Linda Lewin, using the recollections of her 94 year old father, Boh Lay Desmond and other family members and friends, has written the story of her family covering a number of generations. In this episode we hear how her grandfather's life ended in Bassein (now Pathein) during the Japanese invasion in 1943 and also hear of the adventurous life of her great uncle, San Po Thin.

The book, My Faraway Country Myanmar was written by Linda Lewin and published by Gold Hare in 2023 and may be purchased via its website, www.goldenharebooks.com.

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Peter Church

This interview was first published in 2021 and received many downloads. U Maung Nyi (commonly known as David) was born in Kyaukse on 15 April, 1936. He was educated in Kyaukse, Mandalay, Yangon and Otago (New Zealand). As a mining engineer he spent many years working at Bawdwin, Myanmar's famous lead, silver and zinc mine which during colonial times was the largest such mine in the world. Herbert Hoover, the 31st US President, made his fortune investing in Bawdwin. David eventually became its Mine Superintendent from 1983 to 1986 and was then promoted to become General Manager of a new copper mine at Monya (known as No. 1 Copper Mine). His resignation from this role after the 1988 riots and coup had far reaching consequences on the lives of all his family.

Send us a text

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church

Send us a text

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church

Linda Lewin, using the recollections of her 94 year old father, Boh Lay Desmond and other family members and friends, has written the story of her family covering a number of generations. In this episode we hear a little about her great grandparents U Tun Hla and Daw Bu Ma and learn how her grandparents, Sa Po Lwin and Lucienne Auberhoffer met and married in London and moved to Bassein (now Pathein) in the Myanmar delta where her grandfather practiced law. We also learn of the eventual flight of Lucienne and her three children, including Linda's father Boh Lay, from the Japanese army in early 1942.

The book was published by Gold Hare in 2023 and may be purchased via its website, www.goldenharebooks.com.

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Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church

This interview was originally made on 8 December 2017. U Than Htay made some interesting comments about the colonial and Japanese occupation of Burma.

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Peter Church

Dr Than Oo, born 1928, prominent educator, former DG of Basic Education, the key player in raising the literacy rate in Burma in the 1960's and for the re-establishing of the teaching of English to primary school children after a gap of many years, former Chairman of the Academy of Arts and Science.

This interview was first published back on 5 March 2018. As many of you only became listeners in recent times and may not have heard this interview, I hope you will find this interview of an extraordinary man inspiring.

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Peter Church

This was the second interview I made for Myanmar Oral History back on 4 December, 2017. Many of you have signed up in recent years and I hope you will find some of these earlier interviews of interest.

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Peter Church

U K Ba Thaung (1931-2022) - interesting stories of his relationship with General Ne Win, including observations regarding the death of General Aung San and the involvement U Saw and more personal first hand observations of General Ne Win's many unusual superstitions and remedies such as bathing in buffalo blood and his methods to increase his virility.

I was fortunate to interview Kenneth twice before he passed away on 22 May, 2022 at the age of 91. We must ensure the life stories of elderly Myanma are recorded in some way or they will be lost forever when they pass away.

Send us a text

Please feel free to contact me with suggested interviewees at church.peter@gmail.com.

Thank you for listening .

Peter Church