Book Review: A Life Intertwined captures the essence how modernity can complement heritage

‘A Life Intertwined’ is Leslie Danker’s second instalment based on the history and appreciation of the Raffles Hotel.  Being the hotel's resident historian and its oldest staff member, he is possibly the best, if not only, person capable of writing this historical memoir.

A relatively short read, the book is filled with old and new photographs, illustrations, a historical timeline, and multiple amusing anecdotes, all strung together by Danker’s simple and nostalgic prose.  It is evident in his passion and description of the Raffles Hotel, that he has had a lifetime worth of fond memories encased within the changing walls of the old building.

(Related:  How Raffles Hotel changed author Pico Iyer’s life)

Danker’s story begins with a recount of his childhood in Singapore, before his encounters with Raffles Hotel.  Even then it seemed that his life had always reflected his eventual path to the hotel, describing how a walk down Penang Road – towards the hotel – was a different, yet familiar route even in boyhood.  In the first few lines of the book he writes, “it seems that Raffles Hotel Singapore was always in my destiny.”

We also see how Danker was given opportunities to work in many areas of the Hotel.  Even without prior experience in the hospitality field, his first job was afforded to him due to his ability to converse with guests in English and translate their needs to the then non-english-speaking staff. He goes on to be the maintenance supervisor, then food and beverage supervisor, to front office manager, to being the first employee in the newly refurbished Hotel, and eventually taking on the role as the hotel's resident historian.

(Related:  How Raffles Hotel’s refurbishment strikes a balance between the new and old)

Within the pages, Danker recalls people he’s met, funny stories that occur and relationships he’s made.  He talks about the architecture and design of the building itself with fondness, mulling over the history that has placed certain pillars, artworks, ceilings or fountains where they are.  While the building was being restored, he even bottled the sea sand that was found under the marble flooring of the building that reminded Danker of the fact that the Hotel used to be by the sea in its distant past.  This National Heritage monument clearly means the world to Danker, and he has a very personal stake in its growth and development.

If you want to read a tale of simple sincerity of a relationship between a man and this historical gem, ‘A life intertwined’ is certainly for you.  While it is not a detailed account from an academic historian about the implications of history on this hotel or the people within and around it, it certainly would be a good primer for anyone who would be about to experience the Raffles’ Hotel and all its deep luxuries.

(Related:  A look inside Raffles Hotel’s La Dame de Pic)