September 22, 10:08 AM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 Singapore's oldest tour guide, Geraldene Lowe, who has been affectionately called "an institution" and “the oldest streetwalker in Singapore”, will be retiring next month.
The Eurasian Singaporean is retiring after her last tours this September.
Photo of Geraldene Lowe from her Facebook
One of the reasons she is calling it a day is because her husband has been nagging her to quit -- and she admits age is catching up.
She is married to Ismail Ahmad, 75, a former government servant. They have three children living overseas.
Lowe began giving tours in 1965.
Having worked as a travel agent and gone overseas to Italy and Jerusalem, she was approached by the tourism board to train local tour guides in Singapore.
Her experience overseas helped her see Singapore differently, and travelling extensively allowed her to know what would be interesting to tourists.
The idea of guided walking tours was born during the era where tourists came to Singapore via ship. Popular haunts then included Mount Faber and the Padang, and Johor was a lunch pit stop.
Unfamiliarity with the local surroundings was a deterrent to touring Singapore then. So she set out to get tourists to know Singapore better and up close through walking tours.
These days, her tours are organised around themes, having conducted one based on Ramadan and an upcoming one inspired by the Monkey God's birthday celebrations.
The value her tours provide is renowned, having appeared in international travel guides, such as Lonely Planet, Frommers and Fodor's.
Besides expatriates, even Singaporeans have been joining her tours to find out more about Singapore.
Another reason her tours are popular is because they are detail-oriented and she can gain access to houses and places not normally accessible to the public as she is on friendly terms with the tenants.
For the tour of black-and-white houses in Singapore, she brought her tour group into four colonial-style bungalows in Evans Road and Malcolm Road.
She also helps gain access into a joss stick manufacturer factory. It is part of her tour of dying trades in Singapore.
Dr Chua Ai Lin, a history professor at the National University of Singapore, has called Lowe "an institution".
She met Lowe through the Singapore Heritage Society, which Lowe helped set up in 1986.
A well-known career diplomat once even affectionately called her “the oldest streetwalker in Singapore”.
Top photo of Geraldene Lowe (third from left) from here.
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