Brunei. Besides that, it'll create more interesting job opportunities especially those who've always wanted to be a marine biologist or a zoologist.
Was any reason given for the removal of the memorial? Casting off the vestige of our British protectors, perhaps? And where is that statue now?
The good old days...
such a shame to have knocked down the musuem... we could have had built the royal regalia building somewhere else. the museum was a legacy of his late highness that should have been honoured.