Gourdeep Singh
12 June 1951 to 5 December 2003

The last time I saw Gourdeep was when I visited him whilst he was hospitalised at the Singapore General Hospital.

If I remember correctly, it was a Wednesday, 3 December 2003. That particular morning at about 9am, I was in my office when his secretary rang and informed me that Gourdeep wished to see me urgently at the hospital. I told her that I would be there at lunchtime.

I arrived there around noon. He was awake and lying in bed. He could not move much and although he was obviously very sick, he was in his usual optimistic and positive mood. He was neither sad nor depressed although physically he was quite run down. Nevertheless his 'gung ho' spirit was still there - in fact he was in fairly high spirits. He was not able to talk, but from the brightening of his somewhat sunken face and expression, I gathered that he was delighted to see me. I asked what it was that he needed to see me so urgently about. He did not reply. He was unable to. However, he did manage to indicate to his fiancée who was nearby that he would be back at the office the following morning. His secretary also mentioned that he was getting better; as such, I wished him well and told him that I looked forward to seeing him in the office the following Monday. He didn't make it. On the evening of 5 December 2003, his secretary called me again to tell me that Gourdeep had left us at about 8pm that evening.

Looking back to that poignant moment in time, I am quite sure in my mind that Gourdeep knew that it was time for him to go. There is no need to be sad for him. He knew where he was going. He had lived a full, complete, active and satisfactory life. I believe he had no regrets.

His Early Years
Gourdeep studied at Whitley Secondary School and after his 'O' levels went to London for his Higher School Certificate and subsequently went to Earling Polytechnic where he graduated with a LLB law degree. He was called to the English Bar as a Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln's Inn) and came back to Singapore where he commenced his legal career as a pupil with Murugason & Co.

He started his practice as a legal assistant with Tan Lee & Partners and was later admitted as a partner of the firm. He left to set up his own sole proprietorship, Gourdeep Singh & Partners, in the early 1990s, which he steadfastly continued to maintain even when he was diagnosed with cancer of the liver.

As a Person
Gourdeep's practice was mainly in civil litigation and shipping. He was equally comfortable with 'criminal law' practice and was well respected, particularly in respect of 'traffic summonses'. He was not one who cherished 'paperwork', but as counsel before the court, he was adept and truly in his element.

As a person, he was easy-going and likeable. He had an amiable personality and was generous. Those who knew him from his time in London as a student still remember him fondly as the Kentucky Fried Chicken part-time manager who would always give out 'a complimentary chicken wing'. His friends at the Cricket Club where he was a regular have fond memories of him regularly buying drinks all around.

Because he was what he was, I confess that I had, to a certain extent, cast one of the fictitious characters in my humble little book after him ('No Soul in Shipping') - 'Wayang Gulit', a renowned shipping lawyer who was vested with a bit of Gourdeep's special abilities. I believe that Gourdeep knew this and that he was quietly rather pleased about it. I hope to continue the series and thereby in some small way preserve the fond memories of Gourdeep.

I talked to some of Gourdeep's friends and they all spoke highly of him. Mr M Takuta, a much respected retired lawyer said, and I quote:

What struck me was his concern for his family and friends, including his fiancée who had nursed him with devotion and care in his long period of illness. Gourdeep was a friend of friends. He respected friendship and genuineness.

Mr Veno Gopal Ragavan, a senior lawyer with 25 years experience wrote:

Although I did not know Gourdeep closely, he impressed me as an amiable and generous person. As such, I was saddened by his illness and passing away at the age of only 52.

Gourdeep was a man of passion. He was sociable and a very good karaoke singer. If I am not wrong, two of his favourite 'signature' songs were 'Everything I do, I do it for you' and 'Tears in Heaven'.

As Heaven is the only place where Gourdeep should now be, there is no need for us to shed tears for him. On the contrary, we can still expect him to 'do everything for his friends and loved ones'.

John Tay C L
John Tay & Co