Month: May 2025

Brief Biography

• He matriculated in 1946 and attended Rangoon University. His classmates include Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe, GBNF) and Dr. Pe Thein (Tom San Pe, GBNF).
• He is the Most Senior & Oldest Past Captain of Rangoon University Boat Club (RUBC).
• He represented RUBC at the Independence Day Regatta held at Kandawgyi in 1948 and received Gold along with Dick San Pe, Tom San Pe and Bobby Tin.
• He received BSCE (Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering) from the University of Oregon and MSCE (Master of Science in Civil Engineering) from Yale University.
• He taught part-time at Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University.
• He was Secretary of Burma Civil Engineering Society.
• He is Past Captain of Rangoon Golf Club (RGC).

90th Birthday

• On August 3, 2019, he celebrated his 90th birthday with a Soon Kyway at Dat Poung Zon Aung Min Gaung monastery, and with a sumptuous dinner at Winner Inn run by the family of Sayagyi U Ba Than (his younger brother, now GBNF).
• U Tin Htoon (A60, another younger brother) compiled a Photo Album Book highlighting U Tin U’s life and gave him as a birthday present.
• Min Ko (eldest grandson of U Tin U) had earlier recorded an interview with his “Pho Pho”.

Four Siblings and Cousin

They are all Past Captain and Gold of Rangoon University Boat Club.

• U Tin U (Eldest brother)
• Dr. Myo Tint (3rd brother, now GBNF)
• U Tin Htoon (4th brother)
• U Thaung Lwin (6th brother)
• U Sein Htoon (Cousin)

Miracle?

The following account of the Kidnapping is recounted by Dr. Khin Tun (Peter Tin U, his eldest son, UK). Was it a series of coincidences or a miracle?

He had an experience of being kidnapped by his company driver who hired “insurgents” with criminal records, to do the job. They came to his office at Lewis street, and pretended to be from military intelligence in mufti. They asked him to come along with them for questioning. They asked the office driver to drive the company jeep up to A1 compound near 9th mile and let the driver to get off at a bus stop with a letter to give to my mother.

One of them took the driver seat and continued driving out of the city passing Mingaladon airport. When their jeep went past the Mingaladon Military Intelligence Centre (Yay Kyi Ine), my father became suspicious.

Luckily, there was a road block near Hmawbi, and the kidnappers tried and overtook the battle tanks in a convoy on the road. An off duty military police stopped the car, giving my father a chance to ask for help; my father reached the car key from the back seat and threw it away. The military police asked my father to drive instead and was later freed, after being taken to the military commander and the police station.

In the mean time my mother, who was doing research at Insein Railway Hospital, received a ransom letter at 11 am to bring 60,000 Kyats in a jute bag, wearing a red longyi to a road corner, near “Ar-lain-nga-sint” pagoda in “Mingaladon”, by 3 pm the same day.

The kidnappers’ plan was to torture and kill my father whether they received the ransom or not. The grudge was for sacking the driver who took sick leave, and went to work in another company to get two salaries.

RUBC

Old members of RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club) are fondly known as Old Crocs (or Crocodiles).

When RUBC was destroyed due to the ravages of war, the Old Crocs rebuilt the Club and provided physical, financial and spiritual support to the members to compete against the best from neighboring countries.

During our younger days, there is an “Old Members Race” at the Monsoon and Annual Regattas. The contestants range from young Old Members to the iconic Past Champions.

The Old Crocs have their mini-reunions where ever possible. They also share memories of the precious photos (e.g. of U Chan Tha, Jimmy Saw Lwin, …)

U San Maung

U San Maung (Gerald Sein, GBNF) is a Past Secretary and RUBC Gold. He is the elder brother of U Yan Shin (Hardy). He would find time from his work as Production Manager of “Amotha Yoke Shin”, and come down to RUBC to mentor the members (especially the aspiring Golds). He would mandate “fixed tub” practice for the members.o

Dr. Htut Saing

Dr. Htut Saing (Harry Saing, GBNF) is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC. He won ARAE events twice :

• the Venables Bowl for Coxless Pairs at the 1958 ARAE Regatta in Calcutta with U Tin Htoon (A60)
• the Willingdon Trophy for Coxed Fours in the 1960 ARAE Regatta in Colombo with U Tin Htoon (A60), Sunny Teng (relocated to Canada), Victor Htun Shein (GBNF) and U Sein Htoon (M63, Cox)

He usually rowed as Box on the RUBC crews. As an exception, he served as Timing Stroke and Coach for the RUBC Eights in 1962. U Win Kyi (RUBC Gold, son of Miss Hong Kong (Ms. Amelia Kyi) rowed as No. (7). There were seven new Golds in that crew : Myo Tin (William Hone), Htain Linn and Mehm Myo Thaung (Maurice) for the Stroke side, Myo Myint (EC67), Oung Kyaing and Thein Aung (Micky Tan) for the Bow side and Tin Aung (Victor Wu, Cox).

Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick, Past Captain and Gold of RUBC) and Dr. Htut Saing (Harry) are Pediatric surgeons at the Rangoon Children Hospital. They are known for operating on Ma Nan Soe and Ma Nan San.

Dr. Htut Saing continued working and teaching in Hong Kong. He became Patron of the Hong Kong Rowing and Sailing Club. He would fully support the RUBC crews competing in the FEARA Regatta in Hong Kong.

Reunion

U Tin U, U Maung Maung Than Tun, Saya U Tin Htut, Saya Dr. Than Nyunt (George), U Tin Htoon, Dr. Donald Chan, U Tun Shein (Willie), U Tun Aung (George), U Sein Htoon, Dr. Tin Wa, U Myo Myint, U Thura Thant Zin, U Htaik San (Henry), and several Old Crocs attended Regattas (especially the 90th Anniversary of the founding of RUBC).

Most of them contributed articles, photos and financial support for printing the commemorative issue, and for reprinting Sir Aurthur Eggar’s biography.

Sad to note that there was some disjoint between the really young members (who are busy with the competitions) and the really Old Members (especially who travel from abroad to attend the events).

Hope YUBC members have better rapport with the Old Crocs.