Thursday, December 1, 2016

Remembering Sebastian Tan

Remembering Sebastian Tan Chiaw Hock(1923 – 2016}

With deep sadness I came to know of the passing on of  my ex boss and mentor Sebastian Tan former Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering Radio and TV Singapore. He was called home to be with the Lord on 22 Nov 2016, dearly missed by loved ones and ex-staff.
When I joined RTS in 1967 Sebastian was then engineer with the transmission stations. I came to know him when he was posted back to Caldecott Hill Broadcast Centre. He was a kind and considerate boss. Over the years I knew him to be a hardworking diligent professional engineer. He was a mentor to many young engineers and I myself had the benefit to learn much in the technologies of broadcast engineering and successful career  on the Hill.
He was instrumental in introducing many new systems and technologies to the company namely FM , B/W TV, Colour TV, MW and Short Transmission, TV Studios etc. The most memorable project I did with him was the setting up of a colour TV outside studio to broadcast Singapore National Day Parade first time in colour at the Padang. Despite a very tight schedule his can-do attitude made it possible for viewers in 1974 to watch TV in colour.
Together all of us went through the restructuring of RTS into SBC, SIM (TCS,RCS,TV12) and Sebastian was the Chief Engineer giving us strong support to tide over the changes.
Sebastian never said a harsh word to anybody. As a kind and caring boss, he was well –liked by everybody including those who might have disagreements with him.
After his retirement Sebastian still continued with his professional work and acted s consultants to companies like National Productivity Board, Singapore Teleport, Singtel , Polytechnics etc.
We will miss this great engineer. If there is a role model of a excellent professional engineer to emulate, Sebastian is the one.

Rest in Peace .