Jerome Lim

My interest in heritage and culture has its roots in a wonderful childhood. I had so many joyful experiences growing up and living in the melting pot of cultures that make Singapore what it is. This is my heritage as a Singaporean, and what keeps me rooted to this place.

But Singapore is a rapidly changing country. Places that I had grown to love in my younger years have either disappeared or transformed completely. Which is why I started a blog ‘The Long and Winding Road’ with the intention of capturing my thoughts about our heritage and connecting with people who have the same mindset. Along the way, I started to conduct heritage walks and also got involved with the Rail Corridor project.

I try to discover stories and connections that may not otherwise be known. It gives me great personal satisfaction to learn about them, and even more so to be able to share them with others. This, together with the people I meet and the conversations I have, is what inspires me greatly and keeps me going.

Life would be much less interesting if I didn’t pursue this passion. I have my father to thank, as he has given me a legacy of discovery. He is a man who loves long drives and the sea. Through him, I got to discover Singapore beyond the confines of the flat we lived in, and learned to be more inquisitive.

Through this passion, I have made so many like-minded friends and connections that extend to greater opportunities. They’ve allowed me to share influences and combine projects — all of which are positive outcomes of a common passion. It is encouraging to see an increasing number of younger people getting actively involved with and promoting our heritage and culture. I am grateful that people are appreciative of our rich history and cultural diversity, despite us being a young and tiny country.

Looking back, I’ve also realised that it is just as important to document the ever-changing present, both in terms of places and practices. After all, heritage work is about bridging the past and the present and carrying on to the future.